Martin Luther: The Great-Grandfather of Church-State Separation

Abstract

This project explores the doctrines of Martin Luther that contributed to the string of thought which eventually led to the formation of the First Amendment religion clauses. The project follows the development of Martin Luther's theology, European secular thought, the beliefs of other religious thinkers, and the positions of early American political figures. It then looks at the development of the First Amendment clauses by evaluating the important actors and their varying positions throughout the debate surrounding the creation of the Amendment. The project then draws parallels between these positions and Martin Luther's early and late doctrinal positions.