Which practice of the Catholic Church did Martin Luther criticize in his Ninety-Five Theses of 1517?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Martin Luther criticized the Catholic Church’s practice of selling indulgences in his Ninety-Five Theses of 1517. Indulgences were certificates issued by the Church that granted remission of sins, believed to reduce the time one would spend in purgatory. These certificates could be purchased, often with large sums of money, and the Church claimed they could absolve individuals of sins, both past and future. This practice became a major point of contention because Luther saw it as a form of corruption and manipulation of the faithful.
Luther’s primary objection was that indulgences promoted the idea that salvation could be bought rather than earned through genuine repentance and faith in God. According to Catholic doctrine at the time, indulgences were supposed to be granted for good works, such as acts of charity or piety, but they had increasingly become commercialized. The Church sold indulgences to raise money, especially for expensive projects like the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Luther believed that the Church was exploiting people’s fear of eternal damnation for financial gain.
In his Ninety-Five Theses, Luther argued that only God could grant forgiveness for sins, and that human actions, such as the purchasing of indulgences, had no power to absolve sins. He also questioned the authority of the Pope in granting indulgences and challenged the Church’s interpretation of Scripture. His bold stance ignited a wider theological and political movement, known as the Protestant Reformation, which led to the establishment of Protestant denominations and a dramatic shift in European Christianity.
Luther’s criticism of indulgences was not just a theological issue but also a call for reform within the Church. His action sparked debates that questioned the authority of the Pope, the nature of salvation, and the role of the Church in the lives of believers, reshaping the religious landscape of Europe.