Religious Reform in the Middle Ages

Religious Reform in the Middle Ages

During the middle ages there had been much controversy circling around religion, mainly around the Catholic Church. Many people felt trapped within the church, which sparked many religious ideologists to seek ways around the Catholic beliefs, and still have a relationship with God. During this age a new religion began to emerge from the Catholic faith, Protestantism, which sparked much controversy for many people living in Europe at the time. This era brought many revolutions and sparks a time of enlightenment when it came to religion.

For most of the middles ages the majority of Europe was run under the Catholic Church, but it wasn't until the 16th century that critics began to question its practices of power and wealth. One of the first Christian humanists to go against the teachings of the Church was Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536), a priest from Holland, who felt that some of its elements were in need of reform. Erasmus disagreed with the idea that people should hear the teachings of the Bible from a priest, but instead believed that people should read the Bible directly to make their own interpretations. Another significant person who took on the role of bringing Protestantism into Europe was Martin Luther (1483-1546). Luther, a priest from Germany, felt that although he did whatever he could to lead a good Christian life, he could never achieve spiritual salvation. Luther found it hard to find comfort in the Catholic Church, where he was taught, "people were saved only though Gods mercy, not through their own efforts to live as a good Christian." Although the Catholic Church tried to pressure these beliefs into his head, Luther believed that one had to have a personal relationship with God to reach ultimate salvation; using faith alone to save ones soul. It was then that Luther began to challenge the beliefs of the Catholic Church.

One major principle that Luther felt was appalling about the Catholic Church was their use of "indulgences" which was used as a ploy in Germany to build a new Church in Rome. In exchange for goods/money the priest would remove a person's sins. This horrified Luther, calling this act "trafficking in Gods grace." Luther brought this to the Bishops attention where he engaged in a scholarly debate. This reached Germany, making some reconsider their faith in the Church. He also played a significant role in making the Bible more accessible for others to read. He did this by translating the Bible in German, which elevated his idea that people should read the bible themselves so that can interpret it on their own.

As Luther's religious theology spread amongst Europe many other groups began to follow his ideas, and included many of their own interpretations. One of which was John Calvin (1509-1564). Although Calvin agreed with the main ideas that Luther preached he had a different approach on human salvation. He believed that "redirect theological speculation from individual salvation to a larger question of humans' place in the universe." In other words he pushed for the idea that people should recognize the great power of God. He also preached the theology that God chooses who would be saved or damned even before a person is born, and there is nothing one can do to change that; he called these people "the elect." Although Calvin may have taken Luther's main elements of religious theology some might dispute that he completely went against Luther's main argument that one can determine their own salvation, depending on their spiritual relationship with God. Luther arguments also brought in many other religious protestant leaders with their own interpretations some of which include Menno Simons from the Netherlands and Zwingli from Switzerland.

The rise of Protestantism in the 16th century brought a great amount of significance to many people who felt oppressed in the Catholic Church. The strict rules and the complete devotion to reaching salvation through priest and saints made some feel a sense of entrapment with the Catholic Church. With the introduction of Protestantism, it gave people a new perspective on their relationship with God. Instead of hearing the interpretation of a priest, people were able to base their own ideas on religion, which gave them a sense of freedom.

After the introduction of Luther and the many that followed his theology, the Catholic Church began to reform to bring light to the Catholic Church after the harsh criticism it endured during the Protestant reform. One of the most significant orders that led Catholicism to its reform was the order of the Society of Jesuits, which was led by a Spaniard names Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). He "taught how spiritual discipline could satisfy people's desire to reach up to God while obeying the orders