Taking a Look at Lutheranism

1047 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The influence of Martin Luther

“If you don’t believe in God, you had better hope your right!” All religions basically believe in one God. Lutheranism is no exception, and as it just so happens it is very close to the Catholic religion I practice. This paper will attempt to explain the Lutheran Church and how it came to be. Martin Luther, a German monk, known to many as the “Father of Reformation” did not initially or intentionally, start the Lutheran religion. However, his teachings became the cornerstone of what is known today as the Lutheran Religion. Marting Luther was born in Germany in 1483, became a monk, got ordained in 1507 then began to teach at the University of Wittenberg. Even though Martin Luther was ordained in the Catholic Church he became torn as some of the acts of the church he believed to be wrong. So began the reform. Luther thought that the specific act in the Catholic Church of indulgences was wrong so he decided to try to reform the Catholic Church through his own teachings. Martin believed that the act of taking money in return for a promise of eternal happiness with God was wrong. This is what some of the Catholic leaders were doing and as time went on the act of accepting indulgences became greater and greater. Indulgences, in simpler terms, meant a peasant could pay to have his sins forgiven. You could literally, according to the clergy, buy your way out of Hell and/or buy less time in Purgatory! The reformation that Luther had hoped for the Catholic Church did not work. They were many other reasons that Martin Luther had issues with the Catholic Church besides the indulgences, but that was the big one. Others included, but are not limited to, priest celibacy, the great respect for saints, sacred images and the idea that the pope wa... ... middle of paper ... ...days to remember great saints, and so forth. They also have a couple that are specific to their own history, including the celebration of Reformation Day on October 31st, generally regarded as the day when Martin Luther launched the Reformation. Interestingly enough, it coincided with All Saints Day celebrations, where the Church remembers all who have died in Christ with the hope of salvation and redemption. Lastly, the great leaders of the Lutheran Religion would of course include Martin Luther himself and today the Lutheran Church does not have one particular leader like the Catholic’s have a Pope. The leaders include a council and assembly of Church members, and today if they had to “pick” a leader it would most likely be the presiding Bishop, Reverend Elizabeth A. Eaton. The presiding bishop’s serve a six year term and her term just began November 1, 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Martin Luther And The Lholic Church Reform

    1794 Words  | 4 Pages

    Martin Luther couldn 't help contradicting parts of Roman Catholic religious practices, particularly the offer of indulgences, religious disgrace, and the prominence on salvation through benevolent acts. He made a move by posting and dispersing his 95 theses and left a big mark on religious development, which created a branch of human faith, and later encouraging change in the Roman Catholic Church. Martin Luther was in charge of the separation of the Catholic Church. He was a mediator in the sixteenth century of a craving across the board of the reestablishment and change of the Catholic Church. He started the Protestant change, which was a continuation of the medieval religious study. Martin Luther’s 95 theses opened the door to a religious reform. He made it possible for other rulers to believe that two religions could coexist.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Luther And King Henry Viii

    636 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther is known to be a key initiator to the Protestant Reformation, although he had no intention of doing so. He was going to become a monk, so he read deeply into scriptures, but this only led him to discover inconsistencies between traditions and the Bible. These inconsistencies lead him to demand changes in the Catholic Church; however that did not include

    Read More

  • Comparing Martin Luther And King Henry VIII

    832 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther desired to reform the Church because he believed that it was corrupt and wanted to be seen as the gateway to Heaven. In Luther’s eyes, the Roman Catholic Church was teaching the wrong things and showing bad behavior. Because of this, Martin Luther, being a conscientious friar and professor of theology, did not feel secure in the idea of salvation. The Church was teaching that salvation came through faith AND good works while Luther concluded

    Read More

  • Difference Between Martin Luther And Ethnocentrism

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    First we will talk about Martin Luther. Martin Luther was born on November 10th, 1438 and died February 18th, 1546, but his actions throughout his life leave a mark in the history world. Luther was a Catholic priest and professor of Theology from Germany. He attended the University of Wittenburg, and there, not only did he earn a doctorate, but he also gained "religious enlightenment". He is, to this day, a very influential person of the past and he changed history forever, but why? The answer is the Protestant Reformation.

