Luther became distressed at the selling of indulgences by the pope, so in 1517 he nailed his “Ninety-five Theses” to the door of the Wittenberg church. This noncombative act was the acceptable means for seeking a public discussion on the issues in dispute. The conflicts that resulted eventually led Luther to see the Bible, not the pope, as the sole authority over man. Later he became a true Christian, and from there his relationship with the Catholic church became so strained that he was excommunicated.