Describe the historical context and then outline the essential elements of the reforms Martin Luther urged upon Pope Leo X when he posted his 95 Theses on the Castle gate at Wittenberg, Germany in 1517. Then, cite specific practices to illustrate how Luther changed Christianity when he initiated his own reformed Christian church after he abandoned his original effort to have Roman Catholicism reform itself. Finally, what motivated various German princes to defy Rome, and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in Vienna, by supporting and protecting Luther? Those actions precipitated a bloody cycle of religious wars that pitted European Catholics against Protestants almost without respite between the 1520s and 1648 when the Peace of Westphalia terminated Western Christendom’s internecine, principally religiously inspired warfare.
How would you like us to help you with this assignment?
Ms. Sue, I can pay for the answer if some one can answer this.
Or if i can get some source from where I can read few pages and get the answer. I have about 3 hours to come up with the answer.
In any ways i really appreciate this help
Brin -- we are volunteer tutors who HELP students, but we do not accept money!
You'll find the information you need in this article and others that are linked to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther
I respect what you are doing. It is great!. Thanks for your help.
You're very welcome.
The historical context of Martin Luther's reforms and the posting of his 95 Theses in 1517 can be traced back to the broader movement known as the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation was a period of religious, political, and social upheaval in Europe during the 16th century.
At that time, the Catholic Church held significant power and influence over the lives of people, including the authority to interpret and control access to religious texts. However, there were growing criticisms of the Church, including its corruption, sale of indulgences (which allowed people to reduce punishment for their sins), and the disparity between the teachings of Jesus and some Church practices.
In 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk and theologian, wrote and posted his 95 Theses on the Castle gate at Wittenberg as an invitation for an academic debate on a set of issues he had with the Church. These theses outlined his objections to the selling of indulgences and the Church's authority to forgive sins. Luther argued that salvation is achieved through faith alone, rather than through a combination of faith and good works.
Luther's ideas quickly spread due to the printing press, which allowed for the mass production and dissemination of his writings. As his following grew, Luther went further in challenging the Church's teachings and practices. He rejected papal authority, promoted the translation of the Bible into vernacular languages so that people could read and interpret it for themselves, and emphasized the priesthood of all believers, diminishing the importance of the clergy.
Luther's reforms had a profound impact on Christianity and initiated the rise of Protestantism. Some specific changes he brought about include:
1. Worship and Liturgy: Luther simplified religious rituals and translated the Latin mass into the vernacular, making the service more accessible for ordinary people.
2. Bible Translation: Luther translated the Bible into German, allowing people to read and study it independently.
3. Priesthood of All Believers: Luther emphasized the importance of personal faith and direct relationship with God, diminishing the authority of the clergy.
4. Doctrine of Justification: Luther emphasized the belief that salvation is received through faith in God's grace, rather than relying on one's own good works.
Various German princes were motivated to support and protect Luther for a combination of religious, political, and economic reasons. Some key motivations were:
1. Nationalism: German princes sought to assert their independence from the authority of Rome and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Supporting Luther's reforms allowed them to strengthen their own authority and reduce the influence of outside powers.
2. Confiscation of Church Lands: Many German princes were eager to confiscate lands and wealth owned by the Catholic Church, which further incentivized their support for the Protestant cause.
3. Resistance to Papal Authority: Luther's challenge to papal authority appealed to those who were critical of the Church's centralized power and wanted greater control over religious matters within their territories.
The support provided by German princes and other rulers led to political conflicts, religious wars, and the division of Christianity into Catholicism and various Protestant denominations. These conflicts, known as the Wars of Religion, lasted for several decades and caused considerable violence and suffering until the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which established the principle of religious tolerance and ended the cycle of religiously motivated warfare in Western Christendom.