How Did Martin Luther Influence Western Civilization

“I would have never thought that such a storm would rise from Rome over one simple scrap of paper…” were Martins Luther’s thoughts of his 95 Theses. Luthers 95 Theses set the Protestant Reformation into motion. This scrap of paper sparked a conflict that changed the way the Catholic Church had a hold on Western Civilization. Very few men if any have shifted the course of history like Martin Luther. In a small time span of ten years, this German monk toppled the Catholic Churches hold on Christianity. Martin Luther was born into the corrupt world of Europe ran by the Catholic Church on November 10,1483 in Eisleben, Germany. His mom was Margaretta and his father was Hans Luther. They sent Luther to school at the age of five. At the local
school Martin learned reading, writing, and Latin. When Luther was thirteen he began going to a new school ran by the Brethren of the Common Life. The school was located in Magdeburg. While there Martin grew an interest in monastic life. Luther’s father did not favor that idea. He longed for his so to be a lawyer. For this reason Hans withdrew his son for his school in Madenburg and sent to Eisenach for schooling (history.com). By 1501 Luther enrolled it the premiere university in Germany, University of Erfurt.
While he attended the university, Luther took the usual classes of the day: arithmetic, astronomy, geometry and philosophy. Four years later he received a master’s degree from the University of Erfurt (history.com). It seemed like Luther was on the path to becoming a lawyer (biography.com), but in July of that same year, he was closely killed by lightening in a storm. He considered it a sign from God, since he survived to become a monk (history.com). Luther believed monastery would allow him to reach salvation. Martin also became a monk, because of fears of hell and God’s wrath. Luthers first few years as a monk were troubling for him; he did not find what he had been searching for
(biography.com). When Luther was 27 he was presented with the offer to become a delegate to a church conference in Rome. After becoming a delegate and witnessing the corruption of the Catholic priests, he travelled to Germany and began attending the University of Wittenberg. Luther attended the university with the expectation of finding spiritual clarity while he was there he attained a doctorate. Martin Luther became a professor of theology at the university after he had graduated(biography.com). While preparing a lecture for his students Martin began to understand the key belief of salvation that would soon change the whole perspective on Christianity: salvation was not the fearing of god or being a slave to religion, but by having faith would bring salvation (biography.com). People may have not known yet, but Luther would soon divide the Catholic Church (history.com). On October 31, 1517 Luther posted his 95 theses on the chapel door of the university of Wittenberg (biography.com). The 95 theses were centered around two main beliefs- the Bible is the central authority of religion and people can only receive salvation by their faith and no by works (history.com). the theses soon ventured all throughout Germany and Europe in a short time span(biography.com) Luther’s 95 Theses set the Protestant reformation into motion (history.com). Because of his actions he was officially excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church’s in January 1521. In march of that year the Diet of Worms, a general group of secular authorities, called for Luther to come before them, and then one may 8th, 1521 the Edict or Worms was released and it was banning the writing of Martin Luther and declared him a “convicted heretic” making him a wanted man (biography.com). Since Luther was now a wanted man he hid in the Wartburg castle from April of 1521 to march of 1522 (Combee, Jerry and Grussendorf, Kurt). While in isolation he began a great tease of translations the Bible to give the common people God’s word in their own language. He completed his first draft translation of the New Testament in eleven weeks (Combee, Jerry and Grussendorf, Kurt).

Luther was tired of hiding and in May 1522 he organized a new church, Lutheranism, and gained support from a German princess.
Although the peasants revolted the church still began to grow over the years (biography.com). Since Luther believed in everyone taking part in the service like worship no just the priest and choir, he provides them with songs and wrote the words for 23 of the songs . Martin Luther was motivated to write songs and translate the Bible hoping “God mights speak directly to them” (Combee, Jerry and Grussendorf, Kurt). Martin settled down in 1525 and married Katharine von Bora, a former nun who’s was hiding from society to. Together they had six children over the next several years
(biography.com). On February 18 1546 Martin passed away at the age of 62 in his hometown . While Luther was a professor at the university, he was battling many illnesses including arthritis, heart problems and digestive disorders (biography.com). Most of Luther’s illnesses may have just come from the stress of his very own achievements (pbs.org). Luther died from a stroke that was very likely caused from all of his illnesses combined. Luthers storks left him speechless and did not kill him immediately, therefore Luther wrote his last words on a paper reading “We are beggars”. Luther was later buried on February 22, 1546 in Wittenberg in the all Saint’s church underneath the pulpit (alte-canzley.com). Martin Luther was one of the most influencing figures of the Western history (history.com), and grew the gap between the medieval and the modern ages (pbs.org) Marin Luther came a long way from where he bang and through all his struggles the Lord still used him. The way Martin Luther remarkably shifted history is still affecting us today and the way we live our lives (history.com).

Works Cited
“About Martin Luther .” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/empires/martinluther/about_driv.html. Accessed 17 April 2018.
Combee, Jerry, and Kurt Grussendorf. Since the Beginning : History of the World in a Christian Perspective . Pensacola, A Beka Book, 1993.
History.com Staff. “Martin Luther and the 95 Theses.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses. Accessed April 17 2018.
“Martin Luther.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 8 Aug. 2017, www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-9389283. Accessed 17 April 2018.
“Martin Luther’s Grave.” Alte-Canzley , www.alte-canzley.com/en/history/martin_luther_grave.html.accesed 25 April 2018.