Martin Luther’s 95 Theses Essay free essay sample

Martin Luther was very influential to Western history and religious reformation. Martin Luther was a monk and a scholar, who in 1517 wrote the 95 Theses. The 95 Theses was a document that exposed the Catholic Churches practice of accepting payments to absolve sins, it is also widely regarded as the primary means for the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther wanted his readers to remember that the Bible and its words are essentially the central religious authority. The Bible is basically a roadmap to heaven, it guides the faithful on how to live and treat others. Martin Luther stressed that humans may reach salvation only by being faithful to God, and not by their deeds. Many faithful Christians were also upset by these corrupt practices committed by Popes and other Clergy of the Catholic Church. The faithful lived their lives according to the Bible. The wealthy could occasionally indulge in sinful behaviors, and because they were financially able to pay for pardons, they were forgiven. We will write a custom essay sample on Martin Luther’s 95 Theses Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This created some tensions between the social classes. Martin Luther was not the first to bring attention to these corrupt practices of the Catholic Church. His 95 Theses defied some of the teachings of the Catholic Church on the nature of penance and the authority of the Pope and other Clergy. Some say that Martin Luther helped to divide the Catholic Church and allowed Protestantism to flourish. Protestantism was shaped by Martin Luther’s ideas and writings. Martin Luther did not intend for his Thesis to be viewed as an attack on the Pope. He simply wanted to question the actions of some Popes and the use of money by the Catholic Church. His Theses also addressed Tuzinski 2 some of the hierarchy issues within the church. In many respects, Martin Luther was a man that was ahead of his time. He wanted to inform his readers of the psychological, spiritual and material truths behind the abuses of buying and selling indulgences. Martin Luther was not trying to create his own religion or recruit new followers. His purpose was to uphold the truth for the cause of Christ. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses helped change things for the Catholic Church as well. Accepting cash and gifts in hopes of forgiveness was frowned upon. Popes and other Clergy were reminded that the only one that could pardon someone from sin is God himself. Martin Luther felt that every faithful Christian should receive forgiveness and pardon. It should not be given to those that participated in rituals or attempted to pay for it.