Luther (1965 movie) facts for kids

Luther is a 1965 movie that tells the story of Martin Luther, a very important person in history. The movie stars Alec McCowen as Luther, bringing his life and challenges to the screen.

About the Movie

This film is based on a famous play by John Osborne. It shows key moments from Martin Luther's life, focusing on his journey and the big changes he helped bring about in the 1500s.

Who Was Martin Luther?

Martin Luther was a German monk and theologian who lived a long time ago, from 1483 to 1546. He is known for starting the Protestant Reformation. This was a major movement that changed how many people thought about Christianity and led to the creation of new churches.

Luther's Big Ideas

Luther believed that people could connect with God directly through their faith, without needing many rules or special actions from the church. He also thought that the Bible should be available for everyone to read in their own language, not just in Latin. At that time, the Bible was mostly in Latin, and only priests could easily understand it.

The 95 Theses

In 1517, Martin Luther wrote a list of 95 points, or "theses," that he wanted to discuss about the church. He was especially concerned about the sale of "indulgences," which were like certificates people bought to reduce punishment for sins. Luther believed this was wrong. He famously posted his 95 Theses on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany. This act is often seen as the start of the Reformation.

Standing Up for His Beliefs

Luther's ideas spread quickly because of the newly invented printing press. However, his views challenged powerful leaders, including the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor. He was asked to take back his ideas at a big meeting called the Diet of Worms in 1521. Luther bravely refused, saying he could not go against his conscience. This moment was very important in his life and in history.

Translating the Bible

After the Diet of Worms, Luther had to hide for a while. During this time, he translated the New Testament from Greek into German. This was a huge step because it meant ordinary German-speaking people could read the Bible for themselves. His translation helped shape the German language and made religious texts much more accessible.

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