MARILYN CORNWELL: Jan 18 2021 - What's in a Name

Growing up a Lutheran, you can imagine that Martin Luther King got my attention. Couldn't that be equivalent to naming someone Pope Paul or Saint Peter in the Roman Catholic faith? I wondered about how he got named after such a religious figure.

This curiosity is easily answered: "Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth name was not “Martin,” but “Michael.” Dr. King’s father traveled to Germany and became inspired by Protestant reformer Martin Luther and thus changed his name while also changing the name of his then 5-year-old-son."

But that isn't the answer - it is a statement of what happened when. It gives no reason why - there is no explanation by King Sr or others. As is typical of the articles on social media, the same phrases are repeated in the articles.

Here's the Wikipedia entry:

That year, (1934) he also changed his name (and that of his eldest son) from Michael King to Martin Luther King after a period of gradual transition on his own part. He was inspired during a trip to Germany for that year's meeting of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). While visiting sites associated with reformation leader Martin Luther, attendees also witnessed the rise of Nazism. The BWA conference issued a resolution condemning antisemitism, and the senior King gained deepened appreciation for the power of Luther's protest.

I don't remember our Lutheran church promoting Martin Luther. I saw a special on him on the 500th anniversary in 2017. I found out he was the greatest and most influential social media personality of his time. He didn't mean to, he wanted the 95 Theses to be discussion points. Instead, he started the protestant revolution. Printed copies of the 95 Theses spread throughout Germany within two weeks, and Europe within two months.

Martin Luther King Sr. was an activist similar to Martin Luther, pointing to freedom and dignity, and away from corruption and violence. I wonder what the other connections are.

Model layouts are about clarity - no multiple exposures here.