Martin Luther’s “95 Theses”

Definition

The "95 Theses" were a list of propositions for an academic disputation written in 1517 by Martin Luther, that started the Protestant Reformation. They criticized papal abuses and the sale of indulgences by church officials.

Analogy

Imagine you're at a restaurant and you find many things wrong with their service. You write a detailed Yelp review listing all these issues - this is similar to what Martin Luther did when he wrote his "95 Theses", criticizing various practices within the Catholic Church.

Related terms

Indulgences: A way to reduce punishment due for sins which became one of Martin Luther's main grievances against the Catholic Church.

Papacy: The office or authority of the Pope, which was heavily criticized in Luther's "95 Theses".

Wittenberg Door: The door where it is said that Martin Luther nailed his "95 Theses", sparking off the Protestant Reformation.