The Catholic Church has a magisterium - its teachings have a God-given authority that is equal to the authority of scripture. The Pope has even got the power to make infallible statements - statements that cannot be questioned. Within Protestant churches, the church has an advisory role. It can recommend one action over another, it can condemn certain actions entirely - you can even be kicked out of the church for certain actions. However, the individual is still left to decide where to stand in relation to church teaching.
Leaders of the Church were given excessive power. This can be seen in John Cotton’s “Limitation of Government”. In power, magistrates would not tolerate suggestion of a separation of church and state, like Rogers Williams advocated in “A Plea for Religious Liberty”. Roger Williams was banished to Rhode Island for “heathen”. There was a synergy between politics and religion, as is evidenced in Nathaniel Ward’s “the Simple Cobbler of Aggawam”, in Puritan society.
The King was a keen theologian, and was prepared to incorporate evangelical ideas into his new Church where he saw fit. But he wasn't comfortable with the alterations, and from 1539 onwards he reversed most of his previous policies. In 1539 the Act of Six Articles returned the Church to unambiguous Catholic orthodoxy apart from papal supremacy. Amongst other things, transubstantiation and auricular confession were reaffirmed. Clerical marriage, which had crept in, was condemned, and vows of chastity were now held to be unbreakable.
Earlier Historical Art Period Middle Ages art was largely commissioned by the Roman Catholic Church. The church used works of art to teach spiritual truths, aid in meditation, and convert non-Christians (MindEdge 3.12). Citizens of the Middle Ages sought structure in the world around them. There was a strict social hierarchy in place during these times in Europe. Works of art was usually anonymous, artists frequently did not sign the art pieces (MindEdge 3.12).
Most laws were based off the bible, which the Puritans took literally. Also, infidelity in marriage and homosexuality were both crimes that could be punished by death. Economically, the Puritans who governed the colonies taxed the people for religious purposes like building chapels, etc. They also believed that the state was obliged to support and protect their one true
However, Native American bloodshed, their harsh persecution of religious dissenters, and the Salem Witch trials are a blatant display of their hypocritical ways. The Puritans were contradictory in nature, and ultimately they fell short in meeting their goal of constructing the perfect Christian society.
Another underlying cause to the reformation would be the abusive Church authority. Document 2 says " Fortunate pope, who can cheat Christ with his laws! Quite true, the remedy in such case is not a council" Document 5 says" But by their own invented service of God, holiness, external spiritual exhibition, founded upon human custom s and laws, they have gone astray.." and Document 11 states," Indeed, we declare, announce and define, that it is altogether necessary to salvation for every human being to be subject to the Roman pontiff." These documents show the concern of the abusive Church authority and use different examples to prove it. The third underlying causes of the reformation is the straying from the Bible and or altering the scriptures.
Although in some areas this medieval system of power severely restricted rights of the individuals, it also bestowed upon others certain privileges and authority according to their placement in the hierarchical structure. As a prime example, religion in sixteenth century France was placed on a very high pedestal in society, therefore the authority of the church and its teachings weighed heavily upon all characters. Bertrande’s quest for absolution is one such scenario that acknowledges the power of the church, and therefore the Curé, as an agent of god. “No matter, said the priest... it seems to me that he has been towards you both wise and gentle. Go now in peace...Be disturbed no more.” Janet Lewis fabricates the Curé’s absolute power and supremacy over Bertrande through the ease and finality of his voice, “warm, Definite and uncomprehending.” This diction used by Lewis connotes a strict and influential tone, foregrounding the Curé’s dominating authority.
They feared to live in such sinful society, because they believed that God predestined people to salvation and others were damned for the rest of time. Those believes explain why the Puritans tried to live according to the bible, and why they feared the Lord to some extent. To get away from the perverted European society, the Puritans migrated to the Northeast to create society completely devoted to serve the lord. They were driven by the fear that God was discontent, and that he would bring hell upon
Religion was the real reason that colonization began, with out it, the colonies all over the world would not have ever came to be. The fourteenth century was when factors that would eventually lead to the start of colonization began. The followers of John Wycliffe, also known as Lollards, had pushed their ideas of religious power on the religious community: both the bible and religion had ultimate power over everything (Reformation 4). Martin Luther was one of the first men to openly go against the Lollards ideas. He believed that the Catholic church was corrupt for selling indulgences as penance for sins in that the sale was a way for the Church to exploit the unfortunate and poor (Reformation 5).