Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften Martin Luther and Women: Theology and Lived Experience

Review "'Martin Luther can certainly be considered a friend of women.' Examination of Luther's ideas of women in light of his biblical exegesis in junction with his actual experiences with women, most importantly his correspondence, demonstrates the complexity of the 16th century reformer and his theological anthropology. Laura Jurgens pulls together scholarship from different terrains, offers important assessment, and sets trajectories for future research. A most welcome and inspiring book suitable for classrooms and beyond." --Kirsi Stjerna, Professor of Lutheran History and Theology, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, California"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 Product Description 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. 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.