My Review of the Great Courses: Luther - Gospel, Law and Reformation

I bought the audio version, and learnt a lot about Luther and the Reformation period.

I am an ecumenically-minded Roman Catholic who has studied / participated in many Protestant thinking and discussions. I purchased this course series to understand further the genesis of the Protestant Reformation. I must say this course has illuminated me toward Luther and that period.

What I found interesting and enjoyable about this course were:

1. The context behind the Reformation: The "tumultuous" Catholic papacy period preceding and during the Reformation era, including the "indulgence controversy", that triggered people like Luther to begin to challenge the establishment.

2. The "evolution" of Luther's thinking from trying to justify his own salvation through his own works and "self-hatred" toward reaching the "end of his self-effort" and toward a comforting gospel of justification by faith and grace alone through faith in Jesus' finished work.

3. The subsequent reformist views (including those of the Anabaptists, Calvinists etc.) after Luther wrote some of his most important work in the 1517-1521 period.

4. The "helicopter view" provided by Prof Cary of how all of these religious conflicts actually helped pave the way toward the separation of Church (religion) and State in political governance, all the way to today.

5. Professor Cary's discussion of "Esau vs Jacob" in terms of predestination (God loves Jacob from before their birth, and hated Esau), and how this "predestination" discussion helped drive some of the splits of the early Protestant movements. (e.g., Calvinist vs Lutheran).

6. Luther's influence on German culture including his translating the first German Bible, and his composing of a few hymns (he was a fan of music and its power and value).

7. Luther's ultra-focus on the Word (as opposed to "hearing (in) the spirits")

8. Luther's enigmatic "turnabout" of his attitude and writing against the Jews. He seemed to be developing some bitterness in his attitude and writings in his older age.

What can this course improve on? I gave this course 4 stars, and I enjoyed the narrative of Prof Cary as well as the guidebook. I only have one recommendation: Sometimes I feel Professor Cary started each lecture at a good, clear pace and gradually spoke too fast toward the end (of each lecture). I had to go through the course guidebook after each lecture (or two) to fully understand what I just heard.

But overally, a 4-star course!