Final answer:
Martin Luther went viral during the Protestant Reformation by publishing his 95 Theses and using the printing press to spread his message of salvation by faith alone. His criticism of the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences and liturgical practices resonated with many who had other reasons for discontentment with Roman authority. Despite the Church's attempts to suppress his teachings, Luther's ideas spread widely across Europe, largely due to the accessibility and circulation enabled by the printing press.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Martin Luther Went Viral
Martin Luther, a German monk, initiated the Protestant Reformation in 1517, which went viral due to a combination of his dissenting views and revolutionary communication methods. Luther theorized that salvation was by faith alone, conflicting with the Catholic Church's teachings, including the sale of indulgences and the significance of good works. Luther's 95 Theses, originally intended to reform the Church from within, were disseminated widely thanks to the newly invented printing press, leading to rapid and widespread circulation of his ideas.
Luther opposed the Church's fiscal policies and liturgical practices. His translation of the Bible into German and production of a hymnal facilitated worship and scripture understanding in the vernacular, challenging the Church's use of Latin, which was not broadly comprehensible. This language shift made religious texts more accessible to the common people, further enhancing the spread of Luther's ideas. Despite facing measures like excommunication and having his works banned, Luther continued to publish extensively, effectively using the printing press to its fullest potential to reach a large audience.
The impact of Luther's actions was magnified by the wider context of discontent with the Catholic Church's practices, including its political and financial demands. Various motivations, including theological and political reasons, led people to support Luther and reject Roman authority. The Church's attempts to suppress these challenges, like the excommunication of Luther and the affirmation of its doctrines at the Council of Trent, ultimately were not sufficient to stop the growth of the movement.