Our Culture Can We Trace Back To The 16th Century Summary

What Features of Our Culture Can We Trace Back to the 16th Century?

After watching the PBS documentary, it is impossible to deny that several aspects of Western culture can be directly tied to the ideas of 16th century monk Martin Luther. Not just our country, but our entire society owes many of our current social, political, and religious views to his actions against the church, which sparked countless revolutions across the globe. In particular, the ideas of freedom of religion and separation of church and state are two of the most important features of today's culture that can be directly tied to Martin Luther’s actions, despite the fact that Luther himself was against this outcome. Martin Luther took a stand against the church when he posted his 95 thesis. He did this to protest indulgences, which he believed were immoral and leading people to incorrectly believe that their sins were being forgiven. Luther’s actions showed that it was possible to stand against the church and question the absolute power it held over the ordinary person’s life. While he didn’t intend for his actions to lead to people questioning religion as a whole, people began to see that they could challenge not just certain aspects of the church, but religion in its entirety. This planted the seeds that would one …show more content…
Before, the church had ruled every aspect of the common person's life. With the freedom to choose one’s religion came the need for a non secular government - one that could rule without religious interference. Without Luther making his stand against the corruption and greed of the church, a government that didn’t involve religion would never have been possible. Martin Luther inadvertently laid the foundation for the United States Constitution’s separation of church and state, which would ensure fair treatment to anyone regardless of their religious