Ninety-Five Theses
Wittenberg door document
The Ninety-Five Theses were propositions Martin Luther posted in 1517, challenging Catholic Church practices—particularly the sale of indulgences.
The document sparked the Protestant Reformation.
References to the Ninety-Five Theses often invoke dramatic public challenge to institutional authority: She nailed her ninety-five theses to the company's door when she quit.
- faith aloneJustification by belief only
- ReformationReligious movement splitting Christianity
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- Martin LutherProtestant Reformation founder
- church doorBuilding entrance for worship
Protestantism · indulgences · purgatory · printing press · Wittenberg · grace · salvation · papal authority · papal bulls · Lutheranism · Diet of Worms · excommunication · sacraments · Catholic Church · heresy · 16th century · modern democracy · Holy Roman Empire
reform vs. tradition in christianity
Ninety-Five ThesesCouncil of Trent
Catholic ecclesiastical congress addressing reformation