It is about (no one seems sure) to be the 500th anniversary of the day when Martin Luther nailed his famous 'Ninety-five theses' to the door of the church in Wittenberg in Germany. Here is a brief summary of his life and times.
'Born in Eisleben, Germany, in 1483, Martin Luther went on to become one of Western history’s most significant figures. Luther spent his early years in relative anonymity as a monk and scholar. But in 1517 Luther penned a document attacking the Catholic Church’s corrupt practice of selling “indulgences” to absolve sin. His “95 Theses,” which propounded two central beliefs—that the Bible is the central religious authority and that humans may reach salvation only by their faith and not by their deeds—was to spark the Protestant Reformation. Although these ideas had been advanced before, Martin Luther codified them at a moment in history ripe for religious reformation. The Catholic Church was ever after divided, and the Protestantism that soon emerged was shaped by Luther’s ideas. His writings changed the course of religious and cultural history in the West'.
At this time it is hard to take modern politics seriously. President Xi of China sets himself up for lifetime employment. President Trump becomes increasingly a caricature of ...... himself really. Mrs May struggles mightily with the professional bureaucrats of the EU. A thirty year old Russian women who admits to no policies stands against President Putin in Russia. Catalonia seeks to leave Spain. Australia's High Court decrees that 5 out of seven pollies suspected of allegiance to another nation - England and New Zealand mainly - are not allowed to sit in the Australia parliament. It takes 24 hours for the government to decide who will be the acting PM while the embattled real one goes to Beersheba to celebrate a famous military victory 100 years ago. (Malcolm deserves such a break, of course.)
Kulture
Fiona Prior considers Harvey Weinstein and wonders why his outing is occurring now and not ten, fifteen, twenty years ago. More here.
The Sporting Life
Australia celebrates the 22nd win on the trot, correction, gallop, by the super mare Winx. Fashions seem even more bizarre this year and it is not yet time for the Melbourne Cup.
Australia's Rugby League team flogs England's and the world cup seems all over but the shouting.
Australia's wimmins Cricket team flogs the English shielas, and another world cup looks possible.
Every AFL team but Caaaarlton! seems to have recruited well, and the Blues have lost one of its genuine stars, Bryce Gibbs. Another year as cellar dweller seems to be looming,
Still it is 500 years since the start of the Reformation. A serious event.
Image of the week.
