On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, German theologian, posted 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. The result changed the world!
Portrait of Martin Luther from Cranach. Source: Wikipedia
What are the 95 Theses?
The 95 Theses are a list of concerns that Martin Luther held against the Catholic Church and the pope. They were aimed at provoking a discussion about Catholic Church policy, in particular the sale of ‘indulgences’, which were a vehicle for the faithful to ‘buy’ forgiveness for a variety of sins against the Catholic faith.
Castle Church in Wittenberg. Source: Alamy
What Were the Main Points of the 95 Theses?
There are three main points according to Internet sources:
1.The selling of indulgences to finance the building of St Peter’s is wrong. Luther argued that the revenues from Christian indulgence purchases were being funneled into the building of the ‘insatiable basilica’ in Rome. He argued that church institutions closer to the people, especially local churches, should receive the funding first. Luther argued that the pope was rich and could finance the Rome Basilica with his own finances: ‘He would do better to sell St. Peter’s and give the money to the poor folk who are being fleeced by the hawkers of indulgences,’ cites www.uncommon-travel-germany.com.
2. The pope has no power over Purgatory. Indulgences are not an effective reconciliation with God. The pope can only remove penalties which he has imposed himself on earth. Hence the pope has no jurisdiction over Purgatory.
3. The buying of indulgences gives people a false sense of security and endangers their salvation. Indulgences are harmful because they impede salvation by diverting charity and inducing a false sense of security. Christians should be taught that those who give to the poor are better that those who receive pardon. Indulgences induce complacency and so imperil the possibility for salvation. Peace only comes through Christ. Without faith, absolution alone cannot bring peace to the individual.
A Few Things You might Not Have Known About Religious Protest At the Time
According to www.wordbyword.org, Luther’s thoughts had been brewing throughout Christendom for years. The act of nailing his complaints against the church door was a fairly standard form of protest for those times. Luther was a professor at the new University of Wittenberg and participated in debate in the customary contemporary fashion. He hoped to create a dialogue within the Catholic Church, however the outcome went well beyond his expectations.
The Doors of the Wittenberg Church Where Luther Posted the 95 Theses. Source: iStock
The Idea that Led to Worldwide Change
Luther’s texts were originally written in Latin, the language of the Church. They were intended to spark a dialogue within the theological community. However, the Theses were translated into German without Luther’s permission. They quickly became the ‘fodder for the masses,’ according to www.wordbyword.org. This turned Luther into an unintended revolutionary.
In 1518, the pope condemned Luther’s writings as conflicting with the teachings of the Church. A second papal commission was less convictive and cited his writings as ‘scandalous and offensive’ (history.com). He was excommunicated in 1521 and spent the next next ten months hiding in Eisenach, where he translated the New Testament into German.
The culmination of Luther’s relentless work was the fruit of what later became the Reformation, which was key to the development of Protestant religious movements around the world and is still celebrated on the 31st of October.
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