The Excommunication of Martin Luther and its Effect on Western European Civilization by

1. Introduction.

max_weidman1097 — 2014-05-27 16:39:04 UTC

Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, was a professor of biblical studies in Germany. He was the mindset behind the writing of the 95 thesis, a document posted on the Wittenburg Church Door condemning Catholicism and all its false beliefs, corruption within, and the selling of indulgences, or the forgiveness of sin. He followed up the revolutionary work with equally controversial and groundbreaking theological works, and his fiery words set off religious reformers all across Europe.

In January 1521, Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther. No more than three months later, Luther was called back to defend himself in front of the Holy Roman Emporer Charles V at the Diet of Worms, a council held to oversee the trial. Luther's protection was granted by politically powerful German princes, and suffered a significantly lesser punishment. By his death in 1546, Western Civilization had been changed forever. See Link for More on Martin Luther

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther

max_weidman1097 — 2014-05-27 16:56:11 UTC

2. The Events Preceding Luther's Trial

max_weidman1097 — 2014-05-29 17:50:43 UTC

During the Italian Renaissance, and through the Reformation Era, the Pope was not only the head of the Catholic Church, but the single most powerful man in the world. His influence spread to all of Europe and it citizens alike. However in the early 16th century, a slow trickle of corruption within the heart of the Church began to flow into its roots. Corruption and false pretenses began to dictate the actions of almost all Clergy members. Children were born out of wedlock, acts of simony, the selling of indulgences and the influence of the Pope began to play into his hands for his own good. In addition, many of the branches of the Church, including small ministries and chapels across Europe began to follow the same policies. Clerical Immorality, ignorance and pluralism took over the major clerical positions and slowly corroded the pure moral values of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church was on a downward spiral, as corruption-stricken policies were the basis for all actions taken by the Church. These flaws were a main point of criticism for Martin Luther, as he brought several of the inconsistencies within Catholic Rule, and how the negative effect was slowly spreading to those who knew no better than to believe the Church, to attention as he displayed his public opposition to the Catholic Church.

Due to Luther's deep belief in his religion, his involvement in Catholic endeavors as well as his standpoint on right-and-wrong, all contributed to the climax of the early 16th century, and ultimately, his excommunication from the Catholic Church. He exposed the unscrupulous methods of the Catholic Church, its members and their dishonorable conduct in the eyes of God, in particular, the selling of indulgences, their acts of simony, and clerical immorality as well as many others.

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/RomanCatholic-Church-in-1500.htm

His somewhat unconventional methods went as far as posting his famous 95 Thesis on the Wittenburg Castle door, listing all of his grievances with the Catholic Church. Luther’s famous 95 Theses was comprised of specific discrepancies within the Catholic Church’s proceedings, including the selling of indulgences, acts of simony, clerical immorality, children born out of wedlock as well as symbolic blasphemy (79). He brought up the points mentioned earlier, as well as other major issues during the era, including the Catholic Church's steady drift from ritual and tradition, as well as the lack of recognition towards the Holy Gospel.

http://www.wxii12.com/image/view/-/17709132/highRes/2/-/13k5kvc/-/OTD-December-10---Martin-Luther-jpg.jpg

3. The Trial of Martin Luther

max_weidman1097 — 2014-05-29 18:36:57 UTC

The Catholic Church's response was anticipated; Luther's goal was to publicize the corruption that was taking place within the largest power in the world. The threat that Luther posed was too great to be taken lightly.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-78crCqgd_KA/TqhL7hq3V1I/AAAAAAAAGzY/DwQZdUKQOJw/s1600/martins-luters-pienaglo-tezes%255B1%255D.jpg

On January 15, 1521 Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther after reviewing Luther's rash accusations against the Catholic Church. Refusing his excommunication, he left on upset terms with the Pope and Clergy. Shortly thereafter, the Pope wrote a letter called the Papal Bull, explaining to Luther that he must take back his writings that were considered blasphemy in the eyes of God, and admit that they were wrong. The scholars had identified over 40 statements that violated Church values and teachings. Luther again refuses to take back his objective writings about the Catholic Church. He stands firm with his belief and despite threatening of permanent removal from the Catholic Church, does not take back his teachings that inflicted the validity of Catholicism.

