MARTIN LUTHER AND THE REFORMATION – The Historical Importance of Religion
Religion played a very important part in people’s lives. People explained happenings according to God’s will. They also believed that the Church provided all the answers to life and that it was only through the Catholic Church that salvation (a place in heaven) could be achieved.
What does this procession in St Mark’s Square in Venice tell you about the importance of religion in the 16th
century?
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But there were many problems with the Catholic Church. These problems led to the Reformation in the 16th century.
What was the Reformation? The Reformation began in Germany in the 16th
century as a protest against the abuses
in the Catholic Church. It began as an attempt to improve the Catholic Church. But less than 100 years later, most of the people of northern Europe were Protestants, who rejected the pope and his teachings. The Reformation brought about this change.
Who was Martin Luther? Martin Luther was born in Eisleben in Germany in 1483. He joined the Augustinian
Order to become a monk and a priest. He later became Professor of Theology (study of God) at Wittenberg University in Saxony.
Going to heaven Luther was a holy man who worried about going to heaven (salvation). He was worried that God would not forgive sinners like himself. He found his answer in the Bible. He read that ‘the just man shall live by faith alone’; good deeds or works such as praying to the saints or gaining indulgences (pardons for sins) would not help. Only faith in God would allow a person to go to heaven – this was called justification by faith.
