On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a young theology professor, took a daring step that would ignite the Protestant Reformation, reshaping both Christianity and European society. Luther, an Augustinian monk and scholar at the University of Wittenberg in Saxony, was increasingly troubled by certain practices within the Catholic Church, especially the sale of indulgences. These indulgences were sold as a means to “buy” forgiveness, promising reduced time in purgatory in exchange for financial contributions—a concept that Luther found both morally and theologically troubling. The church marketed indulgences as a means to secure salvation for oneself or loved ones, fueling a … Continue reading On October 31, 1517: Martin Luther and the Dawn of the Protestant Reformation