Roman Catholics believed in indulgences, an act that was used, among other things, to finance the magnificent St. Peter?s Basilica in Rome. This spurred the monk, Martin Luther to protest and argue that salvation came not by ?doing certain things? but from religious faith. His dispute against the Pope, led him to condemnation. He continued his debate further from within the church without much progress. Taking the matter into his own hands, he rejected the Pope?s authority and in 1519 began the movement known has the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther had paved the way to question the church. This spread throughout the world inspiring others, spurring the Catholic (counter) reformation, and thus later led to religious, social and political changes in Western Europe. His views on Christianity appealed to nobles and commoners, yet it was a threat to the Roman Catholic Church.

Luther believed that Christian belief must be based on the word of God and tradit

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