Religious Reformation in the Middle Ages

Religious Reformation in the Middle Ages

Throughout the middle ages, religion underwent much criticism and controversy. In a time where Catholicism reigned as the sole religion, ideas arose that opposed this strict faith. These ideas spawned the Protestant reform and changed religion throughout Europe. It not only changed religious practices and the path to God, but also initiated political repercussions. These results were all in search of an answer to the question to which everyone sought assurance: "How do I know I am saved?"

At the start of the sixteenth century, after years of living under strict Catholic rule, Christians began to question their means to salvation. They had long been under the belief that the sacramental system combined with blind obedience to the Pope, were necessary to achieve spiritual salvation and happiness in the afterlife. As the devotio moderna and the idea of humanism spread to Northern Europe, new ideas were placed into peoples' heads. Desiderius Erasmus, or the "Prince of Humanists," brought his critical perspective to the public by rejecting the accepted version of the Bible and creating religious satire that mocked traditional religion. Erasmus planted the seed in peoples' minds that the Bible should be interpreted directly, without a Priests' interpretation. Shortly after, monk/priest/doctor of theology Martin Luther expanded this vision by introducing the "justification by faith," or the idea that faith alone would save ones soul without complete focus on religious rituals. Luther rejected the issue of indulgences and protested the flow of money from Germany to Rome, resulting in the creation of the Ninety-Five Theses. Because he believed that the Bible should be accessible to all, he translated it into German, thus making it available to a widespread audience of readers. Others who agreed with many of his ideas, such as Swiss reform leader Ulrich Zwingli and French scholar John Calvin, were able to create their own religious sects using his foundation and adding their own interpretations . The extent to which he had affected those who followed his teachings reached new heights with the formation of Protestantism.

Although there were groups formed from Luther's original ideas, they all shared the same basic values. These included salvation through ones own faith rather then doing, the Bible as the last word, and a "priesthood" made of believers rather than having a religious interpreter. Protestantism gave people leeway from the strict rules of Catholicism and gave them the inspiration that there was salvation outside of the church. It gave rise to a modern world, and freedom for secular ideas and good conscience. Unlike Catholicism, that can be looked at as a life lived in fear of repentance and seeking of forgiveness, the reform gave men and women the responsibility for their own salvation.

With the Protestant reform came changes in religious practices as well as societal values. Before the reform, emphasis was put on blindly obeying the Pope, saints and the interpretation of priests. Protestant reformers put little importance on these factors, instead focusing on the mercy of God and ones' individual relationship with him. Instead of adhering to all seven sacraments, Protestant reformers followed only two Ð'- baptism and the Eucharist. There was no longer a call for indulgences to absolve sins. The ideals of marriage changed, new ordinances were made and it was no longer looked at as a duty to have a husband or wife, but instead was also an institution of mutual love. Women gained rights, including the right to divorce as well as the freedom to work. Work was looked at in a new light, enforcing the idea that prosperity would come from hard work and frugality. Within the Catholic reform, a greater importance was also placed on literacy and education, so much so that some Protestant reformers were willing to switch over . With all of these changes, one could argue that the reform changed things for the better, strengthening societal values and introducing leniency in religion. There were, however, many