Martin Luther's Excommunication, Catholic Church
Today's people tend to look back at Luther as a charismatic leader, a rebel and a missionary. Unfortunately, the organizational qualities and devotion of Luther are more emphasized than his religious journey throughout the years of reformation. The reasons why Luther created a new church are examined by many researchers, as well as the social standards and customs within the Catholic church at the time. The Wittenberg Project features some of the original works of the author and provides an insight into the way Luther thought and his motivations to reform the church. In the below review, the authors would like to examine the circumstances leading to Luther's excommunication from the Catholic Church.
There are different approaches to reformation today. Some people think it was a revolution, others find that it was a progress, a liberty activism, while there are theories that support the idea that it was a conflict of interests and repression. Some authors even question whether reformation was at all about religion or social equality. However, all authors agree that reformation has a historical importance. Apart from the social and political changes that occurred as a result of reformation, a process of spiritual liberalization started as well. The new church has managed to somehow change the approach of the Catholicism, and the old dogmatic and hierarchic approach started to slowly change within the Apostolic institution.
[...] The main historical motivation of the German friar, Martin Luther was the corruption and obsessive behavior that was common and accepted within the Catholic Church. However, Luther wanted to do more: he wanted the Word of God to be delivered to people, so they would benefit from Jesus' teachings spiritually. He did not want the church to have privilege over teaching and explaining the Bible; picking the parts that suited their ambition and leaving out more liberal ideas. In the 15th Century, the Mediveal church was in a crisis. [...]
[...] This was a revolution of the society, an initiative to break down the walls of Catholic feudalism and to go back to the original messages of God and Christ. The reputation of Martin Luther has not changed significantly since the appearance of the 95 Theses, and it is still a foundation for most criticisms against today's Catholic Church. Notes Erasmus, "De Libero Arbitrio, Diatribe seu Collatio," Library of Christian Classics. John Baillie, John T. McNeill, Henry P. Van Dusen, general editors: Volume 1. [...]
[...] This action later did lead to Luther's excommunication from the Catholic Church, and as such triggered the following events of founding a new religion on the message of the Bible. Thanks to Frederick the Wise, he was protected from the church's leaders, and could continue to write his critiques and create a new church. Even he, himself did not think that there would be so many followers joining him in the religious revolution: would never have thought that such a storm would rise from Rome over one simple scrap of paper . [...]
[...] An Open Letter to The Christian Nobility of the German Nation Concerning the Reform of the Christian Estate Luther, Martin. The 95 Theses Luther, Martin. The 95 Theses. No Luther, Martin. The 95 Theses. No Somervill, Barbara A. Martin Luther: Father of the Reformation Luther, Martin. Concerning Christian Liberty: With, Letter of Martin Luther to Pope Leo X Luther, Martin. Concerning Christian Liberty: With, Letter of Martin Luther to Pope Leo X. p Collinson, Patrick. The Reformation: A History. [...]
[...] He was trying to outlaw Luther, in order to stop the reforms. Some authors state that the reformation is the real start of the Modern history, and when examining the liberal ideas delivered by Luther's church, this thesis seems to be confirmed. The Works of Luther Reviewed The first work of Luther, the 95 Theses nailed on the church's door started a storm nobody would have expected. The main reason why it became so successful is because it did reflect the doubts and dissatisfaction of other people in the church. [...]
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