Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses written in 1517 focused mainly on the power of indulgences. In the Theses Luther displayed his dissatisfaction with the selling of indulgences. This work was a major influence for the upcoming Protestant reformation throughout Europe. After Luther’s Theses became popular more people were starting to doubt the church and protest against its medieval ways. As a result the religion of Lutheranism formed. He stressed the fact that the pope honoring the sale of indulgences revealed the fact that he himself isn’t following the word of the bible and that the purchase of an indulgence only makes your attempt at finding absolution harder.
According to the Roman Catholic Church the purchase of an indulgence was a full or partial remission of the buyer’s sins. The church preached that the money being given for the indulgence was the sacrifice. In thesis nineteen Luther uses a logical appeal to get the people of Europe to understand that there’s no proof that these indulgences actually free you from your sins. Theses twenty seven, twenty eight, forty six, sixty six, and seventy six are Luther explaining that it’s ridiculous to teach that a soul can be saved by the giving of money and that indulgences actually are actually true to their purpose. With indulgences being available for purchase people wouldn’t actually have to feel a change of heart to get penance for their sins but just buy one instead. This to Luther was unacceptable and not what the bible had intended for. Indulgences were used as an easy way out as all a sinner needed was money in order to erase their harmful being. Salvation was supposed to be given by God’s mercy to those who were truly grateful and sorry for their sins. He tells the people that indulgences shouldn’t allow the ...