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The '''Protestant Reformation''' was the 16th century movement which led to the separation of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. It is usually said to have started when [[Martin Luther]] nailed his ''[[95 Theses]]'' to the door of the cathedral in Wittenburg, Germany calling for a discussion of  false doctrines and malpractices within the Catholic Church as he saw them. These included the sale of [[indulgences]] and the doctrine underlying them, as well as the powers of the Pope. He had not, however, intended to create a rival church.

The '''Protestant Reformation''' was the 16th century movement which led to the separation of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. It is usually said to have started when [[Martin Luther]] nailed his ''[[95 Theses]]'' to the door of the cathedral in Wittenburg, Germany calling for a discussion of  false doctrines and malpractices within the Catholic Church as he saw them. These included the sale of [[indulgences]] and the doctrine underlying them, as well as the powers of the Pope. He had not, however, intended to create a rival church.

Luther was excommunicated a few weeks later but continued the effort to have his issues addressed. Condemned as an outlaw by the Imperial Diet of Worms (1521), Luther avoided arrest and possibly even death thanks to the timely intervention of a prominent nobleman symathetic to his cause. In time, Christian congregations which agreed with Luther's teachings were founded and Luther moved on to additional religious concerns. He translated the Bible into German while in hiding, and he wrote extensively on many theological subjects.

Luther was excommunicated a few weeks later but continued the effort to have his issues addressed. Condemned as an outlaw by the Imperial Diet of Worms (1521), Luther avoided arrest and possibly even death thanks to the timely intervention of a prominent nobleman sympathetic to his cause. In time, Christian congregations which agreed with Luther's teachings were founded and Luther moved on to additional religious concerns. He translated the Bible into German while in hiding, and he wrote extensively on many theological subjects.

Luther identified three cardinal concepts he believed were supported by Scripture but which the Medieval Church had suppressed:

Luther identified three cardinal concepts he believed were supported by Scripture but which the Medieval Church had suppressed: