What changes took place in England during the Protestant Reformation?

Answer 1

A response to corruption in the Catholic Church and lapses in enforcement of the basic tenets of the faith, such as those against simony, the Reformation was a movement that called for a return to what many believed to be a simpler message of salvation that they felt to be more scripturally accurate. Many people in this time were outraged by the vast land holdings and stuffed coffers of the Church, which they felt should be concerned with tending to the spiritual health of its members. In 1440, the invention of the printing press had made it possible for ideas to be disseminated more widely, and authors of the Renaissance had sharply criticized the greed of the clergy. People were also angered by the selling of ecclesial offices and especially the selling of indulgences, in which a person would pay money to have one’s time in Purgatory shortened. Selling salvation was indeed against the tenets of the Church but was often largely unenforced. The general distrust of the Church in this period is known as anticlericalism.

·      Compare and contrast the Reformation with the Renaissance. Which of your similarities and/or differences are more important for your argument?

·      How do the Reformation and the Renaissance reflect our innate human natures and yet also our extraverted dispositions, as microcosms of the universe?

Inspired by Luther, many other critics of Catholic excess joined together throughout Europe. These groups were known collectively as Protestants. One of the largest sects of Protestants were the Calvinists, named after founder John Calvin. This group believed in the idea of predestination, or that God had already fixed each person’s eternal destiny, and that only the Elect would join Him in heaven. Naturally, more people believed themselves to be among the Elect. In England, King Henry VIII split from the Catholic Church after his request for an annulment from Catherine of Aragon was denied by the Pope. Henry established the Church of England with himself as leader, and had five more wives before his death.

·      What other kings do you know of? For example, the various King Louis’ of France.

·      Do you believe in predestination? Or do you think that everyone has free will and that everyone’s respective outcomes are the results of our own respective efforts?