The document outlines a critical moment in history where Martin Luther boldly questioned and criticized the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the selling of indulgences. His 95 Theses, publicly displayed in Wittenberg, sparked widespread religious reform and led to the formation of various Protestant sects.
Resulted in a revolutionary period of religious
reformation by new protestant sects and denominations of the catholic church to which many countries adopted.
Which questions can this help me answer? which can it not?
Martin Luther's 95 theses can help me answer what the Catholic church was like during the 16th century, and how Martin Luther, as well as countless others who reformed afterwords felt about the Catholic church's corrupt, greedy manor and their imposed indulgences that acted as a way for the sinful to receive blind comfort in ignorance and the pope to gain wealth from all corners of the Catholic Church's dominion. it cannot however help me answer what the church's direct response, thoughts or opinions were on this subject, or if these were Luther's only motives for challenging the Church.
Who's perspective does it reflect?
This document reflects the perspective of the average Christian living in Europe at the time, Luther's perspective and the perspective of those who wish to live in a more protestant type of manor.
What are the big ideas?
The big ideas that Martin Luther proposes are that the church can not and should not be taking indulgences in order to reprehend sins and grant afterlife. That the Pope, Priests and church are unable to simply sell eternal life and should be teaching the following differently. That the Pope and thereby the church is being corrupted by greed, and that they are manipulating the faithful into ignorant bliss with the false promise of absolution of their sins and promises of a spot in heaven. And that the only one who can truly forgive sin is God and the only way to be forgiven is through repentance.
Who wrote it? Why?
Martin Luther, a German monk during
the 16th century wrote them to challenge
some of the Church's more questionable
actions and to challenge the church's sale
of indulgences as a means t absolve sins.
Who's perspectives are omitted/ questioned/ challenged?
The perspectives that are challenged and
questioned are the Catholic church's and Pope Leo X, who began initiating indulgences which could be bought in order to have one's sins cleansed and earn a spot in heaven in their afterlife. Luther questioned the Church's and Pope's authority and ability to simply wish away sins.
What ideas are left out?
Many ideas that help form
the Protestant sects are left
such as Sainthood and communion.
How does the author communicate ideas?
Martin Luther communicates his ideas through a series of statements, questions and answers listed 1 to 95 on a sheet of paper and literally nailing it to a church door in Wittenburg Germany.
What does it look like?
Looks like a piece of paper with 95 statements listed on it, each one criticizing the Catholic church, the corrupt priests, the greedy Pope and the sinful and tricked who pay indulgences.
What does it reveal about the values and beliefs of the past?
It reveals that not everyone wanted to conform with the Catholic church and that many were tired of the church taking advantage of it's following as proven by the large number of reformed groups who adopted different forms and sects of Protestantism.
