95 Theses

Martin Luther’s 95 Theses started the schism in the Catholic church that led to the Reformation. He penned this text out of frustration with the church’s sale of indulgences, which were documents granting forgiveness for sins on behalf of the purchaser or the individual of their choosing. Luther argued that forgiveness cannot be purchased with money; it can only be granted through true repentance. With this text, Luther presents 95 theological propositions for debate, and while he didn’t know it at the time, they would spark the greatest debate in Catholic history.