Was the Reformation Politically or Religiously Motivated? The Reformation begun by Martin Luther was a 16th century conflict in Europe that would shape the future of the world. Certainly the Catholic church was political, even in the 1500's, however it was religion that powered the Reformation. For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church had oppressed the uneducated and poor peasants for an unjust hierarchical structure. Peasants were captive to their lords, essentially forced into servitude without wages.
The Protestant Reformation was initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. After Martin Luther, a German friar, posted his Ninety-five Theses (or Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) in 1517, Protestant ideas spread to other European countries including Switzerland, France, and England. Ordinary people’s dissatisfaction towards the Catholic Church, early Protestants’ different understandings of the Scriptures, and rulers’ demands for escaping the Pope’s jurisdiction were all causes of the Protestant Reformation. After Christianity was recognized as the official religion of the Roman Empire, people thought that the church no longer held its original mission. They raised calls to reform institutions, improve clerical education, and change basic doctrines.
In the early 16th century, the Protestant Reformation divided the unity of the Roman Catholic Church. The Reformation movement began in Germany led by Martin Luther. His speeches and writings were passed on all over Europe with the help of the printing press. It started in response to the rising sense of corruption in the church. For instance, “the sale of indulgences for the benefit of the church of Rome specifically for the rebuilding of St. Peters Cathedral provoked harsh criticism, especially by those who saw the luxuries of the papacy as a betrayal of apostolic ideals ” (Fiero 119).
The main motivation for the reformation in England was Henry V111 religious convictions how far do you agree with this statement? The reformation in England was the change from Catholicism to Protestantism. Henry V111 played a huge role in the reformation for example he stopped the amount of taxes that were being payed to Rome and he later ordered the dissolution of the monasteries however there are many other reasons to why the reformation in England took place for example for many years Protestants had argued over the beliefs and laws of the catholic religion as they believed some of their beliefs were corrupt. For example the Catholics had a strong belief in purgatory this is a seen as being like a waiting room were your soul is weighed on all of the sins you have committed compared to all of the positives that you have done throughout your life. The church said that the only way you could get time out of purgatory or save a family member from purgatory was to buy indulgences this means that the monks will pray for you and your family.
This Theses was addressed to Pope Leo X, who was building St Peter’s. Luther was angered about this and made his opinion in the Theses that if the pope could open the doors of purgatory for people who paid, why could he not open them for all people.Luther published other scriptures against the sale of indulgences, his letter to Albrecht of Mainz and the explanation of the 95 Theses. His initial writings were catalysts in the course of the reformation, it was Luther’s anger and bravery that began the Reformation. Luther continued to publish impactful works, in 1520 he released To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, where Luther outlined the doctrine of the Priesthood of all believers and denied the authority of the Pope to interpret, or confirm interpretation of the Bible, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian. These publications all became influential as they were able to spread around Germany through the German printing press and were allowing people to form their own opinions of the church rather than being told by the church what to believe.
One of the main leaders in the act to resist the Roman Catholic Church’s authority and change the ideas of Christianity in the Protestant Reformation was Martin Luther. Martin Luther, a German priest in Wittenberg during the 1500s, had opposed several immoral practices of the Catholic Church not only in Germany, but also all of Europe due to the extensive reach of power
Building on his premise that, according to Knox's understanding of the Bible, "God, by the order of his creation, has [deprived] woman of authority and dominion" and from history that "man has seen, proved, and pronounced just causes why it should be". His diatribe against female rulers backfired on him when Elizabeth I succeeded her half-sister Mary I as Queen of England; Elizabeth was a supporter of the Protestant cause, but took offence at Knox's words about female sovereigns. Her opposition to him personally became an obstacle to Knox's direct involvement with the Protestant cause in England after 1559. John Knox (1514 – 1572) was a Scottish clergyman and writer who was a leader of the Protestant Reformation and is considered the founder of the Presbyterian denomination in Scotland. He is believed to have been educated at the University of St Andrews and worked as a notary-priest.
1. Which was a major result of the Protestant Reformation? a) new Christian denominations emerged b) religious teachings were no longer allowed in the universities c) the Crusades were organized d) the power of the Pope was strengthened 2. Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses were a call for a) religious revolt against the German princes b) reforms within the Roman Catholic Church c) greater papal authority d) Crusades to spread Christianity 3. Who did Luther think had too much power? a) the King b) the Nobles c) the Pope d) the Knights 4.
This put the Catholic Church at odds with them over the sale of indulgences, that allowed the Church to forgive sins and promises to limit the times the person would spend in purgatory after death. Germany was known for religious reform in the fourteenth and fifteenth century, these movements made changes to how we worship today. “Luther was concerned as early as 1516 that his parishioners were induced to be complacent about true contrition for their sin if they purchased indulgences that promised forgiveness for a price. Then in 1517 the sale of a special jubilee indulgence was promoted by Pope Leo X ostensibly to pay for the building of a new St. Peter’s basilica. Behind the scenes, half of the money raised would repay the bankers of Augsburg for the
The Puritans were a group of people who grew dissatisfied with the Church of England and worked towards societal, moral and religious reforms. The writings and ideas of John Calvin, a leader in the Reformation, led to Protestantism and were critical to the Christian revolt. They contended that The Church of England had become a product of political struggles and man-made doctrines. The Puritans were one branch of separatist who decided that the Church of England was beyond reform. They broke away from the persecution of church leadership and the King to come to America.