Martin Luther and his95 Theses

Setting the Stage

• Many people began to criticize the Churches practices. Many felt they were too interested in worldly pursuit – wealth, political power. Popes fathered children, priests were poorly educated.

• By 1500, additional forces weakened the Church. Renaissance emphasis on humanism and the individual challenged Church authority.

• Around 1440, Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press. Why do you think this is important?

About Martin Luther

• 1483-1546• Parents wanted him to be a lawyer. Instead, became a monk

and a teacher. • Desired only to be a good Christian, not to lead a religious

revolution.• In 1517, Luther decided to take a public stand against the

actions of a friar named Johann Tetzel. Tetzel raised money to rebuild a church by selling indulgences( a religious pardon).

• In response, he wrote 95 Theses (formal statements) and posted the statements on the door of a church. This led to a movement for religious reform…

Luther’s Teachings

• People could win salvation ONLY by faith in God’s gift of forgiveness

• All church teachings should be clearly based on the words of the bible. Both the pope and church traditions were false authorities.

• All people with faith are equal. Therefore, people did not need priests to interpret the Bible for them.