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{{Christianity}}

{{Christianity}}

The '''Protestant Reformation''' was the 16th century movement which led to the separation of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. It is usually said to have started when [[Martin Luther]] nailed his ''[[95 Theses]]'' to the door of the cathedral in Wittenburg, Germany calling for a discussion of  false doctrines and malpractices within the Catholic Church as he saw them. These included the sale of [[indulgences]] and the doctrine underlying them, as well as the powers of the Pope. He had not, however, intended to create a rival church.

The '''Protestant Reformation''' was the 16th century movement which led to the separation of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. It is usually said to have started when [[Martin Luther]] nailed his ''[[95 Theses]]'' to the door of the cathedral in Wittenburg, Germany calling for a discussion of  false doctrines and malpractices within the Catholic Church as he saw them. These included the sale of [[indulgences]] and the doctrine underlying them, as well as the powers of the Pope. He had not, however, intended to create a rival church.

3. Sola Gratia, the idea that saving Faith comes to those who are saved only through an act of God's graciousness, not in any way because of our own merits.

3. Sola Gratia, the idea that saving Faith comes to those who are saved only through an act of God's graciousness, not in any way because of our own merits.

In these points, Luther (and Protestantism generally) rejected the Catholic Church's beliefs that there is an equality of Tradition with Scripture, in the efficacy of our own good deeds, and in the idea that it is the clergy and the institutional church that make possible the ordinary Christian's access to God.   

In these points, Luther (and Protestantism generally) rejected the Catholic Church's beliefs that there is an equality of Tradition with Scripture, in the efficacy of our own good deeds joined to saving faith in Christ's unmerited gift of salvation, and in the idea that it is the clergy and the institutional church that make possible the ordinary Christian's access to God through [[intercession]] and the [[sacrament]]s.   

 

In Switzerland, other Protestants quickly followed Luther's lead. [[Ulrich Zwingli]] and then [[John Calvin]] preached an even less ceremonial brand of Christianity. Whereas Luther had retained most of the worship style of Catholicism if not all of its structure and doctrines, the Swiss Reformers sought a simpler style of worship and a more decentralized system of church government. Their churches normally are termed "Reformed," as opposed to Luther's following which is known by his name ("Lutheran"), as "Evangelical," or by a combination of the two words.   

In Switzerland, other Protestants quickly followed Luther's lead. [[Ulrich Zwingli]] and then [[John Calvin]] preached an even less ceremonial brand of Christianity. Whereas Luther had retained most of the worship style of Catholicism if not all of its structure and doctrines, the Swiss Reformers sought a simpler style of worship and a more decentralized system of church government. Their churches normally are termed "Reformed," as opposed to Luther's following which is known by his name ("Lutheran"), as "Evangelical," or by a combination of the two words.   

"Protestants" opposed the buying and selling of church positions and the systemic corruption they saw in the Church of the time, which even reached to the position of the [[Pope]]. They were opposed to what they considered to be excessive devotion directed towards [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]] and the saints rather than true Biblical Christianity seen as a matter of inward devotion.

"Protestants" opposed the buying and selling of church positions and the systemic corruption they saw in the Church of the time, which even reached to the position of the [[Pope]]. They were opposed to what they considered to be excessive devotion directed towards [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]] and the saints rather than true Biblical Christianity seen as a matter of inward devotion.

Most of the early Protestants wanted less in the way of outward symbols of ceremony and ritual and rejected the authority of the Pope (because they believed the only true authority to be the [[Bible]]). The various Protestant churches wanted the Bible to be available to all by publishing it in the common language and by promoting universal education. The mandatory [[celibacy]] of the [[clergy]] and monasticism were rejected, along with the Catholic use of images in church buildings, priestly vestments, and many of the Catholic Church's festival days. Instead, Protestantism emphasized a new participation in public worship services by the members of the congregation. Congregational singing became a feature of Protestantism, unlike Catholic worship. The wine in Communion was distributed to the congregants, no longer being reserved for the priest as had been Catholic practice. And in most churches, the congregation was empowered to select its own ministers rather than have them chosen, in Catholic fashion, by the bishop.  

Most of the early Protestants wanted less in the way of outward symbols of ceremony and ritual and rejected the authority of the Pope (because they believed the only true authority to be the [[Bible]]). The various Protestant churches wanted the Bible to be available to all by publishing it in the common language and by promoting universal education. The mandatory [[celibacy]] of the [[clergy]] and monasticism were rejected, along with the Catholic use of images in church buildings, priestly vestments, and many of the Catholic Church's festival days. Instead, Protestantism emphasized a new participation in public worship services by the members of the congregation. Congregational singing became a feature of Protestantism, unlike Catholic worship. The wine in Communion was distributed to the congregants, no longer being reserved for the priest as had been Catholic practice. And in most churches, the congregation was empowered to select its own ministers rather than have them chosen, in Catholic fashion, by the bishop.

