An Analysis of Luther's Anthropological Paradigm and Its Inconsistency with the Church's Conventional Paradigm

The emergence of humanism and reform movement which gave rise to a new perception of individualism of man and the kind of man's relationship with God and forgiveness is the focal point of Luther's theology. Considering the new circumstances, Luther offered a new paradigm about man, freedom of will, and the kind of man's relationship with God and faith. From early, the medieval church used to consider God as a being to whom man has no access. Rejecting the intermediary role of the church, Luther declares that it is possible for man to have access to God and he is allowed to have direct conversation with Him. The conceptual modification that Luther made to the concept of forgiveness is based on the principle that God has apparently forgiven man and God's forgiveness lies in outside the sinner's existence. Therefore, forgiveness is something acquired, not granted. This new paradigm opposes the common Augustinian view which was prevailing in the Middle Ages and which considers forgiveness lies within man; a view that the church adopted and used it for the guidance of man. However, the essence of Luther’s paradigm about man giving man the freedom of which the church and religious law deprived him; therefore, man cannot worship God freely when he has only free will.