Martin Luther Quotes
I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture.
Luther’s logic was that polygamy was sanctioned in the Old Testament and never specifically forbidden in the New Testament. This fact totally puzzled the American Mormons when the Protestants railed against the immorality of their plural marriages.
Martin Luther, 1483-1546, German Theologian & Founder of Protestantism, Letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13, 1524
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
This type of religious sexism is not unique to Islam. Fundamentalist Christians place women in a secondary role as do fundamentalist orthodox Jews although both allow a man to take only one wife. The Islamic scripture tells us that the Prophet allowed multiple wives only if the man had the resources to care for the wives and all the children. 4 is the maximum.
This is the biblical passage which causes so much trouble in modern society. Literal adherence to this passage produces a sexist environment which is at odds with many modern norms of fairness and equity. Thus, religious fundamentalists are in conflict with most others. At the same time this passage serves as a justification of sexism for some.
This letter was written at the request of Rotrou the Archbishop of Rouen with the urging of King Henry II. Eleanor, one of the wealthiest and powerful people in Europe of either sex, left her husband and sided with one of their sons in a feud with the father, King Henry. Henry and most of the English and French courts wanted her to return to her husband and this letter was meant to chastise her behavior. She however, paid it no heed. The law of scripture to which Peter referred is a passage in the Book of Ephesians—see {618995}
This was the decision that sanctioned anti-polygamy laws.
Although she was very outspoken about the plight of women in society, she was very disapproving of women insisting upon rights. See {585321}.
At the time polygamy was approved of by the Mormons. However they were pressured to accept monogamy in order to have peace with the rest of the nation. The Mormon church changed its doctrine and Mormons may only have a single wife. However, there are some dissident Mormon groups that still illegally practice polygamy.
Many whites applauded his views when they corresponded to Christian mores of the time.
Von Wackerbarth was one of the many Mormon haters of his day. His quotations have value not for the accuracy of the facts which are scant, but to indicate what much of public opinion regarding Mormons was in that day.
The Church no longer believes this of course. Having learned from this unfortunate experience and Galileo’s persecution, today the Roman Catholic Church is one of the more advanced religious institutions in accepting modern science.
Husbands like to take the credit for a wife’s virtues, but if there be any shortcomings the husband blames the woman’s family. Note that the woman is not perceived as capable of independent action other than that which is taught, controlled or mandated by wither a husband or father, brothers or other male relatives. This attitude tragically makes reform so very difficult in Arab cultures.
Martin Luther, O.S.A. was a German professor of theology, priest, author, composer, Augustinian monk, and a seminal figure in the Reformation. Luther was ordained to the priesthood in 1507. He came to reject several teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church; in particular, he disputed the view on indulgences. Luther proposed an academic discussion of the practice and efficacy of indulgences in his Ninety-five Theses of 1517. His refusal to renounce all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521 resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor.
