"For most of the Middle Ages, Christian thinkers were familiar with Plato and knew what aspects of Plato they accepted and which they didn't. It was only when the Crusades took place that Aristotle became known, and was considered suspect until St. Thomas Aquinas reconciled much of Aristotle with Christianity. Luther, however was not convinced. He once remarked that "God had sent Aristotle as a punishment for the sins of mankind"." - Mark Trapp

Yeah the Crusades had a whole lot of revisionist history going on to justify actions and to explain the new things being found as already existing in the "old" world. - Steve C

the context was Luther's call for education reform -- that universities were heathenish dens of "loose living" where Aristotle was held up over the Bible. it's a really good rant on a bunch of topics, and towards the end, he says that maybe he has "pitched his song in a high key" (i.e. sounded shrill) and attacked too many things too sharply. that's kind of where he won me over -- he's basically saying "I know this is a rant BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE SAID." lol - Karim