The Reformation Dbq

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The Reformation was the period in the 16th century where people opposed the unbiblical acts of the Catholic Church. Around and before this time, the Roman Catholic Church was very involved in the political matters of Western Europe. Not only was their influence prevalent in Europe’s politics, but their power and wealth was immense as well. As with any party or person with too much influence and power, they become corrupt. They deceived people by promising them spiritual comfort. One way they did this was by indulgences, which were payments to the church to get yourself or a relative out of purgatory. Consequently, the Church tried to keep their community under control by only allowing the Priests to teach the Bible. In the years prior to the start of the Reformation, people …show more content…

(https://www.britannica.com/event/Reformation). The main leaders of the Reformation were Martin Luther and John Calvin. Martin Luther, a professor, monk, and reformer, disagreed with the Roman Catholic Church. He believed that the Bible should be read by everyone, not only for a priest to teach. He conveyed vividly that the Bible does not describe anything close to indulgences, but it needs to reach everyone. He also realized that, unlike what the Church taught, one must believe that faith alone would bring salvation. With that he wrote the 95 Theses and nailed it on the door of Wittenberg University, setting the Reformation into motion. In 1519, Luther declared that nowhere in the Bible did it affirm that the Pope can exclusively interpret the Word. A year later in 1520, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church. (https://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-9389283). His influence on setting the Reformation into motion was tremendous; accordingly, another man by the name of John Calvin

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