Makayla Horton. Dr. Skaggs. World Civ. Ii. 1 February 2017.

The 95 theses are a list of things that is wrong with the Catholic Church. The Ninety-Five theses questioned the Catholic Church’s practice of selling indulgences. Luther argued that Christian were being falsely told that they could obtain absolution for souls by buying indulgences. The 95 Theses, which would later become the foundation of the Protestant Reformation, were written in a remarkably humble and academic tone. Luther criticized the pope, extreme wealth of the church, and indulgences in the 95 theses. Luther realized that only faith, not

Martin Luther was already questioning his catholic fate and this became worse when the pope allowed John Tetzel to sell indulgences. Luther strongly believed that the Catholic Church was conning the people of Wittenberg into believing they could pay off their sins. Indulgences are a remission of the purgatorial punishment due for sins according to the Roman Church. In acknowledgement to Tetzel’s actions, Luther wrote the “95 Theses”. The 95 Theses was a criticism of indulgences and it had ninety five points attacking the churches practices selling indulgences.

Utter disgust fills Luther because he truly understood how unscrupulous and deceitful these indulgences are. According to Luther, people should have to use their faith instead of paying for a

Martin Luther argued that indulgences could not allow a Christian to be saved from punishment in his “95 Theses.” An indulgence was a lessening of a soul would have to spend in purgatory. People of the Middle Ages paid for these in order to go to Heaven, and this did not make sense to Martin Luther. He then read and interpreted the Bible and found nothing about paying indulgences. His twenty-first thesis states, “Thus those preachers of indulgences are in error who say that by the indulgences of the Pope a man is freed

In document seven, Martin Luther criticizes the pope and the Church for their use of indulgences. Luther claims that people are falsely being forgiven for their sins with the use of money. He thinks this is teaching the false doctrine of money being more important than ethics. People should be forgiven by God, not by money, and should do so through helping the needy instead of buying the indulgences.

“When the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs”, as Friar Tetzel would claim. Clergymen advertised that buying indulgences will rid you of sin and reduce the time you spent in purgatory. A religious movement known as the Protestant reformation brewed in 16th century Europe over the absurdity of indulgences. The sale of indulgences posed a major issue prior to and during the movement. Martin Luther sparked the movement with his publication of his The 95 Theses, a series of points which displayed the corruption of the church. As his 66th point states, “The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.” Luther is arguing that indulgences only serve as a means of generating wealth for

Vast ideas generated by people transformed our society to be the way it is today. In the 1500’s God was the center focus of life. Along with this, the pope had all the political power. Most people did not know that the church only cared about its power and money and not about the religion itself. A man named Martin Luther noticed what was happening in the church and decided to act on this problem. Luther created the 95 theses and posted it outside of church doors on October 31, 1517. The 95 theses is a list of rules against the church, showing everyone the truth of the church’s ways. An example of one of the rules was, “Christians are to be taught that they buying of indulgences is a matter of free choice, not commanded.” Indulgences were tickets to heaven sold by church officials. People would pay money to get a piece of paper “granting” them access to heaven. According to Martin Luther's, 95 theses, the indulgences do not have to be bought to go to heaven. Luther is showing that the

In this essay i'm going to be writing about the ninety five theses.The Ninety Five Theses question the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences and view skeptically the notion that a papal pardon rather than penance or genuine contrition can achieve forgiveness of sins. Luther argued that Christians were being falsely told that they could obtain absolution for souls in purgatory by buying indulgences.

This fundamental difference from the Catholic dogma that one could buy salvation to Luther’s new ideas as way to Heaven began to transform many people’s beliefs. Supporters of Luther adopted the concept of faith and knowledge of God as a way to repent their sins, and eventually, it reshaped the Christian culture. As Luther personally struggled to be a “perfect” monk, he discovered that faith in the gospel was the only way to be “made righteous by God”(roper 78). In response to his distress for his laity’s desire to buy indulgences, Luther wrote the “95 Theses on the Power of Indulgences.” He knew he was attacking the pope and the values of the church, but records show that he felt “...not fully in control of his actions, but handed over responsibility to a higher power”(84 roper). Cleary, Luther felt a spiritual connection with God and indulgences were in direct opposition to faith. His revolutionary claims in the “95 Theses on the Power of Indulgences” caused a conflict that would eventually be known as the Protestant Reformation.

Furthermore, while watching the video, “Introduction to the Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther” it’s clear that there was a lack of equality in the Catholic church between the leaders and the church. Martin Luther was a leader of the Protestant Reformation who believed that followers weren’t receiving equal treatment, so he decided to come up with 95 theses: “Luther was arguing against the sale of indulgences, and that kind of monetary transaction for getting into heaven… there was a perception that the church, at times, was a rather corrupt institution” (Khan academy video). This quote from the video explains that the Catholic church was acting in a corrupt matter and seemed more concerned about political power than the salvation of souls. Indulgences were give and take, a free passage into heaven when once bought.

In 1517, Luther wrote the “95 Theses” to express ninety-five things that he disliked about the Catholic Church. The first two theses tell that God wants believers to seek repentance and faith alone, and deeds will not lead to salvation. It also includes the practice of asking payments, called indulgences, for the forgiving of sins. Luther thought that indulgences were sold by the church to refurbish the church in Rome. Luther's writings were intended to divide the Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformation. The theses were not for the public to read, but yet Luther pinned his 95 theses to the Castle Church door for later discussion.

Indulgences is the idea that in order to exit purgatory for yourself or your loved ones, you must pay money to the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholics also believed that to enter into heaven instead of purgatory, it was based on your life’s good works. Martin Luther questioned that ideology, Luther believed purgatory was created by the Catholic Church to create revenue, rather than purgatory being an actual place. During this time, he began to believe that through faith and faith alone one could achieve righteousness, and then they complete good works, which is the most essential part of Lutheranism. Martin Luther asked Pope Leo of the Roman Catholic Church “Of what benefit to you are the good works which you do not need for keeping your body under control?”

He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God’s punishment for sin could be purchased with indulgences (Martin Luther and the Reformation, Bacak). Furthermore, Luther is known for his teachings about scripture and justification. Martin Luther was an excellent communicator and writer. He wrote his objections about where he felt the Church was incorrect such as selling indulgences. These objections were the Ninety-five

Though it is important to know the history of the 95 Theses, the writing is reason why it is talked about today. As they were very important, some theses’ hold more weight than others. The first two theses’ were the central ideas that Martin Luther believed the people should live by, while the other 93 were somewhat based off of the first two. The second theses stated that “The word cannot be properly understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, i.e. confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy”; meaning only God can judge their salvation, not the Pope or the church. The fifth theses stated “The pope has neither the will nor the power to remit any penalties beyond those imposed either at his own discretion or by canon

One of the real issues that concerned Luther related to the matter of chapel authorities offering "indulgences" to the individuals as a method for discharging