The unprecedented rise of Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, shocked the political system of the United States. Donald Trump’s victory on november eighth exposed the immense flaws in both American society and the Republican Party itself. Donald Trump’s rejection of the political norms, refusal to apologize, distrust of societal institutions and the racial and religious undertones of Trump 's campaign, are strikingly similar to the rise of Martin Luther in the 16th century. Donald Trump and Martin Luther, challenged the establishment and alone faced off against the two most powerful institutions in history, the Catholic Church and the government of the United States. Luther’s rejection of the church in “Ninety Five theses” to Trump’s
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The church, the controlling institution of the sixteenth century, viewed Luther negatively for much of his life. In 1517 Luther wrote his “Ninety Five Theses”, which protested the church 's sale of indulgences to fund the church. In theses 86 Luther asks, “Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with the money of poor believers rather than with his own money?” Luther viewed this theses and his other writings as a scholarly objection of church practices. The church however did not have the same opinion, and in 1520 Luther was threatened with excommunication if he did not recant 41 sentences of his writing in “Ninety Five Theses”. Luther 's compounding controversies and refusal to recant his writings, eventually leads to his excommunication the following year by Pope Leo …show more content…
For instance, during Trump 's announcement of his candidacy in New York City, he said, with regard to Mexican immigrants, “They 're bringing drugs. They 're bringing crime. They 're rapists.” The immediate backlash and branding of Trump as a bigot, by both the Republican and Democratic parties solidified Trump 's rejection of political norms. Trump would continue to make controversial statements throughout the campaign, including; calling for a ban on muslim immigrants, mocking a disabled reporter, saying he would bomb the families of terrorists, praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and chastising a Gold Star Family. And to the astonishment of the political establishment, like Luther, Trump would adamantly refuse to recant any of his statements and often doubled down. Both Martin Luther and Donald Trump have influenced society in a substantial way.
Martin Luther’s effect on religion in the 16th century is similar to Donald Trump’s new found effect on politics in America. In his lifetime Martin Luther became a well known figure of theology and strongly influenced the Protestant Reformation. Luther’s translation of the Bible from latin to vernacular, helped alter both the church and German culture, while also fostering the development of the German language. Martin Luther’s works lead to a cult like following and the eventual creation of the Lutheran
The church, the controlling institution of the sixteenth century, viewed Luther negatively for much of his life. In 1517 Luther wrote his “Ninety Five Theses”, which protested the church 's sale of indulgences to fund the church. In theses 86 Luther asks, “Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with the money of poor believers rather than with his own money?” Luther viewed this theses and his other writings as a scholarly objection of church practices. The church however did not have the same opinion, and in 1520 Luther was threatened with excommunication if he did not recant 41 sentences of his writing in “Ninety Five Theses”. Luther 's compounding controversies and refusal to recant his writings, eventually leads to his excommunication the following year by Pope Leo …show more content…
For instance, during Trump 's announcement of his candidacy in New York City, he said, with regard to Mexican immigrants, “They 're bringing drugs. They 're bringing crime. They 're rapists.” The immediate backlash and branding of Trump as a bigot, by both the Republican and Democratic parties solidified Trump 's rejection of political norms. Trump would continue to make controversial statements throughout the campaign, including; calling for a ban on muslim immigrants, mocking a disabled reporter, saying he would bomb the families of terrorists, praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and chastising a Gold Star Family. And to the astonishment of the political establishment, like Luther, Trump would adamantly refuse to recant any of his statements and often doubled down. Both Martin Luther and Donald Trump have influenced society in a substantial way.
Martin Luther’s effect on religion in the 16th century is similar to Donald Trump’s new found effect on politics in America. In his lifetime Martin Luther became a well known figure of theology and strongly influenced the Protestant Reformation. Luther’s translation of the Bible from latin to vernacular, helped alter both the church and German culture, while also fostering the development of the German language. Martin Luther’s works lead to a cult like following and the eventual creation of the Lutheran