Teligius Reformation, Europe and Martin Luther - Essay Example

Luther’s main contention was that Christians need to be saved through faith and not their actions or repentance. He subsequently initiated a series of reforms in the Church through his prolific writings across Europe. His famous words, ‘only blood turns the wheels of history’ was uttered when he believed that bloodshed in war has become important part of history and reforms within the Church are needed for peace. These words become highly pertinent because the 100 years of war between France and England were highlighted by total disregard for the welfare of the common man and focused on establishing the supremacy of English Monarchy over France.

The unnecessary bloodshed must have been the major reason for Luther to say those words in anguish and his beliefs that individual greed for power often ‘turns the wheels of history’. Indeed, the Church’s support to the Crown and exoneration of their sins through repentance and confession was seen as wrong by Luther. He strongly believed that faith alone should have been the major objective of man’s actions and one should therefore be reaping the results of his/her actions as such. Martin Luther’s writings were the basis for Protestant reformation in Europe during sixteenth century.

He was born on 10 November, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany to a miner’s family. . ‘Only blood turns the wheels of history’ could have another interpretation: Luther, probably saw that personal sacrifices and reforms within the Church could also become vital inputs for making history rather than bloodshed based on vested interests of some human-beings. Martin Luther’s interpretation of Bible was more radical than the traditional papal’s version. It started the most important religious revolution that offered the common man to choose between the traditional Catholic Christianity or Protestant Christianity that was inspired by the reforms suggested by Luther.

Luther was aghast at the seemingly corrupt practices of Catholics clergy who use to ‘sell’ indulgences. He believed that good actions of people would have no relevance until they believed in the goodness of the Lord. Thus according to him, faith superseded any actions. On the other hand, Catholic beliefs that actions can be repented and fate of believers could be revered if they followed rituals etc. Indulgences were primarily Catholic doctrines that sought forgiveness of one’s sins through buying indulgences from church through donation etc.

which were subsequently used by Church to meet its expenses. Luther compared them to common trade practices and said that indulgences could only reduce time in purgatory as sinners could have some stored merits. His 95 Theses is a comprehensive discourse on the corruption of indulgence system and how it defiles the basic doctrine of religion which fundamentally relies on faith and supremacy of God. He believed that Christian Clergy, including Pope has no authority to redeem the sins of individuals and exempt him/her from purgatory.

Path to purgatory could have been one of the reasons for Luther to say that