MARTIN LUTHER
This essay is concerned with Martin Luther (1483-1546),
and his concept of Christianity. Luther began his
ecclesiastical career as an Augustinian Monk in the Roman
Catholic Church. Consequently, Luther was initially loyal to
the papacy, and even after many theological conflicts, he
attempted to bring about his reconciliation with the Church.
But this was a paradox not to endure because in his later
years, Luther waged a continual battle with the papacy. Luther
was to become a professor of biblical exegesis at Wittenberg
where, in 1957, he posted his critique of the Roman Catholic
Church's teachings and practices. This is otherwise known as
The Ninety-Five Theses, which is usually considered to be the
original document of the Reformation. Basically, this document
was an indictment of the venality of the Roman Catholic
Church, particularly the widespread practice of selling
indulgences in association with the sacrament of penance.
Luther's beliefs on the matter was that after confession,
absolution relied upon the sinner's faith and God's Divine
Grace rather than the intervention of a priest.
At this point,
Luther did not advocate an actual separation from the Roman
Catholic Church. Instead, Luther felt his suggested reforms
York-3
could be implemented within Catholicism. If this had taken
place, the Protestant Reformation would probably not of ever
seen the light of day--nor would it have been necessary. But
the theological practices being what they were in the Roman
Church, there was little chance at that time for any great
variations to occur within its folds. The Church of Rome was
thoroughly monolithic and set in its ways and was not about to
mutate into something else. If a metamorphosis had occurred
within the Roman Catholic Church, Luther would have had a
different destiny. But Luther's fate was sealed, and his job
was cut...
WoW
wow this essay has alot of information and is very long. You did a good job though
5 out of 5 people found this comment useful.