What was Luther's fundamental religious problem? Trace the development of this problem and how Luther solved it. How did Luther's religious ideas differ from those of Catholicism?

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The Answer is Martin Luther's fundamental religious problem was his struggle with the concept of salvation. He was deeply troubled by the teachings of the Catholic Church, particularly the sale of indulgences, which were pardons for sins that could be purchased. This practice, along with the Church's emphasis on good works as a means of obtaining salvation, left Luther feeling spiritually burdened and unsure of his own standing with God.

As Luther delved deeper into his study of the Bible, he came to believe that salvation was a gift from God, granted through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This revelation led him to reject the idea of indulgences and to question the authority of the Church to dictate the terms of salvation. In 1517, Luther famously posted his 95 Theses, which outlined his grievances with the Catholic Church and sparked the Protestant Reformation.

Luther's solution to his religious problem was to emphasize the concept of "justification by faith," which held that individuals were saved through their faith in Christ and not by their own actions or the intervention of the Church. This idea formed the basis of his theology and became a central tenet of Protestantism.

Luther's religious ideas differed from those of Catholicism in several key ways. While the Catholic Church taught that salvation could be earned through good works, sacraments, and adherence to Church doctrine, Luther argued that salvation was a free gift from God, received through faith alone. He also rejected the authority of the Pope and the Church hierarchy, advocating instead for a direct relationship between individuals and God.

Additionally, Luther emphasized the importance of Scripture as the ultimate authority in matters of faith, rejecting the Catholic Church's reliance on tradition and the teachings of the Church as equal sources of truth. These differences ultimately led to a schism within Christianity, with Lutherans and other Protestant denominations forming in opposition to the Catholic Church.

What Was Luther's Fundamental Religious Problem? Trace the Development of This