Martin Luther



Martin Luther

Introduction

Martin Luther was a great priest, monk and the professor of theology who was born in Germany on 10 November 1483. He is well known for his Protestant Reformation. He was convinced of the view that earning salvation cannot be achieved through money and can only be obtained by good deeds as a gift bestowed by the god and hi grace by keeping faith on the teaching of Jesus Christ (Roland, 1995). He translated the Bible to German language that was the best translation of the German language. The individuals who follow the teachings of Luther are known as Lutherans.

Discussion

The catholic churches in 1500 were very powerful because of many reasons. This was the institution with largest land ownership, exempted from all the taxes so could defined as the richest of all the institutions in the Europe. The churches did not come under the king's rule so they were not answerable to anyone and were an autonomous body. The demand of the taxes by the European Catholic Churches (called tithes) was another factor that made it more it more powerful. The leader of the Church was a Pope who was assumed to be spokesman of God on Earth. The popes of the European times misused their powers. They were caught more into secular affairs than with spiritual issues. It was believed by everyone that he had to go to heaven or hell after death so common person was related to the Church deeply as they were taught that the only way to obtain heaven through the c Church.

The reason to join the monetary was well explained by Luther himself in his letter to his father. He wrote that, when the fear of impending death besieged him, he made an involuntary and forced vow. Melancthon, explained this as ...