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Effects of the Protestant Reformation on the Roman Catholic Church
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Martin Luther’s (1483-1546) actions and teachings have had a profound influence on Christian faith. His crucial decision to go on a pilgrimage to Rome (1510) enabled him to witness and act against the objectionable corruption of the Catholic Church. Luther’s teachings developed through his work at Wittenburg University where his revolutionary theology evolved from the examination of the New Testament. On 31 October 1517 Martin Luther posted the controversial 95 Thesis, condemning the corruption of the Church and sharing his beliefs and ideas such as the 5 solas. Luther started a religious revolution that resulted in the formation of a new variant of Christianity that had changes to the expression of faith and key beliefs. This Protestant Church …show more content…
This corruption took the forms of actions by the Catholic Church such as: the selling of Indulgences for money as a means of attaining salvation, the buying/selling of Church relics (Simony), and the placement of poorly trained people in positions because they knew employers (Nepotism). Luther had also come to believe that the Catholic Church was wrong in their ideas and beliefs. In 1517, Luther posted his 95 theses which expressed his beliefs and thoughts on the corruption of the church, demanding the Catholic Church to reform. He wrote about “sola gratia” as the justification of sinful humankind “by grace… (as) the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). He expressed his thoughts on “salvation through faith in Christ” (2 Timothy 3:14-4:2) as “sola fide”, opposed to the catholic belief of salvation through faith and good …show more content…
Luther’s defiance inspired other people to create Protestant denominations. His 95 Theses had started a religious revolution. His protest for reform had inspired others to demand religious change. His openness and ideas for change encouraged reformers such John Calvin, who provided Protestantism 's theological underpinnings. Whilst there were some negative effects of Luther’s teachings, such as the St Bartholomew’s day massacre (1572) where mobs of Catholics began a general massacre of Huguenot Protestants, Catholicism and Protestantism spread throughout Europe and America. The Evangelical awakening was a revitalization movement in the 1730s and 1740s, leaving a permanent impact on American Protestantism. The theological teachings of the Bible had significant social effects - in the areas of education, prison reform, hospital facilities, poor relief, and the abolition of slavery. All in all it can be said that a ‘breath of new life’ swept through both church and nation as the evangelical awakening was a revival of faith. One such theology was called Liberation Theology, and stated that “the poverty of the poor is… a demand that we go and build a different social order” (Gustavo
Kittelson, James M. Luther the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.
November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire, a role model for all Christians worldwide, was born. His name was Martin Luther, and this man changed the course of history forever. The Holy Roman Empire was an era where there was feudalism and a time of institutional growth and also a period of political importance. This empire encompassed the countries we know today as Czech and Slovak Republics, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and also eastern parts of France, Slovenia, northern Italy, and western Poland. The Holy Roman Empire lasted from 962 CE all the way until 1806 CE. That in all, is 844 years of many Popes, wars between countries, and a large number of different rulers.
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.
His first trip to Rome he watched the poor grovel and beg, some not having food to eat but digging up their money to pay for indulgences. Luther could not stand by and let this happen because he saw indulgences as false salvation. Pope Leo X declared anyone who would pay a certain fee would get into heaven he decided to sell indulgences in order to rebuild or renovate St. Peter 's Basilica and John Tezel, a monk, was hired sent to Germany to collect. Luther felt that they were taking advantage of poor, uneducated people so Luther wrote Pope Leo X a letter of his grievances and why. This didn’t go over well because you don’t go against the Catholic Church you stay silent. The Roman Catholic Church held the power and the money. They could declare Wars, they were advisors to the King, they had the final say to all things. Pope Leo X did not respond to Martin Luther 's letter so Luther wrote 95 Theses in 1517 against the sale of Indulgences and nailed them to the door at Wittenberg Castle. This is where the one advantage Luther. The German printing press got a hold of the 95 Thesis and spread it around everywhere for all to see. Of Course the church demanded he repents and recants what
Born in Germany, in 1483, Martin Luther went on to become one of western history’s most significant figure. Luther spent his early life as a priest and a lawyer. He was also the professor of theology. Considering his background it was a total surprise that Luther protested and criticized the catholic church. Even more surprising since he was a priest. However, Martin Luther didn’t want to destroy the church after all he was a priest. He just wanted to reform some of the church’s perceived abuses. There are different reasons that sparked Martin Luther’s protestant reformation, namely. 1) salvation or getting to heaven, was won by faith alone, 2) the selling of indulgences, 3) the bible
Martin Luther was a former Priest/Monk and that saw some corruption in the Roman Catholic Church. Luther tried to bring his concerns to the Church in his writing of the “Ninety-five Theses on the Power of Indulgences.” When these question that Luther proposed to the Archbishop of Mainz went unsatisfactorily unanswered in 1517, Luther started defaming the Roman Church and pushed for the utter destruction of the Roman Church. What started out as an internal reform of Church’s discipline, turned into a war against the Roman Church for their total destruction. This was the intent of Luther’s sermon of 1521.
