The Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation was a major 16th century European movement aimed initially at reforming the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The Reformation in western and central Europe officially began in 1517 with Martin Luther and his 95 Theses. This was a debate over the Christian religion. At the time there was a difference in power. Roman Catholicism stands with the Pope as central and appointed by God. Luther’s arguments referred to a direct relationship with God and using the local vernacular to speak to the people. Luther’s arguments remove the absolute power from the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church in general. The revenue from the taxes paid to the Church would be reduced with Luther’s ideas, in part because of the removal of buying souls out of purgatory. If purgatory exists, then the Pope should empty it out of goodness and love, and not for the reason of money. There is also the removal of the power of buying one’s pardon and with it salvation from the Church. The focus shifts from buying pardons to spending that time and money for works of mercy and love. Overall this presents an argument that removes the idea of the Pope making any mistakes and as a political entity, the Church loses monetary funds and power in general.

The Church, while losing power over the masses of people, also lost political power. Previously taxes were collected from the people and paid to the kings, who in turn paid the Pope. In return they received monetary assistance when needed, as well as the international prestige of the Church. Now there were options. Kings could still collect taxes from their subjects, but it was not required that the Church be paid as well. The money could be used at the discretion of the king. This was related with countries becoming wealthy enough to defend themselves against the Pope’s army, insuring their independence. Countries become independent entities in and of themselves, not relying on the Pope’s protection but having the ability to raise their own armies.

Martin Luther’s protestant view of Christianity started what was called the Protestant Reformation in Germany. He was born on November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, in the province of Saxony. He intended to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but firm resistance from the church towards Luther's challenge made way to a permanent divisi...

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... sacraments. The Roman Inquisition, an agency established in 1542 to combat heresy, was more successful in controlling doctrine and practice than similar bodies in those countries where Protestant princes had more power than the Roman Catholic Church. Political and military involvement directed against Protestant growth is most clearly reflected in the policies of Emperor Charles V and in those of his son Philip II, who was associated with the Spanish Inquisition.

With all these events that took place in the course of Protestant Reformation, it is true that Christian Civilization could get important and essential lessons and points from it, which can be of great help in the continuous process of development of Christian Civilization. All we have to do is recall our history and try to learn from the mistakes of the past as we try to search for the future. The past always has a link to the present and the future. Our civilization today will never have come to existence if not for the events that took place in history. Christian Civilization will not be what it is today if not for events of the past, one of which is the Protestant Reformation.