Existing comment:
Martin Luther as Priest, Heretic, and Outlaw: The Reformation at 500
Luther the Priest:
Five hundred years ago, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses against papal indulgences on a church door at Wittenberg, Germany, sparking a conflict with the Catholic Church that led to the Protestant Reformation. As a priest, Luther thought indulgences harmed the faithful by weakening their attachment to scripture and their personal quest for divine grace. The Holy See quickly recognized Luther's theses as a broader challenge to its power, as the authority for granting indulgences ultimately rested with the pope. The ensuing clash between Luther and Rome produced history's first "media event" as Luther expanded his critique into other areas of church policy and the recent introduction of the printing press gained him a broad readership. |