Martin Luther, John Calvin And The Protestant Reformation

The protestant reformation happened at the moment that it did because the Catholic Church was very a powerful force in Europe. It controlled people lives both spiritually and temporally. The church had so much power that it maintained political control over a large portion of Italy. The fact that the church held so much control over countries and governments became a point of contention among European countries such as the Holy Roman Empire, Italian city-states outside of Rome, England, France and Spain. The power of the rulers of these areas had greatly increased in the 14th century and they were eager to take the chances offered by a Reformation to weaken the grip of the Catholic Church in Europe and also to develop their own powers across the European continent. For quite some time the Catholic Church had been an institution rampant with internal struggles. Such as the Avignon Papacy from 1309 to 1377 when seven popes opted to live in Avignon, France and not reside in Rome which was and is the traditional home of the Papacy. The Pope and other high ranking church officials often lived opulent lifestyles rather than a more austere lifestyle that should befit a spiritual leader. Many church leaders and Popes maintained political powers. They led armies, waged wars and made many political decisions. Church offices were sold, and many Popes and bishops practiced nepotism to fill church offices. With all of these worldly issues for the Pope

The reformation was going on led by the Martin Luther, while John Calvin was born and decided upon converting to protestantism. Both argued that the Catholic Church stirred away from its original mission to help reach heaven and help the poor. Both reformers wanted to return the people onto the right path in their spiritual life. Politically, Luther and Calvin believed that the Pope must not own such power and have so much lavish, instead spend the money for the better of the society, they also believed that each state must choose their own religion. Socially, they both believed that the laypeople should be educated and have access to the bible for own interpretation and that all people are equal in the eyes of God. However, despite so many points where they held the same perspective, their views also differed politically because Luther did not want to change the political structure of

John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509. He joined the Protestant Reform while studying as a law student. He published Institutes of the Christian Religion in 1536. The book shared Calvin’s Protestant views. He believed that God only allowed some people to go to heaven without taking into account their good deeds or beliefs. Ultimately, he would become Martin Luther’s successor.

The theologies of Martin Luther and John Calvin, while different are both put under the same umbrella that is Protestantism. These beliefs are separating from the first Christian religion and becoming something on their own.

The Church of England/Anglican Church was first created by king Henry VIII so that her could divorce his wife because she could not giving him a male heir, but when he came to the Pope with his proposal but her refused to annul the marriage because Henry's wife was the sister of the spanish king and the Pope didn't want any bad blood With Spain.After his death his daughter Queen Elizabeth I kept this religion going.

Lutheranism and Calvinism, although both were greatly influential in the reformation and overall shaping of Europe, greatly differed in their views toward social structure and political authority. Lutheranism, led by Martin Luther, was a religion entirely based on the idea of “Salvation by Faith alone”. This was an idea that stated that what brings you salvation isn’t the law or your good deeds but true faith in God. This was controversial because it got rid of the need for an organized church structure, which necessitated good deeds for salvation. Calvinism, led by John Calvin, was a religion that based its religious foundation on the idea of Predestination.

In the sixteenth century many Catholics began to leave the church for the reformed church for multiple reasons. People began to disagree with the terms of the catholic churches both political and religious. the people also wanted the power to worship their own religion of their choosing and get a more meaningful experience out of their religion. Lastly Martin Luther pushed to expose the corrupt papal using nothing more than actual words from the bible and helped drive the push into the new reformed church.

After the diet, Lutheran nobles and princes formed a Schmalkaldic League, which was made to be an alliance against the Catholic Church. When the tension kept building between the two religions, it finally led to a religious war. At the end of the war, the Peace of Augsburg was established - which allowed each local prince choose the religion in their territory. Lutheranism became the mist dominant religion in the Roman Empire, it also spread to several other European countries.

King Henry VIII led the Protestant Reformation, but John Calvin was the one who really took protestantism further, which made the English leave England and go to America.

Both Calvin and Luther were struggling against the ideals the Catholic Church possessed striving to bring about changes in order to make it a supportive religious place of worship. Their mission and ultimate goal of reformation of uniform regarding the Church’s rules and regulations; although, both men had different concepts which caused them to question the Church’s authority. Luther believed that the Bible was the central religious authority and that we reach salvation only by faith alone, not by the works of the pastors and priests. Calvin, on the other hand, believed in predestination. Predestination was Calvin’s doctrine stating that God preordains salvation or damnation for each person before creation; those chosen for salvation were

John Calvin was born in 1509 in Picardy France and lived for 55 years, dying in 1564. Growing up, his education was based on humanist principles, he learned Greek and Hebrew while studying Theology. He also received a legal degree from the University of Orlèans. He converted to Lutheranism at the age of 20 describing the experience as “unexpected”. John Calvin was one of the most important figures in the second generation of the Protestant Reformation.

John Calvin was another leader in the Protestant church. He was originally Catholic and switched to Protestantism. He agreed with Luther on most things but put more emphasis on the “power, grace, and glory of God.” He believed in predestination. A belief that God determines in advance who is saved and who is to be damned. This religion would be called Calvinism, named after the founder. He also began the Reformation in Geneva, Switzerland. His reform was that there would be government inside the church, but the church would not rule the government.

The Protestant reformation in the 16th century splintered Catholic Europe, it was a political, religious, and cultural upheaval. It also placed the structures and beliefs that would definitely continue out in the modern era. Reformers like John Calvin and Martin Luther also contributed a main part in the reformation. They also altered the Catholic Church’s ability to define Christian practice. They mainly aligned for religious and political redistribution of power into the hands of the Bible and pamphlet. The redistribution triggered wars that were called counter reformation. The Catholic Church’s delayed, but forceful response to the protestants. The protestant reformation started in 1517. That was also the publication of Martin Luther’s “95 theses”.

Why did the Reformation begin in Germany and not in France, Italy, England or Spain?

John Calvin was born on July 10th, 1509 in Noyon, Picardy, France. He studied at the universities of Paris, Bourges, and Orleans. He was a key leader of the Protestant Reformation. He wrote many protestant works like Institutes of the Christian Religion. Calvin was also a revolutionary theologian and leader, developing the religion of Calvinism and doctrine of predestination. In addition, Calvin reorganized the city of Geneva, Switzerland and made it into an example theocracy. John Calvin died on May 27th, 1564 in Geneva, Switzerland, but his ideas and achievements have lived on. In fact, the average citizen should care about him because of the contributions he has made to the world, however positive or negative they may be. John Calvin’s three main contributions that make him historically significant are his development of the doctrine of predestination, his revolutionary reform of the education system, and his emphasis on the protestant work ethic.