Martin Luther's Speech At Diet Of Worms Essay

Martin Luther’s speech at Diet of Worms was a defense of his 95 theses, and his other works. He was asked if he wrote them, and then he was asked if he wished to retract anything. He agreed that he wrote them, and he refused to retract them for several reasons. Luther cited multiple reasons for not retracting his writing, one being that he believes in what he wrote and as the main crusader for the protestant faith he cannot retract his statements, “What, then, should I be doing if I were now to retract these writings? Wretched man! I alone, of all men living, should be abandoning truths approved by the unanimous voice of friends and enemies, and opposing doctrines that the whole world glories in confessing!” (Luther). He then refuses to retract his statements made against the pope and the church because he does not want to add to the corruption, “If I were to revoke what I have written on that subject, what should I do…. but strengthen this tyranny, and open a wider door to so many and flagrant impieties?” (Luther). Finally, he concludes his speech with the idea that he cannot submit the will of his
This occurred at the Diet of Augsburg and led to more immediate peaceful relations between kings, princes, and the emperor. However, it caused problems with the formation of the Schmalkaldic League and later during the Schmalkaldic war, but eventually the fighting would end with the Peace of Augsburg. This helped solidify the Lutheran faith and further the reformation because there was a written out code of agreed tenets, and beliefs and people could unite through them. It also helped set the basis for the countries’ alliances upcoming