History of Christianity: The Reformation

It seemed only natural that there would be dissension within the church as a result of the Renaissance. This was primarily due to a century of corruption within the papacy, where popes would marry, have children, mistresses, and grant indulgences for money. Pope Alexander VI was the epitome of this corruption, from 1492-1503. His leadership would ignite a movement of opposition to the papacy and the new ideal of humanism. This protest fervor was first initiated by the Dominican monk, Savonarola, who spoke out against the practice of humanism, and the distancing of Christianity that was occurring in Florence. He was however executed in 1497, by Pope Alexander VI, yet his conservative ideals carried on throughout Europe to spark a Protestant Reformation.


Ninety Five Thesis

The movement began in Wittenberg Germany in 1517, when the Augustine monk, Martin Luther, posted his Ninety Five Thesis document on the walls of the Castle Church. This document was a list of protests against the corruption of the Catholic Church. Prior to this, Luther had grown extremely disgusted with Pope Alexander VI's selling of indulgences, and felt it was time for Christianity to move in a new direction. This bold action, became a declaration of independence from the Catholic institution and the beginning of the Protestant movement. Following his excommunication in 1520, Luther began to establish his theology and church that grew to become Lutheranism.

Lutheranism became the defining religion of the Protestant Movement with the most followers. It established a doctrine that differed from Catholicism in many ways. First there was the Real Presence, a belief that God was within the Eucharist and that a transformation of bread and wine were not necessary to become body and blood. Lutheranism also emphasized a belief in Sola Fide, faith alone and nothing else. They believed there was no need for a papal institution to dictate the law of God, and only Christ held that power.

In 1521, Martin Luther's new theology was put to the test, at a Imperial assembly in Germany, known as the Diet of Worms. He was summoned by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, to explain his revolutionary beliefs against the Catholic church. Knowing that he may be persecuted, Martin Luther boldly stood by his beliefs in front of the assembly, accusing the Catholic church of corruption and religious dogma. The assembly thus ruled that Luther was a notorious heretic, and should be punished accordingly. Luther however managed to escape and go into hiding.

Reformation in Central Europe

There were many in Central and Northern Europe, who agreed with Luther's protest against the Catholic Church. A significant reformation began to sweep through Switzerland, led by the pastor Huldrych Zwingli. This new theology, was very similar to Luther's protestant approach, and quickly began to spread throughout the country.

The Protestant Movement began to branch into different directions, claiming that Luther's theology was either too conservative, no conservative enough, or in need of compromise. One of the most significant leaders who worked for compromise was the Dutch priest Desiderius Erasmus. Erasmus was a Renaissance Humanist, aware of the corruption within the church, yet devoted to fixing it from within. He worked effortlessly to bridge the gap between the Protestants and the Catholic church.

In 1536, a French theologian, named John Calvin, took the Protestant Movement into a more radical direction. He began his work in Geneva, Switzerland to reform the Christian church based on much stricter beliefs. Through his Five Points, John Calvin emphasized a harsh ideal of "predestination", "total depravity", and limited justification. The belief basically stressed that humanity was ultimately doomed and needed to spend their lives seeking salvation from God. This theology, became known as Calvinism, and quickly spread from Geneva, throughout Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, and other parts of Central Europe.



Church of England

The reformation movement took a significant turn in England under the leadership of King Henry VIII. At the time, there was a growing sentiment for reformation, and the King merely took advantage of it for personal gains. Henry VIII was a devout Catholic, however after the Catholic church did not grant him an annulment from his wife Catherine of Aragon, he split away from the church, and established the Church of England in 1534. This new church consisted of Reformation ideals, and was entirely under the control of the monarchy. Henry VIII was then able to officially marry Anne Boleyn, who later gave birth to the great Queen Elizabeth.

This religious reformation within England, became the defining issue of Queen Elizabeth's reign. On one side she received heavy opposition from the Catholic institution and the Spanish Empire. On the other hand she received heavy opposition from radical reformers such as the Calvinists and Puritans. In 1588, Queen Elizabeth was ale to bring an end to King Philip's Catholic crusade, during the Spanish Armada. By this point she had established one of the most powerful empires in the world, and a new center for culture. She worked vigorously to further the Church of England, by infusing both Catholic and Reformed ideals. England thus became the first official Reformed government.

This Elizabethan Religious Settlement, was not enough however for the conservative reformists, and eventually sparked a Puritan Movement to change the Church of England. Throughout the 16th and 17th century England grew divided over this religious issue; those who supported the Church of England and those who opposed it. This would later result in migrations to the new colonies of America, as well as an English Civil War from 1642-1651. The English Civil War was a result of political, economic, and religious differences. It eventually resulted in the end of the monarchy and the establishment of a Commonwealth of England, a government for the people, under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell.



Counter-Reformation

By 1545 the Catholic Church had grown quite aware of this sudden spread of the Protestant Reformation, and launched a counter campaign with the Council of Trent. The Council held 25 sessions, from 1545-1563, to condemn the Protestant Movement while also reforming the Catholic Church. They ruled against the Protestant Movement, by rejecting Luther's concept of "Sola Fide" and disallowing other interpretations on the bible. However the council also agreed to improve the administration of the church from within, and to especially bring an end to the corruption.

Following the Council of Trent, the Catholic Church made an organized effort to pursue and re-convert Protestants. This Counter Reformation against Protestantism consisted of new religious orders and movements to revive the Catholic faith. Orders such as the Jesuits, embarked on missionaries of religious education throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Meanwhile new Spiritual Movements began to arise in Spain, inspired by mystical nuns and priests such as Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Avila. These Spanish Mystics wrote of their divine experiences, to further the church's theology on spirituality.