Here I stand, I can do no other.

[beeja]

Hello,

"Here I stand, I can do no other", the statement of Martin Luther.

Is it equal to "This is my stand point, I can do differently" or "This is what I believe, I can do what other people don't." or what?



One more question, the text quotes:

As one of the great philosopher-sages of western culture, Emerson still matters; in fact, he has never been more relevant.

What does relevant in the above sentence mean?

Tks,

 

[Tdol]

I would say it means that he has no choice but to take the stand.

'Relevant' suggests that he is still meaningful to us today. ;-)

 

[stand]

It has two meanings:

1. A literal meaning: Here I stand (on my feet), and I cannot NOT stand on my feet.

2. A figurative meaning: Here I stand (on my belief), and I cannot NOT believe what I believe.

In other words:

In a physical sense I cannot help but stand where I stand. Luther uses this as a metaphor, meaning that he, in a mental sense as well, cannot help but stand where he stands. He has to believe what he believes.

Finally, as this concept is applied to everybody, Luthers statement also comes to mean that human faith cannot be manipulated by power, only by persuation. A human being cannot be forced, by threats, to believe what he does not believe.