They sold indulgences to Christians – a payment due for committing sins. In 1517 Luther wrote his Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, otherwise known as The 95 Theses. He sent the document and a letter to his Bishop, Albert of Mainz against the sale of Indulgences. “Thesis 86, asks: "Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with the money of poor believers rather than with his own money?" This and the other theses challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic religion and the Pope.
Assess the significance of the struggle for political power in influencing the Reformation from 1500-1610. T he struggle for political power was exceptionally significant in influencing the reformation from 1500-1610. The European reformation was a period of intense, yet inconsistent, religious and political change across Central Europe. Protestantism was challenging the widespread acceptance of Catholicism, whilst also threatening the power of the church authorities. Martin Luther, the most significant figure in the early development of Protestantism, took hold of the reformation during this period and popularised its beliefs, basing them on his interpretation of the scriptures.
“Men, Women and Schools of thought love have reformed and/or revitalized the Christian Tradition” This statement remarkably reflects on Martin Luther’s impact on Christianity. Martin Luther generated significant effects on Christianity in his life time and in the present through institutional, theological and liturgical impacts. His influences has resulted in immense change in Christian denomination’s reforming and revitalizing their dynamic beliefs towards Christianity. Martin Luther’s disagreement with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching of Selling Indulgences caused the different changes within Christianity and hugely impacted the foundation of the Protestant Reformation. He objected to the activities of the Church and attacked doctrines of indulgences and penance and published
It involved an entire reconstruction of the Church and of the social order. It meant revolution.”[3] The Reformers desired to reform the existing church, the “Radicals” desired to create a new church based on their theological convictions. [4] Some contend (incorrectly in this writer’s opinion) that the Anabaptists began with Thomas Müntzer (1490-1525). Müntzer was the spiritual revolutionary of the Peasant’s War that occurred in 1525, a leader in the social revolution of his time. He was a student of medieval realism, well studied in church history and the German mystics, and read many Reformation tracts and books.
We see an example of one of Luther’s critical writings in Document 8. In this Document we see Luther take a strong anti Catholic stance and even go so far as to condemn the Pope. Document 9 also serves as another example and shows Luther’s being critical of the Churches officials and the need for priests by clamming “every baptized Christian is a priest already.” This last point struck a major cord with the peasants in Europe. Luther was telling them they could gain their own salvation by studying the bible for themselves. No longer would they need to be dependent on the Church.
As Calvinists the Puritans believed in divine sovereignty. They felt that God’s plan was to reform church and society to conform to John Calvin’s theological ideas. In their eyes the English government went directly against the divine plan of purity and social order by allowing and participating in such things as drunkenness, gambling, public swearing and Sabbath breaking. The Government also allowed celebrations based on pagan customs such as maypole dancing and celebrating Christmas and saints’ days. 2 1 Davidson, James West et al, U.S. A Narrative History, Volume One, (New York: McGraw Hill, 2012), p.65.
(p. 160) The Puritans were well aware of the abuses of the Church of England and wished to “purify” it. Of the Puritans there were two basic mindsets: reform can come from within and we must separate, as the Church is too corrupt to be fixed. The Separatists of course came to America. What they created in America is of significant importance. First and foremost in my mind was the concept of equality.
“Yet one cannot call it virtue to kill one's citizens, betray one's friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; these modes can enable one to acquire an empire, but not glory.”(Machiavelli 35) “ God our Father hasmade all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.” (Luther 13) This quote truly shows how strongly Luther felt about faith and the connection to God with no middle man. He thought that the fact that the Catholic Church said you had to confess to a priest so they could talk to God for you was wrong and takes away from your faith. Machiavelli sees virtu as the traits necessary for a prince to acquire to be able to succesfully run a state. “ And above all a prince should contrive to give himself the fame of a great man and of an excellent talent in every action of his.” (Machiavelli 89) In Chapter XVIII “ Of Cruelty and Mercy, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than Feared, or the Contrary” Machiavelli lists in his writing traits to be a succesfull Prince. He expresses how it is better to be feared rather than loved and to recognize the people around you and in
It was the 16th century, a time when change was on the horizon. For one thousand years, the Roman Catholic Church had been in charge of Europe and of the theology in Europe. Internal changes, such as the age of Discovery, the Scientific Revolution, and the advent of the printing press all brought about a revolutionary change to Christianity. It was during this time that one remarkable monk, Martin Luther, posted his ninety-five theses, a scathing indictment of the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church. He wanted to reform the church, but created a new denomination instead.
During the Renaissance time period, religious beliefs and views were considered a major role in society. The conscience of those living in the time, was often being judged by God. Evil could be interpreted in ways dealing with your belief in God and what powers and laws he had for the people. Thomas More is faced with a cross roads of whether to take the route of joining the King and risk betraying God’s rules of marriage, or to take sides with the church and believe in God and respect his authority of ruler of the nations. Thomas More takes the side of the church and follows the idea that God judges the consciences of all, and if one is against God, then that person could be considered evil.