Western History 87: What was the Reformation?

The Reformation was an extremely important religious and political movement that bought about a break in Western Christianity. Early Reformers – Jan Hus, John Wycliffe, Girolamo Savanarola -  had challenged the dominion of the Catholic Church but it was the drive of Martin Luther, initiated by his Ninety-Five Theses (1517), that galvanized the movement. Luther would be joined by Huldrych Zwingli (Zurich), John Calvin (Geneva) and individuals such as Andreas Karlstadt and Philip Melanchthon.

In Luther’s Ninety Five Theses he criticized the sale of indulgences, denounced the idea that the Pope had authority over purgatory and that the doctrine of Saints was a notion lacking in biblical verification. He also stressed a strong emphasis on a scripture and the belief in faith in Jesus (as opposed to good works) as the only path to salvation from sin.

Luther’s ideas spread rapidly as a consequence of Gutenberg’s Printing Press with Protestant movements taking hold in Germany, Scandinavia, the Baltics, France, Hungary, England, Scotland and the Netherlands.

There is some debate as to what factors drove the Reformation. Corruption in the Catholic Church was a big issue, but so was the attitude of the various regional rulers. The universities played a role as did trade, a widening of political autonomy and a weakening of primogeniture in specific regions

An English Reformation began in 1534 under Henry VIII and continued under Edward VI and Elizabeth I.  Radical Reformers also led with the Anabaptist movement (that offered resistance to the state authority as well) but this would ultimately fail with the collapse of the German Peasant Revolt.

As an overall movement though Reformers often clashed. Zwingli and Luther for example differed over the Real Presence of Christ at the Mass (Zwingli saw the mass as merely representative Luther did not).

Geneva based John Calvin, like Luther was excommunicated by the Pope, he was a champion of the doctrine of Predestination and the Absolute Sovereignty of God over Salvation. His philosophies have impacted several Christian traditions including the Reformed and Presbyterian Churches (John Knox in Scotland).

The net effect of the Reformation was to erode the authority of the papacy and to divide Western European into two Religious Camps – One Protestant the other Catholic. It has been argued that the Protestant Work ethic favoring more working hours, a free market, expanded education opportunities and self sufficiency is a function of this schism.

                                                                        Luther and Calvin