Martin Luther

Martin Luther was born into a world where the Catholic Church dominated spiritual life. As a deeply religious man, he found solace in the promise of salvation offered by the church. However, during a thunderstorm, Luther felt the weight of imminent death and vowed to become a monk. After entering the monastery, he became increasingly doubtful about the Church’s ability to provide true salvation. This doubt was further solidified when Luther traveled to Rome and witnessed the corruption within the Catholic Church. He experienced despair but found relief in reading the Bible, realizing that his individual faith would guarantee his salvation rather than relying on the Church itself. This realization led him to turn against the Church and launch his famous 95 Theses. The Catholic Church attempted to silence Luther using accusations of heresy and excommunication. However, protected by his local ruler Frederick the Wise, Luther continued to criticize the Church with radical critiques that spread rapidly through Europe due to the new printing press technology. Luther was summoned before the German imperial parliament in Worms where he faced the threat of torture and execution for refusing to recant. He stood firm, proclaiming his inalienable right to believe what he wished. His stand became a symbol of rebellion against the Church’s authority. As the reformation spread into movements for social freedom, Luther found himself struggling with the rapid pace of change. He lamented that his followers should be concerned about God rather than being preoccupied with worldly matters.