Protesting the Old Way
"We are living in a world where the old rules no longer apply." Such was the case during the early modern period in Europe. Prior to this sudden change in the "rules" Europe went through an extensive period of illiteracy and lack of enlightenment. The centuries following the downfall of the Roman Empire would be the years defined as the middle ages. During this phase, the Catholic Church dominated the beliefs of the people and its power was very rarely threatened by outside forces. The Pope, or head of the Catholic Church, spent a majority of his time collecting church taxes, or tithes, selling indulgences, and acting as God's representative on Earth. For a long time no one questioned his authority, or the Church's legitimacy. Ultimately, the belief system of humanism would lead to the collapse of the Church's influence, and the reformation itself. What transpired was not a direct war between humanism and the Church, in fact some humanistic qualities agreed with Church doctrine, but some of these beliefs would in due course lead to the reformation. Humanism was a very extensive philosophy that began to spread during the early renaissance period. Its main ideas were the devotion to ancient and
But the papists, against their own consciences, say, No; we must hear the Church. Luther himself says, "The chief cause that I fell out with the pope was this: the pope boasted that he was the head of the Church, and condemned all that would not be under his power and authority; for he said, although Christ be the head of the Church, yet, notwithstanding, there must be a corporal head of the Church upon earth. It was not humanism itself that caused the eventual Protestant Reformation, but rather individuals using the humanistic philosophies. " Luther was allowed to leave and was hidden by Friedrich the Wise. The Church unknowingly had helped itself lose power. " Most paintings, sculptures, and other forms of artwork followed along the same religious pattern. Luther was instructed to recant his teachings and explain himself. By his sayings, it is obvious that Luther too would not change his mind unless logically convinced, which he never was. He reasoned that fate in God alone would justify salvation to Heaven. Martin Luther, through logic and reasoning, was able to convince others of the Church's corruptness. " Those human inventions he refers to are indulgences. Humanism had indirectly taken away some of the Church's power. Normally this would have been the case for Luther, but instead the Church chose to have a debate and promised Luther no harm if he would come. However, Luther did not agree that the wafer used in the sacrament was actually turned into the body of Christ. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.
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Acceptance Essays
