2000 Years Of Christianity: Episode VII - By Faith Alone

With the abuse of office by the pope and curia, moral depravity and the unrestrained marketing of indulgences, the leadership of the church was stuck in its own dead end and seemed incapable of getting out. Augustinian monk Martin Luther tortured himself with the question of justifying humanity before God.

With his 95 theses. Luther addressed the general public. The young craft of printing spread them throughout Germany. The pope threatened excommunication. Luther disputed the church's right to place itself between the faithful and God. Before the Diet of Worms he was ordered to recant. He steadfastly refused, and he was declared fair game. His elector hid him at the Wartburg. Here he translated the Bible into German.

The Reformation began realigning people's everyday lives. In 1530, the Lutheran Estates published a comprehensive confession for the Diet of Augsburg. The emperor put his hopes on a war to put the quietus on the religious issue by force of arms. The age of "the church" in Germany was over. The age of "the churches" began.

This series explores the archaeology an origins of Christianity and how it came into the world. Filmed on location in actual historical and biblical sites, this series features man memorable, full-scale dramatic re-creations.