    Read More

  • Effects Of Martin Luther's 95 Theses

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    People started to see the logic in his words and they started to break away from the Catholic church and in the process starting the protestant reformation. In his theses Luther believed that Faith not good deeds could save a person. People were convinced when they were told that if they pay so much money that their loved ones would be able to get out of purgatory and make it to heaven. Indulgences such as this was one of the major things that made Martin Luther so angry and adamant of writing his 95 theses because he wanted to see a change in the Catholic

    Read More

  • Protestant Reformation Dbq

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther was a German friar, Catholic priest, and a professor of theology who later became known for what we now call the Protestant Reformation. In 1517, feeling disgruntled at the behavior exhibited by his fellow friars and priests, Martin Luther decided it was time to make his disapproval known. One of the things he was disgruntled about were the churches selling what they called Indulgences, or essentially, "get out of Purgatory free" cards. These churches would sell them to whomever could afford the fee for them. Sometimes, even charging more than double the original price if they had a parishioner who was a repeat customer. Luther was disgusted that the churches would even consider selling reparations to parishioners for a fee.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Martin Luther's Letter To The Christian Nobility Of The German Government

    1319 Words  | 3 Pages

    The political organization and religion aspects during the 16th century influenced Protestant Reformation to occur in Germany. Martin Luther’s writings reflect on his views and perspectives of German politics and religion at the time. Martin Luther’s ideas in the Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation and The Statement of Grievances mentions Martin Luther’s thoughts about how corrupt the church is, why the corruption in the church needs to end, and what Martin Luther’s ideas are to change the way of the church.

    Read More

  • Catholic Reformation Dbq

    1162 Words  | 3 Pages

    He made a massive impact on the Catholic Church because he changed so many things during his time so that everyone would be treated fairly and evenly. One of Luther's main roles was that he was the leader of the Lutheran's. The Lutherans were the type of people who supported Luther and his ideas and followed him with what his teachings were about. A lot of these people were protestants because once Luther spoke up to the Catholic Church they all saw that they were being taken advantage of. Luther's beliefs were based on 'Faith + Good works = Heaven'. This was one of the many things that protestants believed would be the reason why they would be sent to Heaven. Luther felt that the Catholic Church weren't interpreting the bible correctly which is why Martin made the 95 Theses. The 95 Theses contained offence on papal abuses and the sale of indulgences by the church in 1517. When Luther refused to take back his offence, Pope Leo X outlined a statement about the Church's doctrine on indulgences and wanted Luther's ideas to be condemned of. By the time that Luther brought more and more attention to himself he had the support of many German society's. Pope Leo X gave Luther 60 days to recant or he would face excommunication. As many of Luther's books were being burned Luther published an open letter to Pope Leo X announcing that he will still be continuing about his opinion on false doctrine and corruption in the

    Read More

  • Analysis of Martin Luther's 95 Theses

    535 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther was not fond of the practices the Roman Catholic church of indulgences. Indulgences are a practice where worshippers would pay their priest which granted remission for their sins (“Indulgences."). This practice became increasingly corrupt. In the 95 Theses, Luther, became prominent in the Protestant Reformation due to its humble and academic tone (A&E Television Networks, LLC.). For example, in the second theses he states, “The word cannot be properly understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, i.e. confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.” This means that only god can give salvation, not a priest. He is questioning why we must pay to re...

