The Reformation

Need for Reform

Increased fees on marriages, baptisms, and funerals

Indulgences Money paid by a

sinner for forgiveness

People protested them

Martin Luther 1483 - 1546

Became a Monk Believed that fasting

and prayer would not guarantee salvation

Denounced indulgences because people could not buy forgiveness

Started to speak out against the church

Luther’s 95 Theses

95 Theses Posted on Wittenburg

castle church on Oct 31, 1517

95 things he believed was wrong with the Catholic church, including indulgences and church taxes

Reprinted and spread throughout Europe

37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without

letters of pardon.

56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope. grants

indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of

Christ

-Martin Luther, 95 Theses

Luther’s Excommunication

Excommunicated by Pope Leo X

Appeared in front of the Diet of Worms Declared him an outlaw, banned his books, and demanded he be arrested

Luther’s Teachings

3 Main Ideas People could not

achieve salvation through their own efforts

Bible is only for Christians

Emphasized the role of the individual

Translated the Bible into German Landmark in German Language

Impact of Luther

People started to denounce the church and its taxes

Luther supported the people until they started to burn and loot churches

Ideas led to the Protestant Reformation