Analyze The Causes Of Secularization From 1300 To 1550

Secularization of the western civilization did not happen overnight, it progressed over several centuries. The Western world had become increasingly secular since the Middle Ages it had also become increasingly religious. Secularization refers to the historical process in which religion loses social and cultural significance. During the periods of 1300 to 1550 some causes for secularization in society began with many issues from the Roman Catholic Church, decline of power began because of its involvement in the politics of the developing territorial states such as the long residence at Avignon from 1309-1378 known as the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism from 1378-1415 when there were two and then three men, each of whom claimed to

One influential man among many who opposed official policy was John Wycliffe a English scholastic philosopher, theologian, and Biblical translator who translated the Bible to English. Wycliffe openly attacked the RCC’s wealth, worldliness, and corrupt leaders. He felt strongly that wealth and temporal power were the ruination of the RCC. Even after receiving direct letters from the Pope claiming that he was only second in command from the head Christ. The pope still took tribute and taxes to keep up a court more worldly than spiritual, and he seemed to have forgotten that Christ had preached poverty and humility. Jan Hus a priest who very much believed in the writings of Wycliffe, did something very dangerous at the time. He then took next the step and attacked the church at its very heart of its power through salvation. Hus argued that the pope/RCC could not guarantee salvation but that salvation was ordained by God. Virtue was a sign of election, thus immoral people could not be one of the elect. His attacks could not be overlooked by the RCC, therefore in time he was ordered to confess his errors, promise that he would never teach/preach them again, and he was to make a public recantation. When the brave Hus refused, and the Council

The development of popular piety such as "Brethren of Common Life” established by Gerard Groote was an order of laymen and clergy who took no irrevocable vows but sought to live lives of piety according to the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount. Laymen followers did not withdraw from society but rather set up schools to emphasize teaching and the attaining of a moral and virtuous life. Brethren did not bring any major reforms in the RCC, although it greatly led to influence the rise of Christian
Humanism which would play huge factor in secularization. Renaissance humanism had the growing belief in the dignity of the individual and the capacity of the human mind to know all