How did the Protestant Reformation shape society in 16th century Western Europe?
When looking back at the Protestant Reformation, what caused society to struggle in 16th century Western Europe? The Protestent Reformation changed how people saw religion from the words of the Pope and Council, but also showed how the printing press spread the word of the Bible. The lower levels of hierarchy and the towns outside reach of the Bible were given the word of God and this shaped what is now known as Christianity. From the words of Martin Luther, a German priest, the Pope and Council altered God’s words, but how did this cycle back into the hardships the people faced in these times?
Martin Luther, a German priest, author, and professor, brought up a valuable question. Was the Pope misusing the words of God? Luther wrote up his recent discoveries and opinions into a total of 95 thesis statements. Luther stated in one of his many statements, “I cannot submit my faith either to the Pope or to the Councils, because it is clear as day they have frequently erred and contradicted each other.” (Document 1, Luther) He clearly argues that he can no longer submit his faith to the Pope and Councils because their words were simply contradicting each other's claims. Luther began to praise God on his own, vetoing the words of the Pope and Council and following the words
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He took the words of God, and made them his own, changing their meaning. After these sudden changes, Martin Luther said, “The main reason 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. He said, “..although Christ is the head of the Church, there must be a physical head of the Church upon earth.” (Document 5, Luther). As Luther said, this could not be tolerated. The Pope was taking the role of God and giving himself the