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Sixteenth Century Church Reformations

Introduction

The Protestant Reformation is the set of religious movements in the sixteenth century produced the fracture of Christianity, giving rise to the Protestant churches. Along with the cultural renewal product Humanism and the Renaissance, this historic transformation of the way of understanding and living the religious experience is placed at the beginning of the modern history of the West. Although the Reformation had begun in the sixteenth century when Martin Luther challenged the authority of the Church, its origins can be traced to events of a political, economic and cultural dating back to previous centuries.

Sixteenth century marked a great revolutionary period in the history of Christians. It was the era of one of the most debatable reformations took place in Christian's history. The reformation is known for the separation of Western Europe's Christians into Catholics and Protestants. This reformation, better known as Radical Reformation, was due to the conflicts among Romans and Martin Luther. This reform was the response of corruption in both the traditions; that is Magisterial Protestant Movement and Roman Catholic Church, where the Protestants were led by Martin Luther. This radical reformation also resulted in the birth of many other protestant groups to reform within those groups, throughout Europe. These groups included; Anabaptist group and Zwickau prophets groups (Norman, p.81). The number of people who were rebelling against the churches of Lutherans, Catholics, and Zwinglians was not that much, but the reformation was recorded in large scale.

Background of the Revolution

There was only one religion at the start of the sixteenth century, which was of Roman Catholicism. The Catholic Church was perceived to be the strong and rich, and it also protected the Europe's classical culture. Though, there was seen a rising trend of careless practices and disagreements within the church despite the calls of imposing reforms by the General Councils.

The administration of the church were being criticized by the churchmen, and started to have some reservations from the teachings of this administration. There was an English priest named as John Wycliffe, who argued that people have complete right to read the bible and also interpret the Bible according to their own understanding. This act of Wycliffe was strongly opposed and criticized by the church, but the people of England, who were the followers of Wycliffe, spread the copies of the translated bible throughout their countryside. This work of Wycliffe was spread across the Europe, which influenced the Saxon priest known as Martin Luther (Norman, p.81).

Luther Ignites Revolution

Luther was so much inspired by the work of Wycliffe and another priest named Jan Hus, that he started his own revolution against the church. He was of opinion that the act of some clergy to sell indulgences without clearing the people that they must also be regretful for their sins they have made. Though, his main target was priest Johann Tetzel, who was the crucial link in deceiving the people. The anger of Luther grew too much that finally, in 1517, ...