Significance Of Martin Luther's 95 Theses

Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
Martin Luther’s 95 theses inspired a reform movement, set in motion a Catholic Church counter reformation and changed politics, economy, and society with its effects still being felt today. Martin Luther’s challenge of the Pope’s authority to grant indulgences was the first step in a reformation movement that opened people’s eyes to the corruption and hypocrisy in the Catholic Church at the time. Martin Luther’s theses also ushered in the era of having a personal relationship with one’s God and ultimately to the concept of freedom of religion most of the world embraces today. Subsequent evolutions in religious freedom throughout the world and in the multiple aspects of Christianity alive through out the world today
The Archbishop sent it on to Rome and Pope Leo the tenth where it was not initially seen as a threat, but soon as the theses was republished and disseminated throughout the public the ideas with began to take hold and be expanded upon. This started an era of reforms and a schism in the Catholic Church population that grew and grew until the Catholic Church leadership, and diehard supporters like Johann Eck, had to address the situation. Johann Eck was a theologian and political economist from Germany who specialized in legal arguments supporting the Catholic Church’s use of indulgences. Eck was a champion of the Pope, and published many pieces arguing in favor of the authorities claimed by the Pope. Johann Eck was joined by other papal theological supporters and at first this manifested itself in direct theological rebuttals of Martin Luther’s theses and direct assaults and threats from up high upon Martin Luther himself by the church. Eventually, as the Protestant Reformation took hold and the Catholic Church was forced to adopt some of its own reformations in
Chief among these were the sale of indulgences sanctioned by the Catholic Church, and which troubled Martin Luther. The sale of indulgences did not seem ethical or connected to Martin Luther’s theological sensibilities, it did not seem right that someone could use monetary earthly gains to procure the forgiveness of sins for themselves or others. Martin Luther believed the only way to gain forgiveness or salvation was directly from God and through personal faith alone. Martin Luther also was discouraged by the corruption he witnessed throughout his life inside the Catholic Church clergy. The effects of Martin Luther’s 95 theses manifested themselves in divisions in the Catholic Church forming, reformation inside and outside the church and the formation of the Protestant branch of the church and smaller religious sects. Additionally, it led to the spread the published bible throughout Europe along with other religious books for the public’s consumption, which in turn led to more individual religious knowledge. Sadly, this also led to many conflicts and military battles over religion and by the time the dust began to settle, politics and almost all the pillars of society had forever been