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Luther and the West
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 22 hours
  • Course by Northwestern University
  • Offered by

About

In this course we will discuss the history of some ideas that have been hugely influential in the modern west and that were taken out to the rest of the world. The discussion centers on an extraordinary and historically important figure, a sixteenth century German man named Martin Luther. Luther is recognized today as the originator of many of the most significant ideas that continue to affect and shape who we as modern people are and how we see the world and ourselves for better and for worse. In the first section, we will explore why Luther thought the Bible was the most important volume for everyone to have and read. Included here will be a careful consideration of Luther's anti-Judaism, which contributed to western antisemitism and some of the greatest horrors of the twentieth century. In the second section, we will talk about the idea of freedom and how Luther's understanding of freedom in Christ affected the way modern thinkers understood what it means to be human in community. Important in this section is the consequential contradiction between freedom and slavery in western thought and their co-existence in western societies. The third section will be all about the many complicated relations between religion and politics. NOTE: Students wishing to sign up for free access to all instructional course content should click on the "Sign-In" button in the upper right hand corner. Those who wish to take the course and complete a certificate that requires payment, please click the Enroll button on the left side of this page.

Modules

Introduction

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • What is this Course About?
  • Learning Objectives
  • How to Talk About Religion

2 Readings

  • Course Contributors
  • Copyright Permissions & Works Cited

Lecture 1: Introduction to Luther and the Bible

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Luther and the Bible

1 Readings

  • Lecture 1 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 2: Luther’s Translation of the Bible

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 2

1 Videos

  • Luther’s Translation of the Bible

1 Readings

  • Lecture 2 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 3: Christ in the Bible

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 3

1 Videos

  • Christ in the Bible

1 Readings

  • Lecture 3 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 4: Law and Gospel

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Law and Gospel

2 Readings

  • Lecture 4 Guided Reading
  • Lecture 4 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 5: Christ in the Old Testament

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 5

1 Videos

  • Christ in the Old Testament

2 Readings

  • Lecture 5 Guided Reading
  • Lecture 5 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 6: Luther and Anti-Judaism

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Luther and Anti-Judaism

1 Readings

  • Lecture 6 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 7: Luther, the Old Testament, and Anti-Judaism

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 7

1 Videos

  • Luther, the Old Testament, and Anti-Judaism

1 Readings

  • Lecture 7 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 8: Lutheran Theologians and Antisemitism in Nazi Germany

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Lutheran Theologians and Antisemitism in Nazi Germany

1 Readings

  • Lecture 8 Supplemental Reading

Lesson 9: The Bible and Its Literal Sense

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • The Bible and Its Literal Sense

1 Readings

  • Lecture 9 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 10: Luther and Spinoza on Genesis

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Lecture 10

1 Videos

  • Luther and Spinoza on Genesis

1 Readings

  • Lecture 10 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 11: Spinoza and the Tractatus

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Spinoza and the Tractatus

1 Readings

  • Lecture 11 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 12: Luther the Urban Legend

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 12

1 Videos

  • Luther the Urban Legend

1 Readings

  • Lecture 12 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 13: Key Moments in Luther's Life

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Lecture 13

1 Videos

  • Key Moments in Luther's Life

2 Readings

  • Lecture 13 Supplemental Movie
  • Lecture 13 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 14: Luther and Freedom: What's in a Name?

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Lecture 14

1 Videos

  • Luther and Freedom: What's in a Name?

1 Readings

  • Lecture 14 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 15: Freedom and the Individual

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Freedom and the Individual

2 Readings

  • Lecture 15 Guided Reading
  • Lecture 15 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 16: Christ and Freedom

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 16

1 Videos

  • Christ and Freedom

2 Readings

  • Lecture 16 Guided Reading
  • Lecture 16 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 17: Kant and Freedom

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 17

1 Videos

  • Kant and Freedom

1 Readings

  • Lecture 17 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 18: Kant and the Bible

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 18

1 Videos

  • Kant and the Bible

2 Readings

  • Lesson 18 Guided Reading
  • Lecture 18 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 19: Kant and Morality

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 19

1 Videos

  • Kant and Morality

1 Readings

  • Lecture 19 Guided Reading

Lecture 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Theologian of Freedom

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Lecture 20

1 Videos

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Theologian of Freedom

1 Readings

  • Lecture 20 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 21: King and the Inner and Outer Distinction

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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1 Videos

  • King and the Inner and Outer Distinction

1 Readings

  • Lecture 21 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 22: Freedom and Love

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 22

1 Peer Review

  • Reflection on Freedom

1 Videos

  • Freedom and Love

1 Readings

  • Lecture 22 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 23: Introduction to Modernity

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Modernity

1 Readings

  • Lecture 23 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 24: Luther on Vocation and Community

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Lecture 24

1 Videos

  • Luther on Vocation and Community

1 Readings

  • Lecture 24 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 25: Christendom and the Holy Roman Empire

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Christendom and the Holy Roman Empire

1 Readings

  • Lecture 25 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 26: The Two Swords

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Lecture 26

1 Videos

  • The Two Swords

1 Readings

  • Lecture 26: Supplemental Reading

Lecture 27: Luther and Church Reform

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 27

1 Videos

  • Luther and Church Reform

1 Readings

  • Lecture 27: Supplemental Reading

Lecture 28: Money in the World

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 28

1 Videos

  • Money in the World

1 Readings

  • Lecture 28 Guided Reading

Lecture 29: Money in the Church

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 29

1 Videos

  • Money in the Church

1 Readings

  • Lecture 29 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 30: Luther’s Reform of Marriage

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 30

1 Videos

  • Luther’s Reform of Marriage

2 Readings

  • Lecture 30 Guided Reading
  • Lecture 30 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 31: Luther’s Reform of Sex

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Lecture 31

1 Videos

  • Luther’s Reform of Sex

Lecture 32: Art

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Art

2 Readings

  • Lecture 32 Guided Reflection
  • Lecture 32 Supplemental Reading

Lecture 33: Music

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Lecture 33

1 Videos

  • Music

2 Readings

  • Lecture 33 Supplemental Reading
  • Thank You!

Auto Summary

"Luther and the West" explores the impact of Martin Luther's ideas on modern Western thought and society. Focused on history, religion, and socio-political concepts, this foundational course delves into Luther's influence on the Bible's importance, the concept of freedom, and the interplay between religion and politics. Taught by an expert instructor on Coursera, the course spans 1320 minutes and offers both free access and paid certification options. Ideal for those interested in history, philosophy, and the development of Western ideologies.

Christine Helmer
Instructor

Christine Helmer