October marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Secular and religious media will feature stories about the main leaders of the Protestant movement, Martin Luther (1480-1546) and John Calvin (1509-1564). Most of those stories will paint them as holy and upright men appalled at the impiety, superstition, and corruption in the Catholic Church and dedicated to returning the Christian Faith to its pristine original form. But is that the real story of these men?
Martin Luther had a difficult childhood, owing to his overbearing and sometimes abusive parents. His father wanted Martin to study law, but after a frightening near-death experience, Martin decided to enter an Augustinian monastery. His academic brilliance landed him a teaching job at the University of Wittenberg in 1508.
