Any questions about history, geography, science, etc., as well as Vikidia itself and how it works? Ask The Scholar! Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation, which is also sometimes just called the reformation, was a movement within Christianity in Europe. It was the beginning of Protestantism. The Protestant Reformation began when Martin Luther published the Ninety-five Theses in 1517. A thesis, in this case, is an idea that some one is trying to argue for. More than one thesis are theses. Martin Luther had 95 ideas about Christianity and the Catholic church. Things he thought needed to be corrected. This was a major challenge to the political and religious power that the Catholic Church had throughout Europe. Martin Luther's ideas would lead to the branch of Christianity called Lutheranism. There were reformers before Martin Luther, but they did not cause as large or as long lasting of changes to Christianity in Europe. Most reformers believed that salvation for sins was based only on faith in Jesus Christ. The Catholic church had taught that faith and good actions were needed for someone to be forgiven for sins.
One reason why the Protestant Reformation spread as quickly as it did was the Gutenberg printing press. This machine made it easier to copy letters, essays, and books in the local languages. The Catholic Church would only read and write the bible in Latin, but no one spoke Latin in their daily lives. The printing press was used to make bible that people could understand and study. These bibles were printed in local languages like English, French, Gaelic, Swiss, German, Italian, and Spanish.
After Martin Luther, many other reformers started other branches of Christianity with different answers to religious questions. Huldrych Zwingli from Switzerland and the John Calvin from France started the Continental Reformed tradition. Thomas Cranmer led the reformation in England which would lead to the the Anglican Church. John Knox led the Reformation in Scotland which led to the branch of Christianity called Presbyterianism.
The Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformation with the Counter-Reformation. Many meetings were held from 1545 to 1563. This was called the Council of Trent. At these meetings leaders in the Catholic Church, including 3 popes answered questions about Catholic beliefs. They also gave official responses to things that reformers said the Catholic Church was doing wrong.
The reformation also lead to many years of wars. These wars are known as the European Wars of Religion.
Help to improve this article!