The Reformation Dbq

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While Martin Luther is probably the most well-known figure from the Reformation, there were many other notable figures that went on to challenge the Catholic Church as well, such as Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, and even King Henry VIII. Zwingli was a Swiss preacher who shared some of the same sentiments as Luther in regards to Church authority, that “scripture was the sole basis of truth, and the power of popes and councils was illusory” (Marshall, 18). He was able to give a public defense of his ideas, and eventually won out in reforming Switzerland: by 1524, “religious images were removed from the city churches, and fasting and clerical celibacy were abolished,” and in 1525, “the Latin mass was replaced with a vernacular communion service” …show more content…

The Catholic Church’s reform “was naturally shaped by an ongoing confrontation with Protestantism, just as Protestantism defined itself throughout its history in relation to a Catholic […] other” (Marshall, 6). The “office” of the Roman Inquisition was formed in 1542 and was a threatening vehicle to combat the growing atmosphere of Protestantism. As history will recall, the Inquisition was another result of the Church’s Counter-Reformation and is infamously known for their great searches for, and trials of, heretics. As one scholar wrote, “where censorship failed to prevent spiritual infection, the Inquisition strove to cure” (Moynahan, 440). The Roman Inquisition was founded in 1542 by Pope Paul III, and has been described as a “dreadful engine of tyranny” due to its seemingly nonexhaustive hunt for heretics (Moynahan, 440). One of the most famous figures to be tried by the Inquisition was Galileo, who was ultimately condemned to house arrest for the rest of his life. However, the Roman Inquisition is not to be confused with the Spanish Inquisition, the latter of which was older, and more brutal, than the Roman …show more content…

The goals of the Council were many, including: the reinforcement of “Catholic doctrine, reform[ing] corruption from within the Church, identify[ing] errors in Protestant interpretation, standardize[ing] the Mass throughout the Church, and strengthen[ing] Catholic education” (Scialabba, 80). Ultimately, the decisions made during the Council of Trent sessions “were made within the context of controlling the new forces of Gutenberg’s invention” (Scialabba, 80). There’s no argument that the printing press fueled the Reformation due to its ability to spread knowledge and information on such unforeseen levels. In the 1546 session of the Council, the Vulgate, or Latin version, was established as the “official” version of the Bible, and it was declared that “no books should be printed on religious matters” without the approval of religious authorities (New Catholic

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