History (Western civilization)

Discuss the causes of the Protestant Reformation . Which do you feel are most important ? Why

The term Protestant Reformation ' is used to describe what was originally an effort to reform ' Western or Catholic Christianity (the term Catholic means universal ) but ended up creating a separate tradition . Several stages can be identified as part of the Reformation beginning with Martin Luther (1483-1546 ) in Germany then shifting to John Calvin (1509-1564 ) and Huldrrych Zwingli (1481-1531 ) in Switzerland (206 . Reforming ideas later spread to England , leading to the Church of England (Anglican ) breaking from Rome

(1533 ) and the growth of many Protestant denominations , such as Methodist , Baptist and Congregational Luther 's nailing of his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg in 1517 is widely considered as launching the Reformation but earlier people , ideas and movements contributed toward Luther 's actions Political and religious factors both lie behind the Reformation . First religious then political causes of the Reformation are discussed below

Among several forerunners ' of the reformation was John Wycliffe (d 1384 , the English Bible translator and his disciple Jan Huss (1372-1415 ) of Bohemia . Earlier movements and attempts to reform the Church also lie behind the Reformation . Many wanted ordinary Christians to read the Bible for themselves and blurred the distinction between lay and ordained . One of the major emphases of the reformation was the priesthood of all believers ' Direct access to the bible in vernacular languages , not in Latin which few lay people spoke or read was regarded...