Martin LutherMartin Luther, a German monk, famously nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg. Far from a simple pamphlet or a treatise for the general public, Luthers work was an academic challenge to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, particularly its practice of selling indulgencesessentially allowing people to pay for themselves and their loved ones' salvation. To fully grasp the significance of Luthers dispute, its important to