Martin Luther: Reluctant reformer who rocked Christianity 500 years ago

Five hundred years ago this month, Martin Luther set out to challenge his church and ended up starting what would become known as the Protestant Reformation.

On Oct. 31, 1517, Luther, then an Augustinian monk, theology professor and parish priest, published his 95 Theses, formally entitled “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences.”

He was just 10 days shy of his 34th birthday.