Martin Luther's List
1517 AD
1517 1517
12.30E51.50N
MISC

WITTENBERG, GERMANY
	When Martin Luther nailed a list of 95 debating points to the door of the Wittenberg Church in Germany in 1517, he just wanted to correct a religious abuse.  But what occurred was one of the largest divisions in the history of Christianity.
	Luther was an Augustinian monk and professor of theology who rigorously followed the rules of his monastery, but found no peace.  Then, in the winter of 1512-13, while meditating on Romans 1:16-17, in the Bible, it struck him that sinners are made right with God by trusting in His mercy, not by their own good works.
	Though central to his thinking, Luther's break with the Catholic Church didn't come over this, but over indulgences, a form of penance which often degenerated into simple payments to the church.  He objected to them and nailed his challenge to the church door.  In response, he was accused of heresy.
	In a debate, John Eck forced Luther to concede that he placed the authority of the Bible above the Pope and church councils.  And later, when asked to recant and throw his books in the fire, Luther replied that he would not unless convinced that he was wrong by Scripture or reason.
	What started as a reform movement ended as a break.  Protected and hidden by some government leaders, Luther continued to publish his views. Those who broke away from the Roman Catholic church to follow Luther's teachings became known as Protestants.
