Answer to Question #285128 in History for melinda

Question

1. What are Luther’s arguments for why indulgences are bad for Christians? (don’t just write what he thinks Christians should do instead of buying an indulgence, explain why he dislikes indulgences)

Answer 1

Luther said that Christians had no biblical basis, the pope didn't have authority to release souls from purgatory & Christians could only be saved through faith. Further, he strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money, called indulgences, which he argued in his Ninety-five Theses of 1517. He claimed that by purchasing an indulgence, an individual could reduce the length and severity of punishment that heaven would require as payment for their sins, or so the church claimed.