Protestant Reformation Western Civilization Has Thrived for

Protestant Reformation Western civilization has thrived for centuries, with the combined power and influence of the State and the Catholic Church. History up to the 16th century had witnessed a flourishing society influenced and ultimately, governed, by the principles and tenets of Catholicism. Inevitably, the Catholic way of life is the social way of life during these times. But the Church's stronghold over the society had been plagued with numerous incidents of corruption and abuse of power in the society.

The Church has become so powerful that its representatives, bound to live holy lives and to serve God, were actually the ones committing and perpetuating these acts of corruption and abuse of power. It is inevitable, then, that a crack would appear in the solid foundation that linked State, Church, and Society. It is during this prevalence and proliferation of corruption in the Church that its faithful congregation decided to incite reform in the Church through the Protestant Reformation.

The Protestant Reformation is a series of events and is a movement that began as early as the 15th century as a response to the growing corruption in the Catholic Church and the growing dissent against the institution by the faithful (society). However, other specific events also served as catalysts to the growing strength of this movement. The 15th century bore witness to the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire, the Black Death plague, and the invention of the printing press.

These events would have strong ramifications on the relationship between the State, Church and Society, paving the way for Protest Reformation to strengthen its stronghold in Western societies (European countries). Both the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire and Black Death led to political instability and growing discontent and distrust in the State and the Catholic Church. Both the State and the Church are inextricably linked in these social events as the Church wields a strong influence over decisions made by the State during this period.

Moreover, the invention of the printing press made it easier for advocates of the Protestant Reformation movement to disseminate their ideas and advocacy to a larger number of people (Collins, 1994, p. 6). Indeed, the Protestant Reformation movement has seen the rise of Protestant leaders Martin Luther and John Calvin, who were among the key proponents who made the Reformation possible in different parts of Western civilization/Europe.

Luther's "The Ninety-Five Theses" became a propaganda document that divulged the rampant corruption in the Catholic Church and how a reformation would re-establish a 'cleaner' Church of God through the Protestant Reformation. The printing press had been instrumental in the publication and dissemination of this document, eventually ensuring its success and popularity in Western societies. More than anything, through Luther and the success of the Protestant Reformation, they brought back the individual into Christian faith, wherein "individuals could access.