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Western Civilization · Chapter 8

The Radicalization Ratchet

The Ninety-Five Theses do not deny purgatory, reject the papacy, or mention justification by faith. Four years later Luther was excommunicated and outlawed. Drag the timeline and watch three of his positions move a notch every time Rome escalates — then rerun the same four years with one thing changed.

Which four years are you running?

Pick a history, then scrub. The meters on the right respond to both.

31 October 1517 The Ninety-Five Theses
15171521

Where Luther stands

1 · Indulgence preaching is an abuse60
2 · The pope can be wrong8
3 · Scripture alone is the final authority15
Rome’s move
And therefore Luther’s

Where this history ends