Junto Boys

THIS DAY IN 1517

Martin Luther posts his 95 THESES

SIGNIFICANCE

While intending to simply root out abuses in the Catholic Church, Luther set in motion the protestant reformation.

BACKGROUND

Luther was a Catholic priest and was appalled that people were being sold forgiveness for their sins. Since it was a pretty lucrative side business among local clerics, Luther was excommunicated and Charles V of Germany proclaimed that anyone could kill Luther without it penalty on their bodily or holy soul. With protection from other nobles, Luther instead wrote a German translation of the bible. Other ground swells in Europe arose and religious politics were changed for ever.

RESULTS

The ability to reform excesses and missteps are the key ingredients to continued success in anything. The Roman Catholic Church, much like Ford and GM today, took for granted the people and the market for their product. Their own hubris led to the decline of importance in political and public life.

The reformation was integrated into the thinking of philosophers like John Locke and later Thomas Jefferson who would pen that all men were created equal with certain inalienable rights. The church and the state that wielded so much political power over the populace with the fear of God were supplanted by a creator that people could have a personal relationship with.

That alone was an important component to the founding of the United States of America.