The renaissance period marked radical changes in many fields, this includes religion. The so-called Protestant Reformation was the split within western Christian Church initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other early Protestants. Calls for reform came form all sectors of the European society and it is this dissatisfaction that explains why the ideas of Martin Luther evoked such extreme responses, there was already a ready audience. Although there had been significant attempts at reform before Luther, the date usually given for the start of the Protestant Reformation is 1517, when Luther published The Ninety-Five Theses. As he developed his ideas, Luther gathered followers, who came to be called Protestants. The word protestant derives from “protest” drawn up by a small group of reforming German princes in 1529. At first Protestant meant a “follower of Luther”, but with the appearance of many protesting sects, it became a general term applied to all non-Catholic western European Christians. Within the first decade of the publishing of his ideas much of central Europe and Scandinavia had broken from the Roman Catholic Church. While much of the reformation is credited to Martin Luther, one can argue that it is more the combination of him during that specific time along with the development of a more sophisticated printing press that led to the ‘success’ of the reformation.
By the time Martin Luther started publishing his ideas there not only existed great dissatisfaction among the European Christian community but the new technology of printing press allowed for the spread of his ideas. Many printed works included woodcuts and other illustrations, so that even those who could not read could grasp the main ideas. Hymns were a...
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...lergy in the new Protestant churches. Luther’s ideas also appealed to townspeople who envied the church’s wealth and resented paying for it. After cities became Protestant, the city council taxed the clergy and placed them under the jurisdiction of civil courts. Luther worked closely with political authorities, viewing them as fully justified in reforming the church in their territories. He instructed all Christians to obey their secular rulers, whom he saw divinely ordained to maintain order. Individuals may have been convinced of the truth of Protestant teachings by hearing sermons, listening to hymns, of reading pamphlets, but an area only became Protestant when its ruler brought in a reformer or two to reeducate the territory’s clergy, sponsored public sermons, and confiscated church property.
Works Cited
McKay, et.al, History of the World Societies chap.15
The Protestant Reformation was a period of time (1500-1700) where there became a change in Western Christendom. This reformation was caused by the resentment from the people because the Catholic Church abusing their powers for political and economic advances. In this time the church was selling pardons for sin and indulgences to forgive sins, decrease days spent in purgatory and save the dead from damnation. The reformation was when people became more aware with the back hand dealings with the church and men like Martin Luther and John Calvin created their own churches to what they believed was not corrupt unlike the church. Unfortunately there many consequences as far at the Roman Catholic church attempting to bring people back to the church,
A 16th-century movement in Western Europe that aimed at reforming some doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the establishment of the Protestant churches. The world of the late medieval Roman Catholic Church from which the 16th-century reformers emerged was a complex one. Over the centuries, the church, particularly in the office of the papacy, had become deeply involved in the political life of Western Europe. The resulting intrigues and political manipulations, combined with the church’s increasing power and wealth, contributed to the bankrupting of the church as a spiritual force.
During Luther’s early life he faced a severe inner crisis. When he sinned he looked for comfort in confession and followed the penance, the fasting, prayer and observances that the church directed him. But, he found no peace of mind and worried about his salvation. But reading St. Paul’s letters he came to believe that salvation came though faith in Christ. Faith is a free gift, he discovered, it cannot be earned. His studies led him to a conclusion that, “Christ was the only mediator between God and a man and that forgiveness of sin and salvation are given by god’s grace alone” (Martin Luther, 01). Historians agree that, “this approach to theology led to a clash between Luther and the Church officials, precipitating the dramatic events of Reformation”.
The practices of The Catholic Church during the sixteenth century caused a monk named Martin Luther to question The Church’s ways. Luther watched as families suffered physically, emotionally and economically by the hands of The Church. Luther saw no basis for The Church to charge people for their sins or prevent them from learning to read The Bible themselves. He watched as the money built up The Palace, yet tore apart the fundamental and spiritual reasons one goes to church in the first place. In an effort to change the practices of The Church, he wrote the 95 Thesis. In these, he stated his views on the abuses of The Church. This was the beginning of a large movement that would change religious practices over the world.
He tacked onto the door of every church in his country and this brought about anger from the friars and priests who read them. This, however, gave rise to the second of Luther's important changes; social in nature: the Protestant Reformation. Because the theses were made public, peasants, farmers, and even land-owners would be able to see what Luther took issue with. The Church argued that these people were not well-read enough to even begin to understand what was written; that they were all also quite illiterate and lacked the "training" required to be able to interpret God's word. Luther's reformation saw once illiterate people learning how to read the bible, which brought on independent thinking,
Through the tumultuous years between 1350 and 1750, a surge of lust for change clawed at the hearts of Europeans. This yearning for stability translated in different ways throughout Europe, however, it undeniably reformed the mindset of Europe's kingdoms. While some turned to a strong monarch to carry the burden of their anxieties, others filled their hearts with fervent nationalism, others still, placed their discontentment solely on the evils of the Catholic Church. As would be expected, the Catholic Church did not respond well to this push against their time honored authority, though ultimately a reformed mindset took grip of European society.
