Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent American civil rights leader, minister, and advocate for nonviolent activism in the struggle for racial equality and social justice. He was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, and tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.
King emerged as a key figure in the American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. He played a central role in advancing the cause of civil rights through nonviolent protest and civil disobedience, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of nonviolence.
One of King’s most notable achievements was his leadership in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955-1956, sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus. The boycott, organized by King and other civil rights leaders, ultimately led to the desegregation of public transportation in Montgomery, Alabama.
King’s leadership continued to grow, and he played pivotal roles in organizing and leading numerous protests and demonstrations, including the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. It was during this march that King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, emphasizing his vision of a future where individuals are judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.
Martin Luther King Jr. was committed to nonviolent resistance as a means of effecting social change. He believed in the power of love, justice, and reconciliation to overcome racial segregation and discrimination.
King’s advocacy extended beyond civil rights to include broader issues of economic justice, opposition to the Vietnam War, and the fight against poverty. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts to promote racial equality through nonviolent means.
Tragically, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the age of 39 by James Earl Ray while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. His death sparked national mourning and further galvanized the civil rights movement.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy continues to inspire people around the world. His contributions to the struggle for civil rights and his commitment to nonviolence have left an indelible mark on American history and serve as a beacon of hope for those fighting for justice and equality. He remains a symbol of courage, determination, and the pursuit of a more just and inclusive society.
When was Martin Luther born?
A) 1483
B) 1509
C) 1517
D) 1534
Correct Answer: A) 1483
In which country was Martin Luther born?
A) England
B) France
C) Germany
D) Italy
Correct Answer: C) Germany
What was Martin Luther’s profession before becoming a religious reformer?
A) Lawyer
B) Doctor
C) Monk
D) Merchant
Correct Answer: C) Monk
Which famous document did Martin Luther nail to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg?
A) The Ninety-Five Theses
B) The Augsburg Confession
C) The Westminster Confession
D) The Edict of Worms
Correct Answer: A) The Ninety-Five Theses
What was the main theological issue that Martin Luther protested against in his Ninety-Five Theses?
A) Indulgences
B) Transubstantiation
C) Purgatory
D) Papal authority
Correct Answer: A) Indulgences
Which Pope excommunicated Martin Luther from the Roman Catholic Church?
A) Pope Leo X
B) Pope Clement VII
C) Pope Julius II
D) Pope Paul III
Correct Answer: A) Pope Leo X
What term did Martin Luther use to describe his theological belief that salvation comes through faith alone?
A) Sola Fide
B) Sola Scriptura
C) Sola Gratia
D) Solus Christus
Correct Answer: A) Sola Fide
Which assembly summoned Martin Luther to recant his teachings at the Diet of Worms?
A) Pope’s Council
B) Holy Synod
C) Council of Trent
D) Imperial Diet
Correct Answer: D) Imperial Diet
Which German prince protected Martin Luther after the Diet of Worms, allowing him to continue his reform work?
A) Frederick III, Elector of Saxony
B) Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
C) Philip I of Hesse
D) Albert of Brandenburg
Correct Answer: A) Frederick III, Elector of Saxony
What was the name of Martin Luther’s translation of the Bible into German?
A) Geneva Bible
B) Wycliffe Bible
C) Luther Bible
D) Tyndale Bible
Correct Answer: C) Luther Bible
Which theological concept did Martin Luther emphasize in his doctrine of “the priesthood of all believers”?
A) Justification by works
B) The importance of sacraments
C) The authority of the Pope
D) The direct access to God through faith
Correct Answer: D) The direct access to God through faith
What event is considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation?
A) The Council of Trent
B) The Diet of Augsburg
C) The Peace of Augsburg
D) The posting of the Ninety-Five Theses
Correct Answer: D) The posting of the Ninety-Five Theses
Which city did Martin Luther study and teach at the University of Wittenberg?
A) Frankfurt
B) Munich
C) Erfurt
D) Wittenberg
Correct Answer: D) Wittenberg
What was the name of the meeting of German princes that supported Martin Luther’s reforms in 1521?
