Ecumenism starts at the "point of pain": Luther and the victims of the Reformation

When Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the 'Schlosskirche' (castle church) in the little town of Wittenberg on the river Elbe, he would not have thought that five-hundred years later on the other side of the globe we would still remember his courageous act and celebrate the historical, social, and spiritual legacy of the Reformation. Indeed, Luther not only brought to light important emphases of the Christian faith, but he also decisively influenced German culture and helped to shape the values of the West. By translating the Bible into the German vernacular, by protesting against ecclesiastical arrogance, and by emphasising that human dignity cannot be earned but is generously given, Luther has remained amazingly relevant to the present day.