(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org, please feel free to visit the school website)
Most Lutheran churches accept conventional Protestant theology. This version
of Christianity is distinguished by a belief that the Bible is the inspired
word of God, the priesthood of all believers, a belief in infant baptism,
a sung liturgy, and an emphasis on faith in God as the basis of Christian
experience. The founder, Jan Hus had a vision (his name means “goose”).
A swan is the traditional symbol of many Lutheran congregations. In Europe,
Luther’s Rose is the preferred symbol. Legend has it that when Hus was
being burned at the stake he said, “Today you burn a goose, but in a hundred
years will come a swan whose voice you will not be able to still.” One
hundred years later Martin Luther emerged into the public arena.
Luther is said to have posted his Ninty-Five Thesis on the door of the Castle
Church, Wittenberg, on Oct. 31, 1517, the eve of All Saints’ Day, which is
the traditional date for the beginning of the Reformation. Luther was a German
priest and scholar whose questioning of certain church practices led to the
Protestant Reformation. He is one of the pivotal figures of Western civilization,
as well as Christianity. By his actions and writings he precipitated a spiritual
movement much like Jesus did in his lifetime and was to yield not only one
of the three major theological branches of Christianity along with Roman
Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, but was to become a social seedbed for
centuries after his death.
Music is a very important part of the Luthern tradition. Martin Luther said,
“Why should the devil have all the good tunes?” He himself composed “A Mighty
Fortress Is Our God” (Ein Feste Burg). Lutheran churches are generally
active musically, with choirs, children’s choirs and bell ringing. J.S. Bach,
a famous classical composer composed music specifically for the Lutheran
church.