Martin Luther
Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences
"Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences" by Martin Luther is a list of propositions written in 1517. A professor of moral theology challenges the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences—certificates meant to reduce punishment for sins in purgatory. Luther questions whether the pope truly has authority over souls and argues that genuine repentance matters more than purchased pardons. These propositions, framed for academic debate, would ignite theological controversy and retrospectively mark the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.