Martin Luther was responsible for sparking the Protestant Reformation through his opposition to the Catholic Church's practices. In 1517, Luther nailed his 95 Theses criticizing indulgences to a church door in Wittenberg, sparking debate across Europe. Though not intending revolution, Luther refused to retract his statements even when threatened. His ideas resonated with many who were discontent with the Church's corruption and desire for spiritual freedom. While inspired by earlier thinkers, Luther's influence grew the strongest and most threatening to the Pope, marking him as the leader of the Reformation.

1. Leslie-Ann Bent
U09522233
10/ 28/2008
The Father of the Epoch of Reformation
Martin Luther is responsible for the reformation of the Christian practices in Europe. Though
there were other individuals who inspired Luther, his career is the most influential of heretics because
he appealed to the outcry of those who had been oppressing by the church for many years. Even when
being persecuted and threatened he did not waver and stood firm against his opposition. His
contribution was the most radical and revolutionary of all of those who dared to oppose the power of
the Catholic Church which is crucial to ignite change to this degree.
It should be said that Luther did not intend for the revolution he had started. His journey started
during his time as a professor at University of Erfurt, Luther was asked about his stance on the buying
and selling of indulgences, a question to which he decidedly taken a stance against. The ninety-five
theses were a list of theses that described Martin’s opinions on the interpretation of the Bible and
salvation. In these theses “he simply suggested that Pope Leo may have been misled in issuing the new
indulgence.” The indulgence in question was to be a sort of supreme indulgence that was to offer a one-
time only opportunity to escape the penance in Purgatory of all sins and it was applicable for the living
and the already dead.1
Heated debate resulted and sparked a turn in the course of history which
allowed for people today contrary to Catholic Church’s to freely choose the faith and rules to which they
religiously abide to.
1
Brian Levack et al., The West: Encounters and Transformations, Volume B: 1300 to 1815, Second Edition (New
York: Pearson Longman, 2007), 415.

2. Luther ideas were not completely original. Humanism had started becoming prominent in the
European world shortly before the protest . Christian humanists were Christians who devoted their lives
to the philological study of ancient works including the Bible.” They sought to correct the “mistakes in
the interpretation of the Christian doctrine and improve morality by making the proper interpretations
known.”2
Europe on whole wanted to attain “spiritual and Fiscal freedom from the Church.” 3
During
what is called the Great Schism there where four reigning popes. It is with all this ciaos and the morality
of the Pope being in question more peopling started to stray from Catholicism. Many great minds at the
time were printing numerous books on their ideals on spirituality and owing to the Print Revolution their
work could be mass produced. People everywhere were reading alone and even reading out loud to
others these individualistic works . These books compelled even the peasants to begin to want to gain
their own understanding and rely on that understanding for their spirituality.
Two large entities in the spiritual community Desiderus Erasmus and Thomas More, had been
openly opposing the abuse of priests and monks before the reform. Their works included The Praise of
Folly and Utopia which clearly showed their differing ideals and disgust with the Church and their
actions during the time. Even though their principles resembled Luther’s during the Reformation they
however, remained devote Catholics.4
Eramsus was a pacifist and though he approved of Luther’s
principles, he did not take to his methods because he “was looking for more mildness in the man.”5
These people inspired Luther but it was Luther’s name was on the tip of everyone’s tongue. He had
gained enough support that the Pope Leo X himself had to issue a Bull hoping Luther would retract
some of the statements in he had made in his ninety-five theses. Leo said that he hoped when Martian
2
3
Brian Levack et al., The West: Encounters and Transformations, Volume B: 1300 to 1815, Second Edition (New
York: Pearson Longman, 2007), 413.
3
4
Brian Levack et al., The West: Encounters and Transformations, Volume B: 1300 to 1815, Second Edition (New
York: Pearson Longman, 2007), 414.
5
The history of the life and acts of Luther(1547-8), Philip Melanchthon,1996

3. and “all those adhering to him and those who shelter and support him, through the merciful heart of
our God. Know that from our heart we exhort and beseech that he cease to disturb the peace, unity and
truth of the Church for which the Savior prayed so earnestly to the Father.6
” Because he felt strongly
enough to address him, clearly Luther’s influence was great and threatened his position enough to cause
alarm.
Martin Luther‘s service to the Christian community allows him to right to be called the leader
and beginner of the Protestant reformation. His influence was so great that not only did be liberate the
people but he created a language, German so that these people could be even more unified. Though, he
was inspired by several previous independent thinkers, Evangelicals owe him their praise as first person
to take a much needed effective stance against the Catholic Church. Inadvertently or not, lucky for
Luther these theses were published at the ideal time when the people were discontent with the church.
A reformation to this degree needed a strong and capable leader Luther offer this and more which is
the reason a whole nation followed him into a new age of freedom from the Catholic church.
6
Exsurage Domine, Condemning of the Errors of Martin Luther, June 15 , 1520