Reformation 500 - Commemoration Exhibit at Graduate Theological Union Library, UC Berkeley

To commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, Graduate Theological Union Library, UC Berkeley is presenting a special exhibition (February 13, 2017 - May 31, 2017) featuring "historical works by Martin Luther and his contemporaries, along with the ways Protestant anniversaries have been celebrated through the years. The exhibit cases will include a Luther Bible (1535 with hand colored prints) as well as early editions of works by Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, Jean Calvin, Johann Eck and others."


Commemorating 500 Years of the Reformation 1517-2017


Visitors were greeted by two figurines - Martin Luther by renown artist Ottmar Hörl, created in 2010, playful and serious.


Martin Luther, Ottmar Hörl, 2010, Graduate Theological Union Library, UC Berkeley

The old bibles, prints, and reproductions of old paintings were endlessly fascinating; however one felt about the man, his opinions, and the ultimate impacts on mankind, one had to appreciate the strength and the enormity of his influence on generations to come.


Martin Luther, Master I. B., 1630, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.


Reverendi Viri D. Martin Lutheri SS Theologiae Doctoris, 1617


The 95 Theses & Dr. Martin Luther, Lovis Corinth, reproduction 1968


A Replica of the Luther Medal of 1817 & Luther Medal 1917


Martin Luther preaching, detail from the altarpiece of the Church of Torslunde


Anti-Catholic Allegory depicting Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, Reproduction


The Icon as Iconoclash, Joseph Koerner


The Devil Playing the Bagpipe, reproduction


The Bible, 1599


Bible, German, Luther, 1535, Wittenberg


The Apocalypse, The Throne, Four Living Creatures, Seven-sealed Book and Lamb, Lucas Cranach's Print (1522)


Das Acht Liederbuch, Nürnberg 1523/24


Marburger Gesangbuch


Torgau Seal, Here First Church Built That was Specifically Protestant


Piece of wood from the oaken pulpit from which John Knox preached at Stirling, Scotland, 1559


The Sacrifice of Isaac, Rembrandt, Etching, 1655


Erasmus of Rotterdam, Albrecht Dürer, 1526. Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth


Catholic Responses to Martin Luther and the Reformation, 1631

One of the showcases, containing some lighthearted artifacts such as board game Luther, demonstrated how deeply Luther has entered into people's awareness.


Luther: Das Spiel (Board Game)


500 hundred years had passed, yet some of the religious disputes and strife unleashed by his powerful argument are still haunting humankind today. Time for somber reflections.


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Civil Union, Marriage and Holy Matrimony

Recently, quite a few readers of the San Francisco Chronicle have suggested that all marriages should be called "civil unions," whether same-sex or opposite-sex, unless they are blessed by religious organizations. This is a dead-wrong proposal. Marriages, historically, in many cultures have always been civil actions, without religious content or implication. They were mostly social, often financial contracts. This supposedly progressive proposal to call all marriages "civil unions" will replace the discrimination against same-sex couples with discrimination against non-religious couples. Civil Union as a category was created as a compromise to accommodate same-sex couples and is innately a secondary class term. In these modern days, in order to respect and protect the rights to all members of the society, we should continue to call the marriages recognized by civil society and government "marriages," while those blessed by the religious organizations can be called “Holy Matrimony” as they have been for a very long time. This is far better than demoting the marriages of my grandparents and my parents into second class ones.