Luther, Martin

Luther, Martin
(1483-1546)
   A German monk, theologist, and university professor, probably best known for his role as church reformer, and as the founder of Protestantism. Luther suffered from many diseases and ailments, including fainting fits, vertigo, and "tinnitus. Reportedly, his tinnitus was complicated on at least one occasion by "musical hallucinations (consisting of the sound of church bells). Legend has it that Luther also awoke to see the devil in a corner of his room in Wartburg and that he sought to defend himself by throwing an inkwell in its direction. Although it is well documented that as a child Luther felt haunted by the devil, as well as by demons and spirits, and again as an adult, it is unclear whether he had any "visual or "compound hallucinations. The French alienist Alexandre Jacques François Brierre de Boismont (1797-1881) maintains that "from a scientific point of view, Luther is proved to have had hallucinations". He supports his case with a quotation from Luther himself, in wtrich he appears to reveal his conviction that the devil was actually present in his bedroom, saying that "this explains to me how it sometimes happens that men are found dead in their beds - it is Satan who has strangled them." Others have refuted Brierre de Boismont's stance on this matter by arguing that Luther's reference to the devil in the bedroom may well have been allegorical. Another reason for scepticism is the fact that the scene apparently took place when Luther was awakened from his sleep. If it is true that Luther experienced a " sensory deception depicting the devil, this may well have been a " hypnopompic hallucination or a " false awakening rather than a " hallucination proper.
   References
   Brierre de Boismont, A. (1859). On hallucinations. A history and explanation of apparitions, visions, dreams, ecstasy, magnetism, and somnambulism. Translated by Hulme, R.T. London: Henry Renshaw
   Morgenstern, L. (2005). The bells are ringing. Tinnitus in their own words. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 48, 396-407.

Dictionary of Hallucinations. . 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Luther, Martin — • Leader of the great religious revolt of the sixteenth century in Germany; born at Eisleben, 10 November, 1483; died at Eisleben, 18 February, 1546 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Luther, Martin      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Luther Martin — (* 9. Februar 1748 in Metuchen, New Jersey; † 8. Juli 1826 in New York City) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker und einer der Gründerväter der Vereinigten Staaten. Er weigerte sich, die Verfas …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Luther Martin — (February 9, 1748 ndash; July 8, 1826) was a politician and one of United States Founding Fathers, who refused to sign the Constitution because he felt it violated states rights. He was a leading Anti Federalist, along with Patrick Henry and… …   Wikipedia

  • LUTHER, MARTIN° — (1483–1546), German religious reformer. During the first period of his activity (approximately 1513–23), Luther often condemned the persecution of the Jews and recommended a more tolerant policy toward them, based on the spirit of true Christian… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Luther Martin — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Martin Luther (homonymie). Luther Martin (9 février 1748–8 juillet 1826) était un homme politique et l un des Pères fondateurs des États Unis, même s il refusa de signer la Constitution américaine en 1787. Luther …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Luther Martin Kennett — (* 15. März 1807 in Falmouth, Pendleton County, Kentucky; † 12. April 1873 in Paris) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1855 und 1857 vertrat er den Bundesstaat Missouri im US Repräsentantenhaus. Werdegang Luther Kennett wurde an… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Luther Martin Kennett — (March 15, 1807 ndash; April 12, 1873) was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.Born in Falmouth, Kentucky, Kennett attended private schools. Deputy county clerk of Pendleton County in 1822 and 1823 and of Campbell County, Kentucky, in 1824.He… …   Wikipedia

  • Luther, Martin — born Nov. 10, 1483, Eisleben, Saxony died Feb. 18, 1546, Eisleben German priest who sparked the Reformation. The son of a miner, he studied philosophy and law before entering an Augustinian monastery in 1505. He was ordained two years later and… …   Universalium

  • Luther, Martin — (1483–1546)    Founder of Protestantism and the Protestant Reformation. For much of his life, Martin Luther was concerned with the influence and action of evil and the DEVIL in the world. Luther was born on November 10, 1483, in Eiselben, Germany …   Encyclopedia of Demons and Demonology

  • Luther, Martin — ( 14 8 3 1546 )    founder of the Protestant Reformation    By his 1517 appeal for debate on a set of issues faced by the Roman Catholic community in Germany, Augustinian monk Martin Luther inadvertently launched what would become Protestantism.… …   Encyclopedia of Protestantism

  • Luther, Martin — (1483–1546)    Theologian and Denomination Founder.    Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, and was educated at the University of Leipzig. According to his own account, he became a monk to fulfil a vow made in a terrified moment during a… …   Who’s Who in Christianity

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”