The Protestant Reformation, also known as the Reformation, was the 16th-century religious, governmental, scholarly and cultural upheaval that disintegrated Catholic Europe, setting in place the structures and beliefs that would define the continent in the modern era (Staff, 2009). The Catholic Church begun to dominate local law and practice almost everywhere starting in the late fourteenth century. The Catholic Church held a tight hold on the daily lives of the people invading just about every part of it. Some people of this time would decide to stand up to the church and attempt to change the way it operated and make it release some of its control. These people who spoke out against the church came to be known as Protestants. The Protestants
Merchants, royalty, and lower clergy alike challenged it’s power. European princes envied the wealth, merchants loathed Church taxes, and clergy had minimal education and could barely read and teach. As stated earlier, Luther never meant to tear apart the Church; once others had read what he had to say, his idea and mission began to spread. All over modern day Germany, people began to deny the Pope’s power. Although the response to his ideas were welcomed by many common people, the upper class was not as accepting. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V ordered that Luther be deprived of food and shelter - no one was to help him in any way, due to the fact that he would not recant his statements about the corrupt church. Luther went into hiding and was sheltered by Prince Frederick. While under Frederick’s protection, Luther translated the old testament into German. This allowed the common people to understand scripture and really learn it. This was the start to a new religion. Lutheranism would not have been able to develop if it had not been for the German princes. Their support caused others to join Luther’s movement. While being confined in Saxony, Luther published 30 works that sold thousands of copies, ultimately providing Luther with more followers. The creation of the printing press allowed for widespread growth, without these, Lutheranism would not have reached so many
During the early 1500’s, nearly four hundred men and women gave their lives fighting for protestant reformation. During this time, the Roman Catholic Church controlled much of Europe and was very powerful and corrupt. Many Christians broke away from the Catholic Church, seeking reformation. It started with Martin Luther and his “95 Theses” in 1517, and continued into the next century. These brave men and women believed that salvation came from faith in Jesus alone, not by works, and that the Bible should be in the people’s hands, not just the high priesthood of the Catholic Church. William Tyndale, one influential Christian Reformer, was called by God to translate the Bible into English and share the good news that everyone is saved not by works, but by faith alone (Pettinger). He followed this calling, influencing numerous people, to the point of death. William Tyndale is one of the most influential figures in early protestant reform because of his translation of the Bible into English, his use of the printing press, and his unwavering faith in God.
The Protestant Reformation during the sixteenth century established a schism between Christian beliefs that lead to the emergence of divergent interpretations of the Bible. Through this transformation the Papacy was prosecuted for its unrelenting and restricted renditions of the gospel that was seen to oppress the populace and corrupt the true meaning of God’s Word. Though there were individuals such as Desiderius Erasmus who greatly criticized the Catholic Church yet remained loyal there were others who broke away entirely. With the increasing dissatisfaction across Europe factions began to be founded providing elucidation on the “truthful” interpretations of the Bible. Two various factions were known as Lutheranism after German priest Martin Luther and Calvinism after John Calvin a French theologian. These new ideologies shared a basic belief system in reference of humanity’s position with God and their place on earth. However, there was also various interpretations of the bible amongst the newly formed Protestant groups. In response of the emerging Protestant groups the Catholic Church established counter agencies in the pursuit of reconverting Protestants and the conversion of Pagans such as the Mayans and Aztecs. The various views expressed through the primary documents explored in this analysis demonstrate the conflicting and complex nature of religion and humanity and how individuals attempt to reconcile the two in their truest forms.
Luther belonged to a church in Wittenburg, Germany and here he was a scholar as well as a priest. He, like many others, came to notice the corruption in the Church. The Church had come to own a great deal of land all over Europe, collect a very considerable sum in mandatory taxes from the middle-class, and they had become very rich and very powerful. This led to an even greater hunger and they started the practice of selling indulgences, which is paying to be forgiven of one’s sins, and simony, which is paying to get into church office. These were just a few of the many un-Godly acts of the Catholic Church during the 1500’s.
The political organization and religion aspects during the 16th century influenced Protestant Reformation to occur in Germany. Martin Luther’s writings reflect on his views and perspectives of German politics and religion at the time. Martin Luther’s ideas in the Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation and The Statement of Grievances mentions Martin Luther’s thoughts about how corrupt the church is, why the corruption in the church needs to end, and what Martin Luther’s ideas are to change the way of the church.
The protestant reformation of 16th century had both: immediate and long term effects. Thus, we can see that it was a revolution of understanding the essence of religion, and of what God is. The protestant reformation is said to a religious movement. However, it also influenced the economical, political and social life of people. The most global, short term effect of the reformation was the reevaluation of beliefs, and, as a result, the loss of authority of the Holy Roman Empire. The long term effects were: the emergence of new heretical movements, the declining of papacy, thus the reevaluation of people’s view on the church and life values.
The Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century is one of the most complex movements in European history since the fall of the Roman Empire. The Reformation truly ends the Middle Ages and begins a new era in the history of Western Civilization. The Reformation ended the religious unity of Europe and ushered in 150 years of religious warfare. By the time the conflicts had ended, the political and social geography in the west had fundamentally changed. The Reformation would have been revolutionary enough of itself, but it coincided in time with the opening of the Western Hemisphere to the Europeans and the development of firearms as effective field weapons. It coincided, too, with the spread of Renaissance ideals from Italy and the first stirrings of the Scientific Revolution. Taken together, these developments transformed Europe.
The Reformation in Germany, which made a major impact on world history, was started by Martin Luther when, on a quest for his own personal salvation, became disillusioned with the Roman Catholic Church and began to speak out about his beliefs. This essay will describe and account for the progress of the Reformation in Germany to c. AD 1535 by outlining Luther’s life to 1517, the conflict that followed his Ninety-Five Theses, and the disputes of 1518 – 1520. Luther’s trial before the Diet of Worms and the support of the Protestant Princes will also be accounted for. Furthermore, Luther’s Bible, which helped greatly in the spread of the German Reformation, will be described. This essay will help give an understanding of the importance and lasting effect of the Reformation in Germany.