Why Reformation anniversary ignored?

Every decade or so historians are asked what, in their opinion, were the most important events in world history.

For the last millennium the Protestant Reformation of 1517 always finishes in the top 1, 2 or 3. And as for the most important persons in history, Martin Luther, the monk/priest/doctor of theology/university professor who sparked the Reformation, invariably finishes in the top 2.

Yet on Tuesday, Oct. 31, a date that marked the 500th Anniversary of the start of the Reformation when Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses against the sale of indulgences on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, absolutely nothing was said of this event. It wasn't just the Daily Herald that ignored it. Nothing was said of it on any major network TV news show, and I tried to watch several. Perhaps I didn't see it if one did, in fact, mention the Reformation.

Nevertheless, I'm surprised if not shocked. I'm disappointed if not incredulous. How could this have happened? One of the most important events in all of world history was summarily ignored on the day of its 500th Anniversary. But I suspect it's evidence of the growing fact that religion in general and Christianity in particular are being marginalized to the periphery of society. In the end, that will prove to be the undoing of this great nation.

Pastor Ronald W. Weidler (retired)

Batavia