Luther’s decision to enter an Augustinian monastery was a difficult one (the payoff for a vow made during an horrific thunderstorm) and he was haunted by insecurity about his salvation (he dubbed these insecurities Anfectungen or Afflictions). While he flung himself into the life of a monk with vigor, he remained plagued by anxieties and uncertainties. It wasn’t until he began his first lectures on the Psalms that he began to develop an assurance about his life and his faith, especially when he affirmed the doctrine of justification by grace alone.

Even then, while it might be said that Luther became more certain of God and his salvation, he never became fully secure in human society - unsurprising given the hostile response by some to his theology.

Sadly this is not history-changing information, nor will it lead to a re-evaluation of the Protestant Reformation or the Lutheran church - commonplace information rarely does - but it might lead to a re-evaluation of snide asides based on remarkable ignorance. No wonder Sales hasn’t bothered with a reply.

I couldn’t help but notice that you have no comments on this blog, which is tragic considering the stimulating cocktail of penetrative social commentary and thoughtful, careful political distillations to be found on your criminally obscure corner of the internet. I’m prompted in particular by your assessment of Sir Ken Robinson’s appearance on 7.30. Part of me wonders if it’s even worth going on with my day to day knowing that there’s someone of your effortless brilliance wandering the planet. On behalf of Sir Ken I should like to apologize for wasting your time. How he has managed to ascend to international recognition as the world’s leading thinker on creativity and innovation, head government think tanks, consult and work with some of the finer minds on the planet and secure a knighthood is baffling, when there’s you, sitting there in your mum’s basement in Sydney effortlessly scything through the world’s various conundrums. Were I to meditate for any length of time on my, Sir Ken and, for that matter, everyone’s inferiority to your towering intellectual and humanitarian achievements I think I’d shoot myself in the face. The only thought that gives me pause in reaching for my colt revolver is that suicide would deprive me of the opportunity to learn at your knee. Please keep it up! If not for my sake, for the sake of others like Sir Ken, who have spent their lives wrapping their feeble intellectual faculties around issues you resolve absentmindedly in between shaving your mum’s back and imagining what it must feel like to touch a woman who didn’t bring you to term. Tend the flame of truth. If you don’t do it, I’m terrified I might start reading quotes in context, and from there it’s a slippery slope to understanding what was being said, and if the public were to actually understand what a thoughtful important person sounds or looks like, you’d be out of a job. And this I simply could not abide.