- Published: January 6, 2022
- Updated: January 6, 2022
- University / College: The Australian National University
- Language: English
- Downloads: 19
The Protestant Reformation was considered as the ultimate revolutionary incident in the 16th century. This was the period when the Church occupied the seat of power. Because of the authoritative control over their constituents and their questionable practices, many people became discounted with the situation. As a consequence, they were forced to choose between the traditional Catholic Church or the new concept of Protestant Reformation. Their dissatisfaction was rooted from many flaws of the Church.
First, the Church focused on the conduct of rituals which many perceived as an evasion from the Church’s original objective of helping their devotees to attain personal salvation. The Church sacraments became highly ritualized that they were no longer connected with the Europeans. Its meaning and significance have become senseless. Another major reason that induced the Protestant Reformation was the dispossession of the spiritual influence of the Church officials over their people which was caused by the manifestation of secularization.
More criticisms commenced when popes and other high church officials adapted a king-like lifestyle wherein they lived in luxurious houses and palaces. More so, because of the acquired fortune of the Church, it instigated numerous forms of abuses which was unfortunately executed by representatives of the Church. As a result from all of these, many people have been driven to initiate changes in the doctrines and rituals of the Catholic Church( Kreis, 2006, “ Protestant Reformation”).
During the reformation, one man was bold enough to reveal the truth about the misconducts of the Church, he was Martin Luther. His incessant struggle to tell the truth amid constant intimidations and threat from the Church gave him leverage in gaining the interest and trust of the people. Also, he was able to capitalize on the brewing discontent of the Europeans that made it more difficult for the Church to manage and to put a stop on the dissension of the people (cited in everythingimportant. org, “ What started the Protestant Reformation? ”).