A) Edict of Worms
B) Augsburg Confession
C) Diet of Speyer
D) League of Torgau
Correct Answer: C) Diet of Speyer
What was the title of Martin Luther’s famous pamphlet that argued for the priesthood of all believers?
A) On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church
B) The Freedom of a Christian
C) The Bondage of the Will
D) Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation
Correct Answer: B) The Freedom of a Christian
Which sacraments did Martin Luther recognize as valid in his theology?
A) Seven sacraments
B) Five sacraments
C) Three sacraments
D) Two sacraments (Baptism and Eucharist)
Correct Answer: D) Two sacraments (Baptism and Eucharist)
What was the name of the meeting of Protestant leaders that drafted the Augsburg Confession in 1530?
A) Diet of Worms
B) Colloquy of Marburg
C) Diet of Augsburg
D) Diet of Speyer
Correct Answer: C) Diet of Augsburg
Which famous hymn did Martin Luther compose that became a Protestant anthem?
A) A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
B) Amazing Grace
C) Nearer, My God, to Thee
D) How Great Thou Art
Correct Answer: A) A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
What was the name of the document in which Martin Luther defended his teachings before the Holy Roman Emperor at the Diet of Worms?
A) Edict of Worms
B) Confessions of Augsburg
C) Address to the Christian Nobility
D) On the Freedom of a Christian
Correct Answer: A) Edict of Worms
Which term did Martin Luther use to describe the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist?
A) Consubstantiation
B) Transubstantiation
C) Impanation
D) Symbolism
Correct Answer: A) Consubstantiation
Which event led to Martin Luther’s decision to become a monk and dedicate his life to God?
A) Surviving a lightning storm
B) Witnessing corruption in Rome
C) Meeting a wise theologian
D) Reading a Bible
Correct Answer: A) Surviving a lightning storm
Which theologian and humanist was a supporter of Martin Luther’s ideas during the Reformation?
A) Erasmus of Rotterdam
B) John Calvin
C) Thomas More
D) John Wycliffe
Correct Answer: A) Erasmus of Rotterdam
What was the name of the assembly that declared Martin Luther an outlaw and heretic after the Diet of Worms?
A) Imperial Council
B) Roman Curia
C) Council of Constance
D) Holy Inquisition
Correct Answer: D) Holy Inquisition
Which prince of the Holy Roman Empire protected Martin Luther after the Diet of Worms and allowed him to continue his work?
A) Charles V
B) Maximilian I
C) Frederick III, Electorof Saxony
D) Philip of Hesse
Correct Answer: C) Frederick III, Elector of Saxony
Which term did Martin Luther use to refer to the church as the community of all Christian believers?
A) Ecclesia
B) Sola Ecclesia
C) Corpus Christi
D) Priesthood of All Believers
Correct Answer: A) Ecclesia
What was the name of Martin Luther’s wife, a former nun whom he married in 1525?
A) Catherine of Aragon
B) Anne Boleyn
C) Katharina von Bora
D) Mary Tudor
Correct Answer: C) Katharina von Bora
Which term did Martin Luther use to refer to the Bible as the sole authority for Christian doctrine?
A) Sola Fide
B) Sola Gratia
C) Sola Scriptura
D) Solus Christus
Correct Answer: C) Sola Scriptura
What was the name of the religious group that followed Martin Luther’s teachings and formed the first Protestant churches?
A) Lutherans
B) Calvinists
C) Anabaptists
D) Hussites
Correct Answer: A) Lutherans
Which document issued by Martin Luther called for the reform of the Roman Catholic Church but was condemned by the Pope?
A) Ninety-Five Theses
B) Augsburg Confession
C) Address to the Christian Nobility
D) Exsurge Domine
Correct Answer: D) Exsurge Domine
What was the name of the German peasant revolt that occurred in response to Martin Luther’s teachings but was condemned by him?
A) War of the Roses
B) Peasants’ Revolt
C) Schmalkaldic War
D) German Peasants’ War
Correct Answer: D) German Peasants’ War