Description:

The conference, “Beyond Oberman: Luther and the Middle Ages,” aims to explicitly address new research on the question of Luther’s continuity with medieval religious life and thought. Important topics will be the religious dimensions of Luther’s thought, particularly the connection to late medieval mystics; specific medieval thinkers who are relatively obscure but who profoundly shaped Luther’s thinking, such as Gabriel Biel and Giles of Rome; historical considerations of specific ideas, for example the plague and biblical interpretation; and specific doctrines that demonstrate continuity between Luther and medieval philosophical thought, for example Christology and theological anthropology. Some of the most important scholars in the world in the areas of Luther scholarship and medieval philosophy will present their research. The conference will provide opportunities for bringing different research perspectives into conversation in addition to charting out new trajectories for future scholarship.