I just read the entirety of Martin Luther's "95 Theses", and am truly appaled! I have never read them before, and believed that they were a good thing (brought up baptist...) This is what my "religion" is based on and it's simply a man listing his PERSONAL grievances with the Chuch and the Pope. It's no different to me than the Declaration of Independence, which is generally a list of "I don't like this about you so there" kind of thing. In my opinion, Martin Luther seemed not to be calling for a reform for the church, but more to be...radical. I mean, I know that corrupt things have gone on in the Church, and back then, much harder to keep track of wayward Priests and such. In all things there are corrupt men seeking power and exercising greed. Even in the most Holy Church there was. I know that I'm probably going to have some horrible comments on this, and whatever. I just had some thoughts and would like to see what people say, because I have friends who think that Luther was a true saint that saved us all from "eternal damnation". How would I go about dismissing Luther's 95 theses?

-- Jennifer D. (gijenn2331@aol.com), October 29, 2004

Answers

Luthers 95 thesis wasnt horrible, or even impressive. That is the Irony. His preachign for a need for reformation was mroe curtial tot he reformaitonitsself, the 95 thesis merley became soemtign of which peopel pinned the reformation on as a symbol.

Beleive it or not, Catholvis STILL write things like that often. Greivences, observations, and proposals mad einto list form are standard in acadmic circles as well. its a eman of initiating an academic dialouge, in this case with other Chruc officials ( Luther was a Monk at the time). However, Luther took his grievences farther than mere dialouge and began penly promotign them, and tus caused a schism.

But the 95 thesis themselves aren't relaly that shokcing or appauling, merley discussion starters for meetigns and debates.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), October 29, 2004.

Hi Jennifer,

Yes I was amazed too when I first read the 95 theses. I thought it would be full of denunciations on specific Catholic doctrines. I read and thought -- Wow, is this what the great Luther contributed?

If you venture further into history, hang on to your seat, you're in for a ride! Go to ccel.org and start reading the writings of the martyrs and fathers of the church from 1st generation Christianity all the way up. (Be prepared to convert . . . I did!)

Gail

-- Gail (Rothfarms@socket.net), October 29, 2004.

Luther 95 thesis was the straw that broke the camel's back.

As a theologian, he was quite right on many things. But, very wrong on others.

The Church was corrupt, ie. simony and selling of indulgences. And handled the reform efforts badly.

But, bottom line -- Both sides were very wrong in my opinion.

The Joint Declaration on Justification by the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches is a great step (but, only a step) in healing old wounds. God bless,

-- john placette (jplacette@catholic.org), November 04, 2004.

The Joint Declaration on Justification by the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches is a great step (but, only a step) in healing old wounds. God bless,

John this sort of statement perpetuates a false ecumenism.

There is no such thing as the Roman Catholic Church. It is the Catholic Church.

There is no such thing as the Lutheran Church. This is an ecclesial community and not a chuch.

-- Hugh (Hugh@inspired.com), November 05, 2004.

First of all, Luther was NOT "a theologian" - he had only 2 years of training, hardly what one would desire in a doctor of the faith. Not everyone who studies theology is "a theologian" just as not every medical student is a doctor!

What he was, was an outstanding orator, a brilliant writer of German, and a psychologically afflicted soul who had problems with lust, projection, and scrupulocity all piled on a sad childhood of abuse and emotional neglect.

Unlike all great reformers, his "reform" did not usher in an age of holiness and joy but civil war and chaos resulting in vast casualties and rapine.

-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), November 11, 2004.