Martin Luther
The man who had the greatest influence on religion in the Renaissance was Martin Luther. Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Saxony, Germany. From a young age, Luther was very intelligent. He received his master’s in 1505 from the University of Halle-Wittenberg. On July 2 of the same year, he was struck by lightning. This event made him reprioritize his life. He then decided to become a monk out of fear. After many years as a monk, he became irritated by how the Catholic Church was being run, and more specifically, the Pope. He wrote a controversial paper titled the 95 Theses on October 31, 1517. He nailed it to the door of his local church. Much to the dislike of Luther, the 95 Theses were mass-pressed.
This caused controversy about the Catholic Church. While many people were loyal to the church, many agreed with Luther and decided to follow his movement. One man who disagreed was Bodenstein von Karlstadt. Karlstadt responded with the 405 Theses, a rebuttal to all stated by 95 Theses. In January of 1521, the Church officially excommunicated Martin Luther. The Edict of Worms went as far as to declare an outlaw. After many years of ill health, he died on February 18, 1546 in his hometown of Eisleben.
Martin Luther’s influence on religion was immense. He is the most accredited for his contribution to the Protestant Reformation, in which Christianity branched off into 2 separate religions; Protestantism and Catholicism. This is a very significant point in not only the renaissance, but history itself.
This caused controversy about the Catholic Church. While many people were loyal to the church, many agreed with Luther and decided to follow his movement. One man who disagreed was Bodenstein von Karlstadt. Karlstadt responded with the 405 Theses, a rebuttal to all stated by 95 Theses. In January of 1521, the Church officially excommunicated Martin Luther. The Edict of Worms went as far as to declare an outlaw. After many years of ill health, he died on February 18, 1546 in his hometown of Eisleben.
Martin Luther’s influence on religion was immense. He is the most accredited for his contribution to the Protestant Reformation, in which Christianity branched off into 2 separate religions; Protestantism and Catholicism. This is a very significant point in not only the renaissance, but history itself.