The Reformation was the 16th-century religious, political, intellectual and cultural upheaval that splintered Catholic Europe, setting in place the structures and beliefs that would define the continent in the modern era. It was important because it divided the continent between catholics and protestants. New ideas were introduced and was the subject of tension between catholics and protestant for the next centuries. On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted on the door of the castle church at Wittenberg his 95 theses, inviting debate on matters of practice and doctrine. Luther's action was not as yet a revolt against the church but a movement for reform within. It was, however, much more than an objection to the money-grabbing and secular policies of the
While numerous theological issues had been brewing for some time, the Reformation was officially began in 1517 by a man named Martin Luther. Martin Luther was a professor of biblical theology who had several issues with the Catholic Church. His complaints or disputes with the Catholic Church are known as his 95 Theses. In his 95 Theses, Martin Luther argued that God offers salvation through faith alone and that religious authority comes from the Bible alone which posed a challenge to the authority of the Catholic Church. After sparking the Reformation, Martin Luther made it his goal to incorporate the church congregation in the praise and worship part of church service. A detrimental and vital aspect of Christianity, Martin Luther believed this needed to be done. Along with his followers, Martin Luther made continuous...
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.
Martin Luther's Impact on Germany Although we remember Luther as the 'great thinker who sparked the reformation with his revolutionary ideas', it would be unfair to not acknowledge that Luther was the first to form these new ideas. Many attempts at reform had been attempted prior to Luther, led by heresies such as John Wycliffe, John Hus et al. In fact, during the course of Christianity there has been resistance and dissent, attempts at reform. Fortunately for Luther, when he made his idea and theses public, the German or rather Holy Roman Empire was in such a state that made conditions very well suited for the acceptance and spread of his words. The conditions that I speak of can be mostly categorised within certain headings, Religious, Cultural, Social, Economic and Political causes.
Martin Luther was born on November 10th 1483. His father, Hans Luther, had made something out of himself and came to own a copper mine. Desiring to see his own son go even further he pushed him in school. By the time he was seventeen years old he was entering the university life. In four years he had obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Erfurt. From here his father pushed him into law school. This is not where Martin Luther would stay. While on the road, during a storm, Martin Luther had the fear of God put in him when lightning came crashing down near him. He called out to God to make a bargain. If God spared his life, he would become a monk. While ninety nine out of a hundred would probably shake it off and continue on after such an ordeal, he kept his word and joined a local Augustinian monastery. He found himself unsatisfied by the rituals of monastic life and began lecturing at the University of Wittenberg. He finally obtained his Doctorate Degree in 1512, but it was what he saw two years earlier on his trip to Rome that would change the direction of the Church forever.
In these Thesis’ Luther basically criticized the church’s wrongful practices and exposed the church’s corruption in order to bring about change in the church. Luther is quoted in Document 3 from his 95 thesis’ “Christian’s should be taught that he who gives to a poor man, or lends to a needy man, does better if he bought pardons.” Luther believed that actions, such as helping others did way more toward saving a person’s soul than buying a pardon did. He saw through the idea that one could by their way into heaven. He brought about new ideas such as God’s grace is the only way into heaven, not buying indulgences, or simply participating in church activities. His ideas eventually spread out all over Europe and his followers formed a group calling themselves Lutherans. This eventually became a protestant denomination, where Luther preached ideas, and his version of christianity. Also other reformist such as John Calvin had their own ideas, like predestination, and that everyone was full of sin until they were saved by christ. “We must resist the lust of the flesh, which, unless kept in order, overflows without measure.” (Document 6) Calvin believed that everyone was filled with this sinful “lust” that could not be kept in order without the power of christ. Calvin also started a sect of christianity nicknamed Calvinist after their leader. Both Luther and Calvin inspired others such as George Fox, who created quakerism, and Ulrich Zwingli who started anabaptism. Overall a huge force that drove the Protestant Reformation was reformers such as Martin Luther and John
Martin’s 95 theses was a document of complaints and dislikes about the church. When he visited Rome and saw the corruption he was appalled because of the way things were in the church. Increasingly growing more and more angry about it he wrote his 95 theses. He wanted a change so badly that he grew bold and he got his theses printed and attached the document to the doors of the church. The pope at the time only brushed Luther’s theses off little did he know that in the near future Luther would get so much attention for his theses and gain followers as well.
with his 95 Theses. A strict father who most likely did not accept “no” as an
Martin Luther a German theologian and religious reformer was the founding figure of the protestant reformation, the break from the Catholic Church, which in many ways marks the beginning of modern Europe. A well-expressed preacher and huge writer, Luther attacked many abuses of the Catholic Church, especially the papacy. The source of his spiritual revelation was not political or institutional but came from his inner fight of conscience. Like other people of his day, Luther was horrified that god would in the end reject him for his sins. He found a word in the bible called “Law” which increased his terror, but he also discovered a word god called “Gospel,” the good news and promise of mercy in Christ, which shed all of his worries. By his words and actions, Luther caused an action that reformulated certain rudimentary Christian belief and the division of Western Church between Roman Catholics and the Protestant traditions. He is one of the most influential person in the history of Christianity.