The "95 Theses" were a list of 95 propositions written by Martin Luther in 1517 that challenged the Roman Catholic Church's practices, particularly the sale of indulgences, which were claimed to reduce punishment for sins and time in purgatory
. Luther argued that true repentance is an inner spiritual struggle rather than a transaction, and that the pope could only remit penalties imposed by the church, not the guilt of sin itself, which only God can forgive
. The theses questioned the church's authority over purgatory and criticized the idea that people could buy their way into heaven or secure the release of loved ones from purgatory through indulgences
. Luther intended the theses as a basis for academic debate among scholars, but they quickly spread throughout Europe, sparking widespread controversy and marking the start of the Protestant Reformation
. Key points include:
- Repentance should be a lifelong inner process, not dependent on indulgences
- The pope's power is limited to church penalties, not divine forgiveness
- The sale of indulgences encourages greed and false assurance of salvation
- The Bible is the ultimate authority, and salvation comes through faith alone, not works or payments
Luther's 95 Theses were posted (likely on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg) on October 31, 1517, and they challenged church corruption and doctrine, leading to Luther's excommunication in 1521 and the eventual formation of Protestantism
