Abstract:
This chapter is a perspective on the theology of religions of the Reformation, and in
particular from Martin Luther. During the year of the 500th celebration of the
Reformation, it is appropriate to pay special attention to a Reformed perspective on the
theology of religions. It seems as if, with the dawn of the Reformation, missionary work
was no longer considered a priority for the church. This is evident from the lack of
encouragement by the Reformers to carry out mission work and even the hostile attitude
towards non-Christian religions. As to the lack of mission work, there are, however,
scholars indicating the opposite. The definition of mission work during the Reformation
period was quite different to what today is regarded as a definition of mission work. As
the Reformers also focused their energy on reforming the church there was not enough
energy left to put into mission work as well. Martin Luther serves as an example of the
attitude Reformers exhibited towards non-Christian religions. For Luther, Judaism and
Islam were evil as their followers lived according to the law, trying to justify themselves
before God through performing good deeds. Luther’s apparent positive attitude towards
Judaism made way for a later hostile attitude towards Jews.