The Protestant Reformation caused man changes whether they be good or bad. By reaffirming the Protestant and Catholic divisions of Christianity, the reformation destroyed the religious unity that Europe had at the time. This weakened the Church’s power and allowed monarchs to grow stronger. This allowed the European countries to create a more secular and centralized state. By dividing Christianity, the reformation can be seen as responsible for the Thirty Years War between Protestants and Catholics. Reformation thinkers like Martin Luther also advanced the idea of spiritual equality and the rights of individual rights.
The Counter Reformation was the Catholic response to the Protestant Reformation. It was a period of Catholic resurgence that