Luther’s 95 Theses

Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, posted in 1517, challenged certain practices of the Catholic Church, especially the selling of indulgences—payments to reduce punishment for sins. Luther argued that salvation comes through faith alone, not through buying tickets to heaven, and that the Bible should be the ultimate authority, not church hierarchy. His objections sparked debates about church corruption and authority, leading to the Protestant Reformation. Essentially, the theses urged believers to focus on personal faith and questioned the church’s methods of raising money and enforcing religious rules.