Expert: Brenda Martin - 7/29/2004

Question
I going through it with this question... Hope you can help.  Define the nature of Indulgences, explaining from the Church's perspective why this practice was acceptable. Analyze the Church's motives for this scheme, as well as its impact on lay members.  
also if you please..
Analyze some of the reasons why Martin Luther's attempts at church reform were successful, including his theology, social conditions, and the new technology.  
Hope there is enough info here.. I just need to get started and I can do the rest...  Thanks so much for you help.
Valencia...

Answer
Hi Valencia, you asked--"DEFINE THE NATURE OF INDULGENCES, EXPLAINING FROM THE CHURCH'S PERSPECTIVE WHY THIS
PRACTICE WAS ACCEPTABLE".

Example—"Catholics who tuned in to the pope's annual Christmas message in St. Peter's Square on either TV or radio were granted a plenary indulgence that heretofore was granted only to those physically present. The Vatican's single-page decree, signed by Luigi Cardinal Dadaglio, authorized the change because of improvements in electronic technology. It also applies to local bishops, who are allowed to impart the “apostolic blessing” three times a year in their own dioceses.

"According to Catholic doctrine, a plenary indulgence “represents a total release from the temporal punishment still due from sin after the guilt has been forgiven,” says The New York Times. The practice of granting indulgences was the root cause of the Protestant Reformation. “Reformation leaders such as Martin Luther objected strenuously to the widespread practice of granting indulgences in exchange for money contributions,” says the Times. “Much of the money used to build St. Peter's Basilica was collected in this way.”

As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from Purgatory springs” was a common saying. To ordinary folk, an indulgence became almost an insurance policy against punishment for any sin, and repentance fell by the wayside. “Everywhere,” wrote Erasmus, “the remission of purgatorial torment is sold; nor is it sold only, but forced upon those who refuse it.”

"ANALYZE THE CHURCH'S MOTIVES FOR THIS SCHEME, AS WELL AS ITS IMPACT ON LAY MEMBERS"

In pagan times, Germanic tribes had a tradition whereby money could be paid to effect release from punishment for crimes. With the expansion of the Roman faith, the custom found accommodation within the church in the form of indulgences. This allowed a sinner to buy from the pope the value of dead “saints'” merits and apply these against temporal penalties for sins committed.

Papal Indulgences
In celebration of the millennium, Pope John Paul II has proclaimed the year 2000 a Holy Year and has offered indulgences to those who make a pilgrimage to Rome, reports L'Osservatore Romano. An indulgence is a way for Catholics to be exempted from punishment for sin. The Vatican newspaper says: “Every good work performed under grace merits a reward.”

However, the same journal notes that the practice also raises some interesting questions, such as, “If God's pardoning grace is offered to all, what need is there for the Church to grant indulgences?” and, “If the Church can grant plenary [absolute] indulgences, why does she bother with partial indulgences?”

thier motive is quite simple; "money" the practice has no bassis in scripture, so it is just a man made doctrine used to make money for the church.

"ANALYZE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY MARTIN LUTHER'S ATTEMPTS AT CHURCH REFORM WERE SUCCESSFUL, INCLUDING HIS THEOLOGY, SOCIAL CONDITIONS, AND THE NEW TECHNOLOGY."

Success --Luther devoted himself to writing and to Bible translation. He translated the Greek Scriptures into German from Erasmus' Greek text. The Hebrew Scriptures followed later. Luther's Bible turned out to be just what the common people needed. It was reported that “five thousand copies were sold in two months, two hundred thousand in twelve years.” Its influence on the German language and culture is often compared to that of the King James Version on the English.

His theology--What were the fundamental points that divided the Protestants from the Roman Catholics? According to Luther, there were three. First, Luther believed that salvation results from “justification by faith alone” (Latin, sola fide) and not from priestly absolution or works of penance. Second, he taught that forgiveness is granted solely because of God's grace (sola gratia) and not by the authority of priests or popes. Finally, Luther contended that all doctrinal matters are to be confirmed by Scripture only (sola scriptura) and not by popes or church councils.

In spite of this, Luther, says The Catholic Encyclopedia, “retained as much of the ancient beliefs and liturgy as could be made to fit into his peculiar views on sin and justification.” The Augsburg Confession states regarding the Lutheran faith that “there is nothing that is discrepant with the Scriptures, or with the Church Catholic, or even with the Roman Church, so far as that Church is known from writers.” In fact, the Lutheran faith, as outlined in the Augsburg Confession, included such unscriptural doctrines as the Trinity, immortal soul, and eternal torment, as well as such practices as infant baptism and church holidays and feasts.

Successes--On the other hand, the Lutherans demanded certain changes, such as that the people be allowed to receive both wine and bread at Communion and that celibacy, monastic vows, and compulsory confession be abolished.

As a whole, the Reformation, as advocated by Luther and his followers, succeeded in breaking from the papal yoke. Yet, as Jesus stated at John 4:24, “God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.” It can be said that with Martin Luther, mankind's search for the true God only took a new turn; the narrow path of truth was still far off.—Matthew 7:13, 14; John 8:31, 32.

Conditions--Like weeds flourishing in among strangled wheat, the Church of Rome, under its papal ruler, dominated worldly affairs for centuries. (Matt. 13:24-30, 37-43) As it became more and more a part of the world, the church grew further and further away from first-century Christianity. Through the centuries “heretical” sects called for reforms within the church, but the church continued to abuse power and amass wealth. Then, in the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation, a religious revolt, burst forth in all its fury.

Reformers such as Martin Luther (1483-1546), Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531), and John Calvin (1509-64) attacked the church on various issues: Luther on the sale of indulgences, Zwingli on clerical celibacy and Mariolatry, and Calvin on the need for the church to return to the original principles of Christianity. What did such efforts accomplish?

To be sure, the Reformation accomplished some good things, most notably the translation of the Bible into languages of the common people. The free spirit of the Reformation led to more objective Bible research and an increased understanding of Bible languages. The Reformation did not, however, mark a return to true worship and doctrine.

All the best
Brenda