Reformation

 

 

Reformation

Reformation was the movement related to Christianity. The aim of Reformation was to bring positive reforms in Christianity. This movement started during sixteenth century. Martin Luther is credited with starting the Reformation. He was a German priest and theologian. He was born on 10 November 1483 in Eiselben located in modern day Germany. History father’s name was Hans Luther who was a copper miner by profession. Martin Luther studied from the University of Erfurt. He was interested in theology and became a monk. Later on he became a professor of theology in the University of Wittenberg.

At that point of time the Pope used to act the head of all Christendom. The Pope used to function from Rome. Rome is a capital of present day Italy. Being  a professor of theology and monk Martin Luther was associated with the study of Christianity. He had even visited Rome in the year 1510. Martin Luther was not so happy by the way of life led by the Roman Catholic clergies in Rome. Martin Luther was a very studious person and thorough scholar. He went on to complete Doctorate in the subject of theology.

The foremost reason responsible for the protest of Martin Luther against  unethical functioning of the Papacy or authority of Pope was the controversy of indulgences or indulgence scandal. It happened so that one Mr. Albert of Brandenburg was in debt from toe to the head. He was the Archbishop of Mainz. He convinced Leo X, the then Pope to issue indulgences in the territory which came under religious control of Albert of Brandenburg. These two has struck the deal according to which around fifty percent of the money raised by selling these indulgences would go to Pope Leo X. The remaining amount was supposed to be pocketed by Albert. Pope Leo X agreed to this arrangement because he needed money at that point of time in order to take forward the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica. Tetzel, an agent of Albert of Brandenburg started selling these indulgences duly authorised by Pope and told the people that they would go to heaven if they bought these indulgences. According to him no matter what people did they would go to heaven after buying the indulgences.

Martin Luther criticised the sale of indulgences. He declared it as an unethical and immoral act on the part of Roman Catholic Church and Pope. He displayed his famous Ninety Five Theses condemning the acts of Albert of Brandenburg and Tetzel and in a way the Pope. This act of Martin Luther is considered as the beginning of Reformation by the historians.

What began as a protest resulted into a fully blown Reformation Movement. Martin Luther slowly and steadily started getting supporters and the Reformation Movement grew stronger day by day.

The protest of Martin Luther or Reformation Movement became strong in Germany. It also got support in Great Britain or today’s United Kingdom and Scandinavia.

Due to this Protestant Movement (the Movement for protesting against the Roman Catholic Church and Pope) the Christianity got split. The supporters of Martin Luther came to be known as the Protestants and original Christianity came to be called as Roman Catholic sect.

The Protestant Movement has supporters in France as well. The leader of Protestant Movement in France was John Calvin. His supporters were called as Calvinists who followed Calvinism. In Switzerland the Church authority was questioned by Ulrich Zwingli.

Due to the Protestant Movement or Reformation there were lots of repercussions. First of all there was a division in Christianity as mentioned earlier. The most of the countries located in northern Europe embraced Protestant sect and southern European countries remained mostly Catholic. The new sect of Protestants later on travelled across Atlantic Ocean into North America. The Roman Catholic sect also tried to cover the ground lost to Protestant sect by spreading itself mainly in the overseas territories of Spain and Portugal. These two countries had decided to remain Catholic.

These were bloody fights between the Protestants and Catholics which took the lives of many individuals.

It was seen that the countries which accepted Protestant sect witnessed the strengthening of the powers of their monarchs.

The Reformation Movement had its effects on the development of Art as well. The Protestants believed in simple art in contrast to the grandeur of Roman Catholic Church.

In this way Reformation is one of the most important movements in Europe which ushered in modernisation in religious domain. It has its effects on social, religious, economic and political life of the Europeans.