Soon after, Luther was called to a meeting to discuss his future within the Catholic Church, called the Diet of Worms. This meeting was held to determine the outcome of Luther's teachings and the ultimate fate of both Luther and the Church.The presiding member of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V, oversaw the Diet of Worms. At his request, Luther was to recount all of his blaspheme teachings, his writings and any other notion towards the objection of Catholic policy, tradition or ritual....and again, Luther refused. It is here, at the trial with the Diet of Worms, that Luther is famously defiant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ4Hkp48-fs

Records say that Luther was famously defiant, stating, "Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen." This famous statement made by Luther at the Diet of Worms, was the "final straw" for the committee and Charles V, who officially named Luther an outlaw and heretic of the Catholic Faith, however in an attempt to hinder his sentence to solitude, he was supported by many German princes, all of which Luther had helped in earlier years. Thus, to reform the Catholic Church, Martin Luther would have to build his principles into a new church, which would branch from Catholicism and be named Protestantism, and later Lutheranism.

http://www.danielsecomb.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/martin-luther.jpg

4. After the Trial; Luther's Life and The Change Brought to Western European Civlization.

max_weidman1097 — 2014-06-03 16:51:14 UTC

As I stated earlier, Martin Luther was officially excommunicated from the Catholic Faith, and took many followers with him, which grew to become the Protestant Church and eventually split again into several branches, including Lutheranism and Methodism.

Frederick III had intercepted him on his way home near Wittenburg by masked horsemen who were interpreted to Luther as armed highway men, and brought Luther to the Wartburg Castle, where he sought refuge.

Frederick III, or Frederick the Wise, was one of the Luther's greatest supports in his pursuit to reform the Catholic Church. After his excommunication and label of heretic and outlaw of the Catholic Faith, Frederick III housed Luther, and aided him in continuing his studies of the Christian Faith, as well as his charismatic accusations towards the Pope, Clergy and Catholic Church.

In addition, Frederick the Wise was also one of the Princes whom Luther had helped rise to power in earlier years. In addition to his favoring the reformation of the Catholic Church, Frederick supported Luther as a repayment, as well as the amount of influence he held over the German people.

As Luther continued his writings with the help and protection of Frederick the Wise, the margin between Catholicism and, originally, Protestantism, grew greater. As one of Luther's most powerful and influential defenders, Frederick the Wise was able to continue to gather followers to Protestantism through the likes of Martin Luther's doctrines.

http://www.exploregod.com/difference-between-protestantism-and-catholicism

At this point in time, both Protestantism and Catholicism are completely divided, and followers are dedicated to one or the other. What once was the greatest empire in the world, has now been degraded to simply another dedicated group of Christ's followers.

Extra Credit Page...What Happened Between the Formation of the Protestant Church and Today

max_weidman1097 — 2014-06-03 17:24:38 UTC

Since the Branch of Catholicism into Protestantism, and later on into Lutheranism, Calvinism as well as

Methodism, the influence of religion has spread greatly throughout European culture. Due to their

common branch from Catholicism, the heart of Christianity, many tributaries from the Catholic Church

still hold many of the same values, traditions and rituals, however through the reformation, the path of

Christianity was altered greatly, creating a severed vein in the heart of Europe and ultimately causing

chaos within nations. The Religious Wars, The Glorious Revolution and the overthrowing of kings were

all done in the name of keeping Holy one's religion. Wars broke out over minuscule diescepancies

that unfolded into national issues leading to war.

Eventually, after the development of America into a great power, more and more Europeans

immigrated to the United States, bringing their family roots, potato seeds and yes, their religion. Through

the diffusion of religion to other places in the world, more and more people became involved in religious

issues, including protests during the 20th and 21st centuries, including the 2006 Islamist demonstration

outside the Embassy of Denmark in London.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamist_demonstration_outside_Danish_Embassy_in_London_in_2006?scrlybrkr=80fbf111

Through the years, of reformation, to current times, the people of the earth, for the most part, have learned to coexist

within society which has evolved into a continuously moving whirl pool of tweets, posts, lives, favorites, hash tags and

spam. Although people cooperate in areas, there are still places on earth that have been fought over for thousands of

years, such as the Holy Lands of Israel, Palestine and Jerusalem. The Wars today do not necessarily include Lutheranism,

Catholicism and other branches of Christianity from the Reformation, however, a religious war is a religious war, regardless

of specifics. Today, in society, Christians, along with Muslims, Jews, Animalists, Athiests and Gays all live in (90%) harmony

with one another, creating a smooth surface for all to dwell and grow upon.

http://www.theworldflag.org/images/archivedFlags/2008-WORLD-FLAG.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

Credits and Citations

max_weidman1097 — 2014-06-03 21:40:17 UTC

"Martin Luther Excommunicated." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 03 June 2014.

PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 04 June 2014.

"M. Luther's Life: Excommunication." M. Luther's Life: Excommunication. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2014.

"Martin Luther." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 Mar. 2014. Web. 04 June 2014.

"Martin Luther Excommunicated." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 03 June 2014.

"KONY 2012." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 03 June 2014.