The Reformation is an era that is widely acknowledged as a major turning point marked by substantial change politically and religiously in Western Europe and the world. This change is primarily due to the influence of Martin Luther, a man who played a pivotal role through his writings. There were many reasons for the push for the Reformation, but the main causes were political and religious. The Church was a powerhouse because the clergy comprised the majority of those who could read, the majority of Europe and most of the world believed in Christianity, and the Pope was a figurehead who had the power of excommunication. Eventually, this power would start to afflict the Church, on the outside, the Church preached its teaching, thought to be …show more content…
Luther was a devoted monk who practiced and believed in the Church’s teachings until he visited Rome. In Document 5, it says, "He received the impression that ‘Rome, once the holiest city, was now the worst.’" In Rome, Luther came to realize one thing: the Church was not what it claimed to be. An example of this is when Pope Leo X, after emptying the Vatican’s coffers, sold indulgences to the public, exchanging money for salvation, or another time when a priest stated, "if there was a hell, Rome was built on it." Luther saw the corruption firsthand and decided to start gathering information to oppose the Church. He began to study in a monastery and read many versions of the Bible. "Luther claimed that he had read that Bible so thoroughly that he knew what was on every page. " Eventually, Luther would have a revelation of truth, and this revelation would be that the Church’s intervention shouldn’t be as big as it is. Only two sacraments were truly needed, baptism and the Lord’s supper, and that you did not need the Church to enter heaven, all you have to do is have faith and put your hand out. Then, Luther would formulate a document known as the "95 Theses", which directly opposed the Church and the papacy by ridiculing their corrupt ways. He pinned a copy to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg and printed his copies through the recent invention of Johannes Gutenberg, the printing press. Luther was now well-known throughout
Therefore, Luther decided to post 95 Theses, against indulgences and church policies, on October 31, 1517 on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. So due to the printing press, he was able to spread out his statements all over Germany between two weeks, and in Europe throughout a month. Basically Luther’s movement was the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. The printing press helped Luther expand his writings like sermons, tracts, and polemics. The presses printed hundreds of thousands of writings by Luther.
The pastors were mainly all incompetent individuals and also did not know how to teach what they were to be teaching. So, Luther knew he had to go against the Catholic Church, which caused much disruption during those times, and write out exactly the words every Christian should know. Luther knew that
As Luther is fighting the corrupt Papacy he writes this, “Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.” Luther writes this to show what true religion is, to show what a truly faithful person should do, believe in their God and give him every bit of faith from someone's person. The Papacy hates Luther not because he is wrong, but because he is right, which means if Luther was right and the masses believed him all the power that was held by the church would crumble into nothing; most importantly though the Papacy members personal power would crumble into nothing. During the early phases of the Reformation, Luther wrote the 95 Theses, which described everything he found wrong with the church at this time. The Theses was the catalyst, which set off the ticking time bomb of corruption and irreverence.
Theses, posted in 1517, criticized the sale of indulgences and called for a debate on issues of faith and authority within the Church. He emphasized the doctrine of justification by faith, rejecting the Catholic Church's teaching on the necessity of good works for salvation. Luther also advocated for the priesthood of all believers, asserting that all believers have direct access to God and the ability to interpret the Bible for
Luther believed the church was corrupt. He challenged the church by producing the 95th
Martin Luther, a German priest, theologian, and professor In 1517 pre protestant reformation saw the growing issues with the Catholic power in Wittenberg Germany. Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the church door to debate the teachings and punishments of the Catholic church. He states the corruption of the church. .Martin Luther's 95 Theses is a huge turning point in history because it paved the way for the protestant reformation.
The Protestant Reformation had a huge impact in all Europe in the sixteen century, but which ones were the factors that lead to it? It is very important to highlight that the European Christianity was falling into a noticeable corruption of its popes and some other high position members. Robbery, and even warriors were among of some factors that took the Cristian Church to a declining path. One of these examples was the Pope Julius II, which one won the nickname “the warrior pope” because he led armies against people. Furthermore, the church was not the only factor promoting this reformation, some other social changes were occurring with the masses in Europe; many of the peasants were being free especially in the western Europe.
Luther believed that people should have a direct relationship with God, and the Bible should be the only source of religious authority. Progressively,
According to the textbook Martin Luther was one of the greatest guys from the renaissance. People believed that if you bought a slip of paper that you would go straight to heaven. Martin Luther didn’t believe that so he read the bible. “Through his study of the bible Luther arrived at an answer to a problem”(textbook pg.173). Martin Luther found out that “Catholic teaching had stressed that both faith and good works were needed to gain personal salvation”(textbook pg.173).
Martin Luther was a german theologian who brought on the reformation by demanding changes in the Catholic Church (“Martin Luther”). Martin grew with a father that was a miner and grew up working and being very religious (“Martin Luther”). One year later he followed out his promise by leaving everything behind and being ordained a monk (Martin Luther, World History Ancient and Medieval Eras). Many people believe Martin spoke badly about the church because he was corrupted by temptation. Martin Luther was ordained a monk in 1507 and did this hopefully find inner peace however, temptation made
The Protestant Reformation began with a movement made by a monk simply to criticize and challenge the actions of the Church. From the disapproval of selling indulgence to the demand of equality, multiple forces have sparked the inception of the Protestant Revolution. Martin Luther’s decision to take public stand against the Church was revolutionary to the society. A movement for religious reforms, known as the Protestant Reformation, was born. Luther’s beliefs were soon adopted by and appealed to every levels of society.
The printing press was invented around 1436, around the same time as the reformation, by Johannes Gutenberg. This invention and production of the printing press created a glut in the availability of information, giving the less fortunate people the ability to learn. The World History Encyclopedia said that “Gutenberg's press changed all of that by providing the means for mass production on a larger scale and distribution of reading material” (Mark). This strengthens the idea that the press was a huge step for the reformation, by demonstrating the ability to quickly and efficiently spread information with this new invention of the Printing Press. The printing press was created in Germany, making it around the same place as where Luther created the 95 theses. This shows significance to the Reformation because if Luther wasn't so close to the creator of the press he may not have been able to spread his ideas as quickly as he did.
One of the newest invention of this time the printing press was a major tool of communication. Luther could spread his ideas and believes faster than ever before. Although, the new faith was spreading fast, Martin Luther was “punished” and officially
Starting from the statement that Christians receive salvation through faith and the grace of God. Luther also stated, “The churches rituals did not have the ability to save souls. ”Also Luther talked about how the Church and the Pope make errors often. This had gone from a need for reforming indulgences to a whole
He took the words of God, and made them his own, changing their meaning. After these sudden changes, Martin Luther said, “The main reason I fell out with the pope was this: the pope boasted that he was the head of the Church, and condemned all that would not be under his power and authority. He said, “..although Christ is the head of the Church, there must be a physical head of the Church upon earth.” (Document 5, Luther). As Luther said, this could not be tolerated.