Eli’s Mind

How would you describe the condition of the Catholic Church on the eve of the Protestant Reformation?

• The Catholic Church prior to the Protestant Reformation was falling into shambles. First, priests and churchmen weren’t required to go through such thorough education as before, leaving them unschooled and unable to defend their religious beliefs against theologians such as Martin Luther King. Secondly, archbishops poorly treated their duties and ignored the teachings of the Lord by leaving certain towns and provinces without a physical bishop of its own. They accomplished this by electing themselves to multiple churches but only being present in one. They strived to accomplish this because by being crowned as bishop in more churches meant more income. Lastly, many iconic Christian and religious practices which had been studied daily, have begun to see the interior of the church only four times a year.

What were the Ninety-Five Theses about? What was the basic message of Luther’s complaint?

• The Ninety-Five Theses, penned by Martin Luther in 1517, were a critical document that laid the foundation for the Protestant Reformation. Luther’s primary message in these theses was a vehement critique of the Catholic Church’s practice of selling indulgences, which were essentially pardons for sins that could be purchased. He argued that salvation should be based on faith and God’s grace rather than monetary transactions, calling for a return to the fundamental principles of Christianity as outlined in the Bible. Luther’s complaint was a call for reform within the Church and a rejection of what he saw as corruption, ultimately leading to a significant religious and historical shift in Europe.