Protestant Reformation Dbq

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The Protestant Reformation was a pivotal movement that reshaped Western Christianity in the 16th century. At its core, the Reformation was a challenge to the authority of the Catholic Church and a call for greater spiritual freedom. Martin Luther, a German monk, is often credited as the spark that ignited the Reformation with his 95 Theses in 1517. Luther's 95 Theses were a list of propositions or statements that he nailed to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This act was symbolic and served as a public challenge to the Catholic Church's practices and beliefs. The Theses focused on issues such as the sale of indulgences (pardons for sins), the role of religious images, and the authority of the Pope. Indulgences were certificates that supposedly forgave sins and reduced the time one spent in purgatory after death. Luther argued that the practice was corrupt and relied on false interpretations of Scripture. He also challenged the Church's hierarchical structure and its emphasis on works over faith as a means to salvation. …show more content…

Luther argued that faith in Jesus Christ was the only necessary condition for salvation. Luther's ideas quickly gained popularity among the German people, who were dissatisfied with the Church's wealth and corruption. German princes and nobles, seeking to assert their independence from the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Emperor, supported the spread of Lutheranism. His teachings led to the formation of Lutheranism, a new branch of Christianity that emphasized scripture over tradition, faith over works, and the priesthood of all believers. The Reformation spread beyond Germany into other parts of Europe, with Protestant movements like Calvinism emerging in Switzerland and

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