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This book argues that Martin Luther did not enforce his own strict theological convictions about women and their nature when he personally corresponded with women throughout his daily life. This becomes clear with Luther's interactions with female family members and Reformation women. With these encounters, he did not maintain his theological attitudes and made exceptions to his own theology for such influential women. Luther also did not enforce his theology throughout his pastoral care where he treated both men and women respectfully and equally. His pastoral work shows that he allowed his compassion and empathy to win over his own strict theological convictions about women. It is important to remember that Luther not only wrote about women in the abstract, but also lived both his public and private life among women. However, there have been no comprehensive studies that have examined his theological writings about women and personal encounters with women. For this reason, fundamental aspects of Luther have remained in the dark. As actions speak louder than words, scholars need to include the practical, as well as the theoretical when analyzing his attitudes towards women. This book not only contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Luther's theological views on women, but also how those views compare to his actual social encounters with women. This work highlights the necessity to explore Luther's personal encounters with women, as well as his theology when trying to provide an authentic assessment of the reformer's attitudes towards women.
List of contents
Acknowledgments - List of Abbreviations - Introduction: The Underexplored Window - Women's Lives in the Early Modern Period in Europe - Interpretations of Eve and Other Biblical Women - A Woman's Nature and the Ideal Woman - Conversations with Female Family Members -Correspondence with Reformation Women - Offering Women Guidance and Comfort - Conclusion: Final Remarks - Index.
About the author
Laura Jurgens received her PhD in religious studies from the Department of Classics and Religion at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She previously attended St. Francis Xavier University and Saint Mary's University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Her research focuses on the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, and women.
Summary
This book argues that Martin Luther did not enforce his own strict theological convictions about women and their nature when he personally corresponded with women throughout his daily life.
Report
"In Martin Luther and Women, Laura Jurgens crafts a new methodological approach by showing how Luther's personal friendships and acquaintances shaped the formation of his theological theory. Women's voices are central to Jurgens' work, as she connects them to inherited ideas about gender and Luther's struggles to connect biblical interpretation, theology, and life. Jurgens' study of relationships as sites of productive religious, historical, and theological engagement sets the standard for future research on the Protestant Reformation." -Christine Helmer, Professor of German and Religious Studies, Northwestern University; Author of How Luther Became the Reformer
