Interesting Facts About the Protestant Reformation

The Reformation was a 16^th century movement that began as a push to reform the Catholic Church.

The Protestant Reformation is also referred to as the Protestant Revolt, Radical Reformation, Lutheran Reformation.

The Reformation was the result of dissatisfied Christians of all social classes. They were concerned with false doctrines, extreme focus on rituals and the sell of indulgences. The poor were especially concerned with the wealth that the papacy acquired partially due to the indulgences.

Indulgences was basically the sell of forgiveness for sins. The Church also "sold" his offices in the Church.

The reformation was dominated by Martin Luther, a German Augustinian monk.

In 1517 Martin Luther published his Ninety Five Thesus On The Power of Indulgences. It criticized sell of indulgences and the policy of purgatory. Tradition says that he nailed a copy to the to the door of the Wittenberg Castle's Church.

This is probably true as the church door served as a bulletin board for sorts.

Luther also criticized the Catholic church for not allowing the Bible to be translated into languages the people could read or understand.

Martin Luther was eventually excommunicated from the Church after refusing to recant his declaration at the Diet of Worms

The Diet of Worms was an assembly of the Roman Empire presided over by Emperor Charles V.

At the meeting Martin Luther said he would need scriptural proof in order for him to recant.

Various forms and stages of the Reformation took place all over Europe.

John Calvin was another leader in the Reformation. Calvin was French theologian who rejected papal authority and took a wife to protest the practice of clerical celibacy.

Calvinism lead to current day Presbyterianism.

The English Reformation refers to when the England broke away from the Catholic Church primarily due to the actions of King Henry VIII. It was a political rather than a religious break. The break took place after the pope refused to grant the king a divorce.

The Scottish Reformation refers to Scotland's formal break from the Catholic Church in 1560. The Church of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church are the Results of this movement.

John Knox was instrumental in the creation of the Church of Scotland. He was deeply influenced by Calvin.

Ulirch Zwingli lead the Reformation in Switzerland which mirrored the Calvin's German Reformation.

When writers from this time period used catholic they were speaking of the universal church body.