Event series
Luther the Reformer: 500 Year Legacy

Five hundred years ago, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther published his Ninety-Five Theses, which spoke out against the church’s sale of indulgences to forgive sins. Luther’s later translation of the Bible into German made its content accessible to ordinary citizens, redefining the relationship between the state and the church. These actions set the Reformation in motion, resulting in profound impacts on religion, society, culture and politics in Europe and the rest of the world.

Many 16th-century questions and discoveries continue to remain relevant today. What appear to be current phenomena, such as ruptures of continuity, growth in knowledge and acceleration of progress, places of refuge and alternative worlds, were also reflected within the process of the Reformation. The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is an opportune time to compare and reflect.

This series showcases documentaries and films from Germany and the former GDR about Martin Luther. Introductions with an expert before each evening’s screening will address questions such as: What was the role of printing and painting in the Reformation? Who was Katharina von Bora, Martin Luther’s wife? How can we be tolerant and respectful towards one another despite our differences? Do we need a second Reformation, a new understanding of the world? What does our future look like?

No charge; reservations requested. Seating is limited.



Organized as part of celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation, and in conjunction with “Legacies of the Reformation,” a series of lectures at the German Historical Institute in Fall 2017.