What was Martin Luther's contribution to the Reformation?

Martin Luther is considered one of the fathers of the Reformation. Luther nailed 95 theses to the Wittenberg Castle Church in 1517 as a way of stating what was wrong with the Catholic Church. He saw the Catholic Church as corrupt, letting money get in the way of promoting God's work. Luther put more emphasis on individual salvation and Bible study. He believed that one's relationship with God should be a personal experience. Luther taught...

Martin Luther is considered one of the fathers of the Reformation. Luther nailed 95 theses to the Wittenberg Castle Church in 1517 as a way of stating what was wrong with the Catholic Church. He saw the Catholic Church as corrupt, letting money get in the way of promoting God's work. Luther put more emphasis on individual salvation and Bible study. He believed that one's relationship with God should be a personal experience. Luther taught that one could talk to God directly through prayer and did not have to get a priest or saints to intercede on one's behalf. The Church sought to stop this early Protestant movement, but Luther was fortunate enough to live in an area controlled by German princes who were already tired of paying money to the Vatican. Luther received protection and the Protestant movement was allowed to flourish in the German states.