Answer :
Final answer:
Indulgences were certificates sold by the church promising forgiveness and a quicker path to heaven amid controversies and abuses, leading to criticism and the Protestant Reformation.
Explanation:
Indulgences were certificates of forgiveness sold by the Church, promising a quicker entry into heaven by reducing time in purgatory. The practice of granting indulgences evolved over time, leading to abuses and controversies within the Catholic Church.
These certificates were offered in exchange for donations or charitable works, allowing individuals to shorten their potential time in purgatory, based on the belief that sins needed to be atoned for before entering heaven.
The sale of indulgences became a source of revenue for the Church, leading to criticism and contributing to the Protestant Reformation's beginnings.
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