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Luther's Struggle for Faith1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Roland H. Bainton
Affiliation:
Yale University, New Haven, Conn

Extract

Our interest in Luther's struggle for faith is not merely historical. We do not investigate this subject as we do Luther's views on monstrosities or the names for the gems in the Apocalypse, nor do we probe into his spiritual trials in order to collect additional specimens of abnormal psychology. If he was abnormal then the abnormal has become the normal. All of us today are engaged in a struggle for faith and our concern is not so much with the disease as with the cure. How was it that Luther, despite his travailing of spirit, could be so tremendous in his faith, so incredible in his courage, so astounding in his output? Luther's faith is our quest.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1948

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