A Great Person in History

Essay by ejbsurfHigh School, 10th gradeA-, November 2014

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A Great Person In History

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A great person in history is able to change the mindset of the majority for the good of his people, which enables his society to better the standard of living for generations to come. Martin Luther is one of these great people because he changed the Catholic Church during his time and some of these changes are still there today. Another person is Napoleon Bonaparte; he led his men into many successful battles. One person who does not fit these traits is Mao Zedong. Mao came up with the Great Leap Forward, which was a complete disaster, causing such things as food shortages. Martin Luther and Napoleon Bonaparte are two very great people that live in history.

Martin Luther changed the mindset of the majority for the good of his people. Luther challenged the Roman Catholic Church by directly challenging their teachings.

Luther struggled with the Church's demands that someone can earn favor from god by good works. Through his deep study of the scriptures, he realized that salvation is a gift of god's grace, received by faith alone and by trust in Christ's death on the cross as the only means to that salvation. This is what led Luther to question the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, in particular, the nature of self-punishment, the authority of the Pope and the usefulness of indulgences. The reformation of the church started on October 31, 1517, with Luther's act of posting the Ninety-Five Thesis on the door of the castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This document contained the sale of indulgences by church officials. Controversy raged over the posting of the 95 Thesis. Luther was excommunicated several years later from the Roman Catholic Church because of his

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