JLC-110 FA2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Ninety-Five Theses, Lightning, Indulgence

• School: American University
• Department: JLC - JUSTICE, LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY
• Course: JLC-110 FA2
• Professor: Souris

Document Summary

Modernity roughly started in the 1500s, may have lasted up until a few decades ago, marked beginning of postmodernism. Luther was a contemporary of machiavelli, sparked protestant reformation. His father wanted him to be a lawyer, luther was struck by lightning and took that as a sign of his religious calling. Luther went to rome, was appalled by church exploitation of their followers. Church said that the clergy"s approval was needed for salvation. Salvation could be achieved through purchasing papal indulgences. Luther thought that the bible was the central authority not the clergy. Most people were illiterate or couldn"t read latin and so they had to trust the clergy. 95 theses was the central document of the reformation, luther was called into court to defend himself because of it. He was ordered to issue a public statement denouncing his own work and he refused. 1-2: repentance is a personal act through god not through an institution.