Given the upcoming five-hundred-year anniversary of Luther's ninety-five theses, it is appropriate to reflect on the impact of Luther's ideas. This collection of essays, which began as conference papers on the literature of Luther, seeks to initiate conversations on the many and varied receptions of the reformer. Most of the essays are interdisciplinary, crossing boundaries between literature, history, and theology. Both Catholic and Protestant voices are well represented. The topics covered are wide-ranging so that for any interested reader several essays will likely strike a chord. ""Martin Luther's personality, ideas, and participation in dramatic events have attracted admiration, fascination, and antipathy over the centuries and offered literati of various perspectives a fertile field for their imaginations to re-create his image in new forms. These eleven conference essays explore the treatment and molding of his life and thought or compare his ideas with other thinkers or writers, reflecting a wide spectrum of approaches to aspects of Luther's life, illuminating how we shape historical figures in our own image."" --Robert Kolb, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO ""This highly interesting interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary essay collection sheds new light on the impact Luther's works have had on world literature, theology, and religious language. Written by both Catholic and Protestant scholars, the book is a significant contribution to Luther studies."" --Gregor Thuswaldner, Gordon College, The Salzburg Institute of Religion, Culture and the Arts, Beverly, MA A. Edward Wesley is Associate Professor of English at Saint Francis College. J. Christopher Edwards is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Saint Francis College. He is author of The Ransom Logion in Mark and Matthew (2012).
