Breaking Barriers. History Research Paper Assignment

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Introduction
Christendom during medieval times was focused on spreading Christianism all over the world through religious expeditions. These missions differ in strategies and outcomes, and not all were peaceful. There were also aspects of oppression and imperialism. It also led to the need of the Catholic Church to maintain these missions and also its power over the people, both from Europe and other parts of the world. A theology professor, Martin Luther is famous for his 1517 Ninety-five Theses, also known as the Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences. This work became the start of the reformation of the church and Christianity as the world knows it. Martin Luther's reforms broke down political and religious barriers. He challenged the supreme authority of the Pope, exposed the dark side of the Christian church, made the people aware of the dangers of the church, made the people know what religion was, and reformed religion step by step.
Concept
This system created by the authorities soon became questionable to people like Martin Luther. It focused on buying indulgences, which promotes inequality because of the incapability of other people of the society to buy them. It was also seen as a way of the church to get work done in the name of the Catholic Church. Indulgences became a system of financial gains due to the applicability of the offered forgiveness to other members of the family, even to the deceased ancestors. This encouraged the people, especially the wealthy and powerful, to buy forgiveness for them and their dead relatives, friends, and families which benefited the church on a financial level. It is the Pope or lower-ranking churchmen who were allowed to give these “plenary” indulgences. These questionable practices are part of the major teachings of the Catholic Church. By sending the Ninety-five theses to the local archbishop, Martin Luther began a movement that will pave the way towards liberty.[Luther, Martin. “Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther, 1517.” Project Wittenberg, 1915, 29–38. https://christian.net/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/web/ninetyfive.html.]
Cons
Various effects on Christendom and changes in religious beliefs of people were caused by Martin Luther’s movement for the reformation of Religion, and the system of the Catholic Church. There are consequences of the awakening of the people resulting in changes in the structure and beliefs of the people in Europe, which were previously deeply rooted in the Catholic Church and the power of the Pope and churchmen over the nation. It weakened the influence of Christendom, which led to individual Christianity. There were a lot of groups formed from the reformation of the Catholic Church such as Calvinism and Lutheranism. People eventually had no faith in the system of the Catholic Church leading to various individual beliefs and practices, which also have differences in some details of how they live as Christians. The separatism that happened because of the reformation led by Martin Luther resulted in a weaker Christendom, affecting the influence that Christianism has over the world. In some sources Martin Luther was considered a humanist, but for some he was not. But one thing that is for sure is he had opened the door for secular humanism to reign in culture through the Enlightenment. Martin Luther and the reformation taught the people about the inherent worth of an individual. This is the concept of dignity. This concept also liberated the people from the fear that the medieval church has instilled in them to gain control of society. This kind of liberation has led to some groups of people to believe that human beings are capable of living ethically and morally without having religion. Secular humanism believes in humanity being either good or evil and as something superior to nature. As a result of all these, the reformation led to a gross fragmentation, resulting in thousands of denominations. Because of the reformation and awakening of the people by Martin Luther’s beliefs, he was not able to set a new system that will be followed by the believers of the reform. The people who are now in the opposition of the church were eventually involved in different beliefs and versions of what religion is. This fragmentation of people even caused casualties from the brutality and war that arose from the reformation. Deaths occurred all over Europe also resulting to the further division of lands and affectation of other political issues.[Kolb, Robert. Martin Luther as Prophet, Teacher, and Hero (Texts and Studies in Reformation and Post-Reformation Thought): Images of the Reformer, 1520-1620. Baker Books, 1999.] [Johnso...