Who initiated the Protestant Reformation by posting the 95 Theses?

The Protestant Reformation was a significant religious movement that emerged in the early 16th century, fundamentally altering the course of Christianity in Europe. Martin Luther is widely recognized as the catalyst of this movement, particularly through his act of posting the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in 1517. These theses challenged the practices of the Catholic Church, especially the sale of indulgences, which were seen as a corruption of true Christian teaching.

Luther's actions sparked widespread discussions and debates that eventually led to a schism in the Church, giving rise to various Protestant denominations. His emphasis on justification by faith alone and the authority of Scripture had a profound influence on Christianity, as well as on European society and politics.

In contrast, figures like John Calvin, Henry VIII, and Ulrich Zwingli played important roles in the Reformation but were not the initiators. Calvin developed his own theological framework that contributed to Reformed Christianity, Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church was largely motivated by personal and political reasons rather than theological disputes, and Zwingli made significant reforms in Switzerland but did not start the movement itself. Thus, Martin Luther's posting of the 95 Theses stands as the defining moment that initiated