By Chris Castaldo
Although Martin Luther (1483-1546) entered the world during the Renaissance, his early years in Mansfeld, Germany showed little evidence of cultural rebirth. Plagues, thieves, and a folk culture rife with sinister spirits meant that many lived in a constant fear of death. European society of this era commonly blended paganism with Christian tradition, creating a fantastically dark Christianity mingled with superstition. In Germany the blowing wind, flowing streams, and tall trees of the forest were thought to be animated by malevolent beings such as elves, fairies, witches and mermaids. In such an unstable world, spiritual security was a far-fetched dream which eluded many pious Christians. The dream was sometimes artistically portrayed by the Lord Jesus seated on his throne with a lily protruding from one side of his head (symbolizing resurrection) and on the other a sword (representing judgment). Children wondered, “How do I obtain the lily instead of the sword?”