The Reformation
Q: 'Discuss the significance of the Reformation for the development of Christian thought with reference to at least one major figure. What were some of the key issues involved?
The Reformation of Europe offered a fresh and liberating outlook on Christian thought and brought with it many significant changes. With the Reformation came changes concerning peoples thoughts and ideas about the Catholic Church and they began to voice their opinions. The Protestant faith was formed from these changes. The priest, Martin Luther was one of the first reformists with his own interpretations and influences which helped to outline the theology of the Protestant faith for all of Europe.
The Roman Catholic faith was formed roughly in the 4 c B.C. Christianity, as it was called after the name was given to the people who followed the Jewish then baptised leader, Jesus Christ. The Romans adopted Christianity and began the worship of one God rather than their previous pagan gods and goddesses. As Rome’s empire expanded, they began to Christianise all their citizens so as to maintain control and unity amongst the many vast areas they had conquered. Religion played a huge role people’s everyday lives. It controlled society and it controlled kingdoms.
The Pope, who was claimed by the ‘Catholic Church was by then declared as the “Vicar of Christ”, or his personal representative’. The Pope was Gods representative on earth and had the divinely given power to decide people’s fate judging their actions in their current life to determine whether they would wind up either in heaven, hell or purgatory in the next life-The afterlife. The Church taught that “it alone” was
God’s instrument and representative on Earth and salvation could only be found by its
Means. With this huge amount of power, the pope had the ability to control and monopolise kings and kingdoms all throughout Europe.
A prominent figure to note before delving into the Reformation development is the Bishop Augustine of
The Reformation of Europe offered a fresh and liberating outlook on Christian thought and brought with it many significant changes. With the Reformation came changes concerning peoples thoughts and ideas about the Catholic Church and they began to voice their opinions. The Protestant faith was formed from these changes. The priest, Martin Luther was one of the first reformists with his own interpretations and influences which helped to outline the theology of the Protestant faith for all of Europe.
The Roman Catholic faith was formed roughly in the 4 c B.C. Christianity, as it was called after the name was given to the people who followed the Jewish then baptised leader, Jesus Christ. The Romans adopted Christianity and began the worship of one God rather than their previous pagan gods and goddesses. As Rome’s empire expanded, they began to Christianise all their citizens so as to maintain control and unity amongst the many vast areas they had conquered. Religion played a huge role people’s everyday lives. It controlled society and it controlled kingdoms.
The Pope, who was claimed by the ‘Catholic Church was by then declared as the “Vicar of Christ”, or his personal representative’. The Pope was Gods representative on earth and had the divinely given power to decide people’s fate judging their actions in their current life to determine whether they would wind up either in heaven, hell or purgatory in the next life-The afterlife. The Church taught that “it alone” was
God’s instrument and representative on Earth and salvation could only be found by its
Means. With this huge amount of power, the pope had the ability to control and monopolise kings and kingdoms all throughout Europe.
A prominent figure to note before delving into the Reformation development is the Bishop Augustine of