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Social media post gone viral
by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640


1. Social media post gone viral
Logo: Facebook

Many people are familiar with Facebook as a social media platform.

Sometimes, when a post (written entry) to a social media account is noticed by a lot of other people, and causes an uproar or panic, the post is said to have gone viral, as in a virus spreading or a nuclear chain reaction.

Did you hear about the social media post gone viral that directly caused war on a large scale for many years?

2. Going viral
In just over four years of fighting in World War I, about 10 million soldiers died fighting. In 18 months at the end of the war, about 60 million people died from the Spanish Influenza, or Spanish flu, due to the underlying virus.

Information sign More: Viral origins of the word virus
Something is said to go viral if it spreads quickly (as in the Spanish flu).

Note: These notes were written before COVID-19 in 2020. More people may be familiar with the spread of COVID-19 than the Spanish flu.

3. Indulgences and selling forgiveness
Pope Leo X (Catholic Church) had huge debts and a love of money.

The Catholic Church used "indulgences" as a way to print money, offering forgiveness for sin by a payment. One could even buy forgiveness before the sin was done.

4. Private media post
Events went out of control in 1517.
On All Saint's Eve, today called Halloween, with some extra time to work, Martin Luther wrote and tacked his 95 theses, criticisms of the Catholic Church not adhering to what the Bible appeared to say, on the private social media posting area on the church door.

It was intended to be a "private" discussion at the Abby on the issues.

5. Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church is named after Martin Luther.

6. Public media post
Benjamin Franklin printer statue at Masonic Homes
A friend of Luther took the printing press, invented about 65 years earlier, made copies of the 95 Theses, and sent it all over Europe.
The now "public" social media post went viral.

Within a month, most of Europe was at war for conflicts, small and large, that would last for many centuries.

7. Hidden in the castle
When Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, wanted to hide Martin Luther, he had him hid by others in one of his castles (without telling him where) so that he could say that he truthfully say that he did not know where he was. He could find out where Martin Luther was, but he did not actually know where Martin Luther was.

Information sign More: Martin Luther

8. Here I stand
At the Diet/Edict of Worms, under trial in April 1521, Luther made his famous speech defending his actions in response to the Papal bull of Pope Leo X.
Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason … I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. (*) May God help me. Amen.

*Luther is said to have said "Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise" before concluding.

9. Religious wars


10. John Hus
John Hus was burned at the stake in 1415 for heresy, for saying the same type of things said by Martin Luther a hundred years later.

A legend holds that the song "Fairest Lord Jesus" (in German) was sung by followers of John Hus of Bohemia (area of King Wenchlas).

Variations: Jan/John Hus/Huss

Difference between Hus and Luther: printing press invented about 1440.

Information sign More: Song: Fairest Lord Jesus

11. The just shall live by faith
The phrase "The just shall live by faith" appears in Habakkuk but also appears three times in the GNT (Greek New Testament) in letters written by Paul. Each part applies to one of the books. The "just" is the same word as "righteous", those who are "right" by God. The meaning that Martin Luther acquired from these verses led him to start what is called the "Reformation".

Information sign More: The just shall live by faith

12. Song: Mighty Fortress is our God
In 1529, Martin Luther composed the famous hymn (words and tune) "A mighty fortress is our God" based on Psalm 46.
Verse routePsalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [kjv]

Martin Luther started the Reformation with his 95 Theses tacked to the door at Wittenberg Monastery on All Saint's Eve in 1517.

Information sign More: Song: Mighty Fortress is our God

13. Verse 1 in German
Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott,
Ein gute Wehr und Waffen;
Er hilft uns frei aus aller Not,
Die uns jetzt hat betroffen.
Der alt' boese Feind,
Mit Ernst er's jetzt meint,
Gross' Macht und viel List
Sein' grausam' Ruestung ist,
Auf Erd' ist nicht seinsgleichen.

14. Verse 1 in English
A mighty fortress is our God,
A sword and shield victorious;
He breaks the cruel oppressor's rod
And wins salvation glorious.
The old evil foe,
worn to work us woe,
With dread craft and might
He arms himself to fight.
On Earth he has no equal.

15. Verse 4
That word above all earthly powers—
No thanks to them—abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also:
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is for ever.

16. German Christkind
Carved snowman and Santa

With the date change from December 5 to December 24 (Christmas Eve), many Christian leaders of Europe, especially Martin Luther, did not want Saint Nicholas overshadowing Jesus at Christmas. In Germany parents were to use terms like "Christkindl".

The German word "das Kind""the child". A "kindergarten" is a "garden for children". The lowercase "L" at the end of "Christkindl" is a form of diminutive.

Going through Dutch, "Kriskind" becomes "Kris Kringle".

[grammatical gender]

Information sign More: Diminutives
Information sign More: The doctrine of Santa Claus

17. Yesterday
Verse routeHebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. [kjv]
Verse routeιησους χριστος εχθες και σημερον ο αυτος και εις τους αιωνας [gnt]

Sign: We change. But God's Message is the same.Has God changed? Does God change? How would a God who is outside of time and space change? What about Jesus? If Jesus is God, would not the same reasoning apply?

Information sign More: Yesterday

18. End of page

by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640