What were Martin Luthers Criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church?.
Discuss the Impact these Criticisms had on Europe in the 16th Century.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German theologian who dared to challenge the Roman Catholic Church and consequently had a massive impact on Europe in the 16th Century. He publically criticised the behaviour of the popes, the churches use of fake relics such as Indulgences, and the entire sacramental system and theology of the Roman Catholic Church. These criticisms not only impacted on religion, but also on politics, economics, education and language, making him not only a leader and midwife of a new religious movement known as protestantism, but also since the 1980's, recognised as a revolutionary socialist hero.
Martin Luther went into the religious life due to the fact that he felt he would never earn his eternal salvation. Because Luther took his religious vocation very seriously, he was led into a crises in dealing with his religion. He wondered "is it possible to reconcile the demands of Gods law without human ability to live up to the law?" In other words, he had realised that man is imperfect and unable to live up to the standards of God dictated by the church. He turned to the New Testament book of Romans for answers and found that man could never earn salvation by leading a blameless life of by performing holy acts, instead, mans salvation was a divine gift from God, resulting from faith in Jesus. This was known as the protestant doctrine of "justification by faith alone". The fact that Luther believed this led him to his first confrontation with the Catholic Church in 1517 and influenced him to write his ninety-five thesis concerning Indulgences.
Indulgences were letters of partial forgiveness of peoples sins, given for a donation of money. It was the concept of Indulgences which defied his own, that angered Luther. Luther believed a sinful person should spend the rest of their life filled with remorse and in humility of Gods majesty, where as the Roman Catholic Church promised a comfortable and superficial life along a false path, which was also offensive to God.
In my opinion, Martin Luther is the man that sparked the Protestant Reformation. ... Martin Luther Luther's reformation began as the result of his disagreement with common church practices. ... My opinions on faith and religion are very similar to those of Luther. ... In my opinion, history didn't make Luther; but instead, Luther made history. ... The second reason I am drawn to Luther is out of religious interest. ...
Martin Luther's Early Years (1483-1516) On November 10, 1483 Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany to Hans and Margaretta Luther. ... The year after, Luther was ordained into the priesthood. Several years later Luther became a Doctor of Theology. ... Luther then began to go around Germany and preach. ... Luther's Later Years (1538-1546) By the age of 54 Luther's health started to deteriorate considerably. ...
Between 1501 and 1505 Luther began his studies at the University of Erfurt. ... Martin Luther believed in justification by faith alone. ... For Luther's protection Friedrich the Wise organized a "kidnapping" to save his life. ... Martin Luther died in Eisleben,Germany, the town of his birth, in February 1546. By order of the Elector of Saxony Luther was buried in the Castle Church in Wittenberg. ...
Luther criticized what he considered other abuses in the church . Luther taught that God justifies human beings . ... In Jan. 1521, Pope leo X excommunicated Luther and declared him a heretic . ... Frederick the Wise protected Luther. ... Martin Luther believed that he can change something that he believed in . ...
Martin Luther Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, which at the time was one of the territorial states that formed the Holy Roman Empire. Luther's father, Hans, owned his own mine shafts and copper smelters. ... Luther however decided to pursue a much different lifestyle. ... Luther did not understand how sinful humans could ever be put right with God. ... In my opinion Luther was not a heretic but a reformer. ...
At age thirteen, a new school boarded young Luther. ... Luther spoke fondly of the Brothers at the school. ... Luther had many great memories of St. ... Luther was outlawed in the Holy Roman Empire, and there was a ban on anyone to give shelter to Luther. ... Martin Luther Leader of the Reformation. ...
Luther was born on November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany. ... At age thirteen, a new school boarded young Luther. ... Luther spoke fondly of the Brothers at the school. ... Luther had many great memories of St. ... Luther was outlawed in the Holy Roman Empire, and there was a ban on anyone to give shelter to Luther. ...
Martin Luther was born on 10th November, 1843 in Eisleben, Germany. As a young man, Martin Luther had two main influences in his life. ... Hans, Luther's father, made him study courses that pointed toward Luther becoming a lawyer. ... Luther tried to gain salvation through works. ... Luther's fate was left to God, and Emperor Charles (the Emperor of Rome at that time), and to the shock of Luther's persecutors, the Emperor, set Luther free. ...
