Protestant Reformation Dbq

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The Protestant Reformation, occurring between years 1517 to 1648, challenged the Roman Catholic Church’s authority and practices. The most well known practice of the church was the selling of indulgences, a payment taken in order for sins to be forgiven and lessen the time spent in purgatory. The church was corrupt and it didn’t go unnoticed. An Augustinian monk named Martin Luther was appalled. He acknowledged that faith, and faith alone, was enough to grant one through the gates of heaven. Martin Luther then wrote the “95 Theses”, or “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences”. This list was nailed on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, initiating the Protestant Reformation. However, Luther was not the only reformer. John Calvin agreed with Martin Luther, but believed that the church should be simple, removed of all icons, and also a stricter lifestyle. With the use of the printing press, Luther and Calvin’s beliefs were spread ultimately leading to religious, political, and social changes. …show more content…

As Martin Luther proceeded to spread word of the Catholic Church’s wrong doing in hopes of reforming the church, he created a new branch of Christianity. Those who agreed with his beliefs broke away from Catholicism and into Lutheranism. John Calvin, a French theologian and pastor, created another denomination known as Calvinism. This branch believes that only a few select will reach salvation, unlike Lutheranism, which all will find peace as long as they have faith. Also, followers of Calvinism lead stricter lifestyles compared to Lutheranism. These denominations not only brought along new beliefs, but also many