Martin Luther and the Reformation

Martin Luther and the Reformation

  • Submitted By: jwhit420
  • Date Submitted: 02/04/2009 1:07 PM
  • Category: Religion
  • Words: 795
  • Page: 4
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Martin Luther and the Reformation

Martin Luther was a revolutionary thinker, humble monk, and brilliant theologian. Luther has come to be known as the man who defied the Catholic religion and rebelled against their ways.
During Luther’s time Catholicism’s way to salvation seemed to be clouded by wealth and power. Their way to salvation was found through ways of good works such as prayer, fasting, pilgrimages, attendance at church, charity and participation in the mass. (Houghton Mifflin Company) They seemed to concentrate more upon these things than faith itself and being free of sin. Eventually the church started to sell indulgences. These indulgences were a guarantee that your soul would leave purgatory. Luther formed very different opinions then the Pope and the Catholic Church. In fact he started to develop his own person theology that protested the use of these indulgences. He intended to prove that the Pope’s way to salvation was unjust and thus began the Reformation. (Hooker)
In 1517 Luther attacked a Dominican friar named John Tetzel who was selling indulgences in the area near Wittenburg. Luther launched his attack by tacking on the door of the Wittenburg castle church his Ninety-five Thesis. (Houghton Mifflin Company) Luther felt that selling indulgences was absurd as well as preaching that salvation was found through good works. Luther believed that man needed to be completely free of sin. He did not feel that the Pope had the right to remit punishment inflicted by God. Instead Luther concentrated on the written word and his attention was fixed upon the agony of Christ himself. Man could accept his worthlessness and take joy in faith that was made possible through Christ’s sacrifice. God was a forgiving and loving man, not a fierce and wicked judge. He believed that confession of sin was unneeded and the only way to be saved was by faith itself. (New)
Luther realized that he may be in danger and he called upon the prince of his district,...

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