Students will visit and witness the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s “95 Theses” with David Kneip as part of a study abroad opportunity this summer.
David Kneip, assistant professor of Bible, will accompany a group of students to Leipzig, Germany, as they witness one of the world’s most memorable services in the Christian faith. The course offered will be BIBL 440: Reformation History and will include visiting the towns where Luther taught, his monastery and where he was born and died. Kneip said the Center for International Education helped him organize the trip because Martin Luther’s reforms impacted both the Protestant and Catholic churches in multiple ways.
“Martin Luther’s movement and the other reforming impulses ended up shaping Christianity worldwide for both Protestants and Catholics,” Kneip said. “And so it’s a highly relevant trip for ACU, as an institution that’s part of the Protestant stream of Christianity.”
Martin Luther worked as a professor, priest and monk during the mid-16th century. After several disputes with the Roman Catholic Church, Luther nailed the “95 Theses” unto the doors of the Catholic church and translated the Bible from the Latin language into German in order for the common man to read it.
Kneip said the course will include reading original writings, hiking, visiting castles and a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students. Students will also be able to visit the surrounding cities such as Berlin, Prague and more.
“Luther and the Reformation have been incredibly important for the history of the church and its worship,” said Kneip. “This is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a 500th anniversary, and we get to go be a part of it.”
The course will be offered May 16, 2017.
