Why the scarcity of Luther's writings in mainstream Protestant bookstores?

Answer 1

Same with Calvin.

Most Christian bookstores cater to post-moderism and their biggest demands are for christian music CD's and outrageously priced little trinkets. I don't think the demand is there.

Also, Luther only wrote one commentary in his life, on the book of Galatians.

Answer 2

I think there are a couple of reasons for this.

First, as Father K alluded to, Luther was too unstable and bitter, and his ideas too erratic, for a lot of people to consider him a good resource for day-to-day study by laymen. Even the church that bears his name does not actually follow his teachings, aside from a handful of writings in the Book of Concord (the Lutheran confessions).

In addition, Luther was clearly a Roman Catholic; his writings reflect this heavily. Most Protestants would not even understand a lot of what he was talking about, and what they do understand would often offend them. Let's face it: Doctrines like the Immaculate Conception or the bodily presence of Jesus in Holy Communion don't go over too well in Protestant circles.

Answer 3

Protestant bookstores have all but died out. Christians, sadly, have lost the ability to reason and think by and large. Anti-intellectualism and liberalism have caused the marketplace of ideas to be replace by Veggie tales and Christian Mints ..... it is pathetic.

Ath

Answer 4

You bring up a point I would comment on. There are two types of Christians- the denominationally indoctrinated who take the teachings of some post Biblical theologian as infallible truth (even Catholics fall into that), and the Berean types who based everything on the Bible. (Like I'm the latter)

Answer 5

Oh, you know....things like this (below) tend to rub folks the wrong way (and they should!!)

Therefore the blind Jews are truly stupid fools...

-Martin Luther (On the Jews and Their Lies)



Now just behold these miserable, blind, and senseless people.

-Martin Luther (On the Jews and Their Lies)



...their blindness and arrogance are as solid as an iron mountain.

-Martin Luther (On the Jews and Their Lies)

Answer 6

Jews don't like him. He wrote a nice essay about them early in his career and that apparently inflamed them,so then 20 years later he wrote a less complimentary one and that inflamed them even more. And of course to them this all like yesterday.

Answer 7

I find too few christians even read the bible they are always trying to slap me with. I doubt they would read anything of MLs unless forced too.

Answer 8

Because they don't want you to read most of what he had to say. He was a vile man who called for the genocide of the Jewish race.

Answer 9

Christian capitalism. They sell what feels good.

Answer 10

A lot of his writings are bigoted embarrassments today.