Protestant Reformation

¶ … Catholic Church in the 16th century and explain what factors/Social conditions exacerbated the unrest associated with the Protestant Reformation.

Review sources of information.

There were several political, economic and religious factors that led to the Protestant Reformation. Although it did not take place until the 16th century, it had its beginnings in the 14th century.

What were some of the arguments directed against the Catholic Church in the sixteenth century?

The causes of the great religious revolt of the sixteenth century can be traced back as early as the fourteenth century. First, the doctrine of the Church continued its course in several parts of Europe, wholly uninterruptedly. The unhappy conditions that existed were largely due to civil and profane influences or to the exercise of authority by ecclesiastics in civil spheres. Gradually, in many parts of Europe, political and social conditions hampered the reformatory activities of the Church and the forces of heresy and schism began to take hold and were no longer held in check by the harmonious action of the ecclesiastical and civil authorities.

It is also important to remember that the clergy were very intertwined in the secular life and had political and worldly interests as well as religious. Many ecclesiastics were chiefly concerned with their income and how to increase it, gain greater power.

In addition, England was a distant and isolated country and for years had an uncomfortable relationship with the Catholic Church. The adoption of Protestantism was a politically rather then religiously motivated move. The marriage of Henry VIII to his brother's ex-wife, Catherine of Aragon, was considered an act of incest. When Henry finally decides to divorce her because there is no male heir and marry Anne Boleyn, he seeks a papal dispensation. But in order to marry her he needs another papal dispensation and this would contract church law. The Pope refuses; Henry marries Anne Boleyn and is excommunicated form the church by the Pope.

That was probably the key political factor that led to the reformation. But the Catholic Church had other weaknesses: competing popes in Rome, Avignon and other areas; there were questionable rituals and practices such as worshiping the saints, conducting pilgrimages and celebrating mass. Couple that with the corruption and abuse of power that also existed in the church and you can see why the stage was set for the Protestant Reformation.

Explain how political, economic and social conditions of the sixteenth century worsened the unrest associated with the Protestant Reformation?

There were several political and social factors that influenced the Protestant Reformation, including: European decentralization, rise of nation-states, the breakdown of medieval centralization under Pope, the breakdown of society because of Black Death, Hundred Years' War, etc. And the beginning of the Renaissance, which focused on humanism and the rediscovery of ancient culture.

When Henry VIII declared himself the supreme head of the church, England was changed forever, politically, socially and religiously. Henry excommunicated the Pope and seized the monasteries and other religious properties. Laws were enacted that spoke of heresy and made obedience to the Pope a criminal offense. Lutherans were burned as heretic and Catholics who refused to recognize the King's supremacy were executed. Church and state were blended and social and political issues became mixed with religious tenets and doctrines.