    Read More

  • Martin Luther Research Paper

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    Martin Luther (1483-1546), a German monk and religious reformer of the 16th century, became a father of the protestant reformation. Luther’s vast influence extending beyond just religion has in return made him one of the most vital figures in European history. Son of Hans Luther and Margarethe Luther, Luther was born is Eisleben, Germany. Growing up, Luther attended school at Magdeburg and Eisenach. Later, Luther would start his collegiate education at the University of Erfurt where he would graduate with both a bachelors and Masters.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Erasmus And Martin Luther

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    To start off with, Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses can be perceived as an elaboration of Erasmus’s The Praise of Folly because they share similar conceptions. This can clearly be seen with their common idea that the buying of indulgences was a commercial transaction rather than a repentant of sin. Erasmus stated that this sort of procedure has deluded the people with imaginary pardons for their sins. Martin Luther also stated his discontent of indulgences in the Ninety-Five Theses and his letter to Archbishop Albrecht in 1517. Just like Erasmus, he believes that indulgences are not just. Paul Bishop, in his analysis of Ninety-Five Theses, states that “Luther went on to say that every repentant Christian has the right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without the letters of pardon, this being an act of God’s mercy alone.” In other words, it is stated that Christians are able to repent their sins because of God’s mercy not letters of pardon. Luther basically elaborates on Erasmus’s dissatisfaction of indulgences. Furthermore, Luther’s rejection of monasticism could have been influenced by Erasmus’s criticism toward the religious and monks, as he expressed in the Praise of Folly. He, with sincere frustration, attacks them by saying that they’re highly pleased with themselves, filthy, ignorant, and misnomers that stay as far away from religion as possible. Martin Luther, although a monk himself at one point of his life, later on rejected monasticism. This is because monasticism contradicted his belief toward justification by faith. Their good works and deeds did not lead to salvation, according to him. For that reason, Protest Reformation destroyed monasticism, as did Lutheranism. To conclude, Martin Luther’s reformation ideas are elaborations of Erasmus’s ideas in the prelude of the

    Read More

  • Martin Luther Thesis Statement

    644 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther was a friar very devoted to the Church but after analyzing all these aspects he decided to do something about it. On October 31, 1517 he attached to the door of Wittenberg Castle a list of 95 theses or propositions on indulgences. These theses criticized papal policies and were objections about he church put on hold for discussion.

    Read More

  • Comparing Martin Luther and Jean Calvin

    1850 Words  | 4 Pages

    Martin Luther, also known as the “Reformator,” was a superior asset in the Protestant Reformation. He was born on November 10, 1483 in the town of Eisleben, which was located in East Germany. Luther’s parents were Hans Luder and Margaretha nee Lindemann. His father was a farmer and later became a copper miner in Mansfeld. Martin Luther’s parents brought him up in the strict environment of the Roman Catholic Church. With his new job in Mansfeld, Hans made the decision to move his family there in 1484. Hans expected Martin to become a lawyer, so Luther went to Erfurt in 1501 to study law. Luther received his master’s degree in 1505. Shortly after this, he felt like law was not the right place for him. This act upset his father, not only because he dropped out of the university, but he decided that he wanted to become an Augustinian monk in Erfurt. Luther believed that if he was serious about his religion, he could please and do good works for God. However, once again, he was still unhappy. Luther decided to make another life-changing decision by studying theology. He went to Wittenberg to study this subject. Martin...

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Lutheranism

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lutheranism was founded in the early sixteenth century by Martin Luther (Hay 184). Martin Luther was a German monk and was recognized as a Roman Catholic priest in 1507 (Hay 184). He also earned his doctorate degree in theology during 1512 at the University of Wittenburg (Brown 65).

    Read More

  • The Reformation in Germany

    1314 Words  | 3 Pages

    Martin Luther was a German theologian whose writings prompted the beginning of the Reformation in Germany. He was born to Hans and Margarete Luther on November 10th, 1843, in Eisleben, Germany. At the age of 18, in 1501, he enrolled into the University of Erfurt. During a terrible thunderstorm at Erfurt, he prayed to St. Anna and promised that, if he came out of the storm alive, he would become a monk. After surviving the storm however, Luther regretted this promise, but still joined a monastery in 1505, becoming an Augustinian friar. In 1510, he visited Rome on behalf of a number of Augustinian monasteries, and was disgusted by the corruption that he found there. After this visit to Rome, Luther became increasingly troubled by his faith, so during studying and teaching theology, after being made a Doctor of Theology at the University of Wittenberg in 1512, he began to ...

    Read More

More about Taking a Look at Lutheranism

Open Document