Tag: reformation and enlightenment in europe

John Wycliffe was a theologian, philosopher, and translator. He had challenged the authority of the church and pope due to which was condemned by the church. He suffered a stroke on Dec 28, 1384, And died three days later on Jan 31, 1384.

Martin Luther rejected the teachings of the Catholic church. In the year 1517, he expressed his opposition against the church for selling the confession letters also known as indulgences. Since Martin Luther protested against the evil practices of the church, the Reformation came to be known as the Protestant Reformation and his followers came to be known as Protestants. 

John Calvin was a French by birth who fled to Switzerland to protest against the papal order. He wrote a book called 'Institutes of Christian Religion.' He founded the Puritan sect. He shared a lot of similarities with Martin Luther. 

The sale of indulgences was started by Pope  Leo X in order to construct the St.Peter's church. He issued pardon certificates to those who gave money to build the church. The people were deceived by him. Pope's interference in the political affairs was naturally resented by the kings. They strongly supported the Reformation Movement in order to weaken the church. John Wycliffe, an English priest laid emphasis on the Bible as the sole guide for salvation. 

Martin Luther was a German philosopher, priest, monk and was considered as ‘Father of Protestantism.  He believed that faith alone was the way to seek salvation. By faith, he meant, faith in the Bible. 

The Ninety-five Theses is a list of questions and propositions for debate written in 1517 by Martin Luther. On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church which marked the beginning of the Protestant revolution.

The Reformation divided the church into Protestantism and Catholicism. Those who led the revolt against the church were called Protestants because they protested against the practices prevalent in the church. Those who remained loyal to the traditional church were on the side of the Pope. They were called Roman Catholics. The Catholics and Protestants fought many wars.

On January 3, 1521, Pope Leo X issued the papal bull Decet Romanum pontificem (“It pleases the Roman Pontiff”), which excommunicated Martin Luther, a German theologian and monk who had been causing the Roman Catholic Church no end of trouble since 1517.

Martin Luther accused the church for the sale of indulgences. In 1517, he wrote 95 theses or statements dealing with the difference between the beliefs and practices of the church and nailed them on the church door at Wittenburg.