==History==

==History==

*[[Indulgences]]

*[[Indulgences]]

*[[John Calvin]]

*[[John Calvin]]

*[[Ulrich Swingli]]

*[[Ulrich Zwingli]]

*[[John Knox]]

*[[John Knox]]

*[[Martin Luther]]

*[[Martin Luther]]

*[[Huguenots]], Protestant in France

*[[Huguenots]], Protestant in France

*[[Church of England]]

*[[Church of England]]

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Andreas Rudolf Bodenstein von Carlstadt]]

*[[Andreas Rudolf Bodenstein von Carlstadt]]

*[[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)]]

*[[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)]]

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Bainton, Roland H.  ''Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther'' (reprint 1995) [http://www.amazon.com/Here-I-Stand-Martin-Luther/dp/0452011469/ref=pd_bbs_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-12 excerpt and text search]

* Bainton, Roland H.  ''Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther'' (reprint 1995) [https://www.amazon.com/Here-I-Stand-Martin-Luther/dp/0452011469/ref=pd_bbs_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-12 excerpt and text search]

*  Beard, Charles. ''Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany Until the Close of the Diet of Worms'' (1896) 468 pages; [https://books.google.com/books?id=YlzNSeh7YgMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:reformation&lr=&num=30&as_brr=1&ei=Zs6dR-SmO4KAsgP_-rSYCg#PRA1-PR4,M1 complete text online] ''this Charles Beard is not the American historian''

*  Beard, Charles. ''Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany Until the Close of the Diet of Worms'' (1896) 468 pages; [https://books.google.com/books?id=YlzNSeh7YgMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:reformation&lr=&num=30&as_brr=1&ei=Zs6dR-SmO4KAsgP_-rSYCg#PRA1-PR4,M1 complete text online] ''this Charles Beard is not the American historian''

* Brauer, Jerald C. ''The Westminster Dictionary of Church History'' (1971), 880pp

* Brauer, Jerald C. ''The Westminster Dictionary of Church History'' (1971), 880pp

* Chadwick, Owen. ''The Reformation'' (1990) [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Hist-Church-Owen-Chadwick/dp/0140137572/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search]

* Chadwick, Owen. ''The Reformation'' (1990) [https://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Hist-Church-Owen-Chadwick/dp/0140137572/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search]

* Collinson, Patrick. ''The Reformation: A History'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-History-Modern-Library-Chronicles/dp/0812972953/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

* Collinson, Patrick. ''The Reformation: A History'' (2006) [https://www.amazon.com/Reformation-History-Modern-Library-Chronicles/dp/0812972953/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196732692&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

* Hillerbrand, Hans J., et al. eds. ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation'' (1996) vol. 1:296 pp., vol. 2:506 pp., vol. 3: 491 pp., vol. 4:484 pp.,  

* Hillerbrand, Hans J., et al. eds. ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation'' (1996) vol. 1:296 pp., vol. 2:506 pp., vol. 3: 491 pp., vol. 4:484 pp.,  

* Hsia, R. Po-chia. ''A Companion to the Reformation World'' (2004), essays by 24 scholars cover the major themes [http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Reformation-Blackwell-Companions-European/dp/0631220178/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243428920&sr=8-6 excerpt and text search]

* Hsia, R. Po-chia. ''A Companion to the Reformation World'' (2004), essays by 24 scholars cover the major themes [https://www.amazon.com/Companion-Reformation-Blackwell-Companions-European/dp/0631220178/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243428920&sr=8-6 excerpt and text search]

*MacCulloch, Diarmaid. ''The Reformation'' (2005), influential recent survey [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Diarmaid-MacCulloch/dp/014303538X/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

*MacCulloch, Diarmaid. ''The Reformation'' (2005), influential recent survey [https://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Diarmaid-MacCulloch/dp/014303538X/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

*McGonigle, Thomas D.,  and James F. Quigley. ''A history of the Christian Tradition: vol. 2: From the Reformation to the Present'' (1996) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christian-Tradition-Vol-Reformation/dp/0809136481/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-15 excerpt and text search vol 2]

*McGonigle, Thomas D.,  and James F. Quigley. ''A history of the Christian Tradition: vol. 2: From the Reformation to the Present'' (1996) [https://www.amazon.com/History-Christian-Tradition-Vol-Reformation/dp/0809136481/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-15 excerpt and text search vol 2]

*  Smith, Preserved. ''The Age of the Reformation'' (1920) 861 pages; [https://books.google.com/books?id=LKJlR_YqqcsC&dq=intitle:reformation&lr=&num=30&as_brr=1&ei=Zs6dR-SmO4KAsgP_-rSYCg complete text online free]

*  Smith, Preserved. ''The Age of the Reformation'' (1920) 861 pages; [https://books.google.com/books?id=LKJlR_YqqcsC&dq=intitle:reformation&lr=&num=30&as_brr=1&ei=Zs6dR-SmO4KAsgP_-rSYCg complete text online free]

*''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), major sources of older scholarly articles; mainline Protestant perspective   

*''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), major sources of older scholarly articles; mainline Protestant perspective