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What Are The Primary Sources Of The Protestant Reformation

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Introduction Many Historians agree that the Protestant Reformation stands as one of the most pivotal moments in European history, with its effects echoing profound religious, social, political, and cultural ramifications across continents and even time. With the Reformation, having emerged in the 16th Century, along came many key religious historical figures such as Martin Luther, John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli, who each in their own way helped to spearhead the challenge against the Roman Catholic Church. It was this contestation that assisted in sparking doctrinal debates, institutional reforms, and societal transformations that continue to shape the modern world. And so, as a Christian, I hold this particular moment in history to a significantly …show more content…

And so, it is my goal here to address the topic of Primary Sources, covering the benefits to using them as well as the challenges, the strengths and challenges inherent in utilising these sources for research purposes. So, what ‘types’ of primary sources should we consider when addressing a study of the Protestant Reformation? Well, such sources include theological treatises, sermons, pamphlets, letters, legal documents, artwork, and material culture artefacts such as church furnishings and religious relics. Each type of primary source offers unique insights into different aspects of the Reformation, from theological debates and religious controversies to social upheavals and cultural transformations. The value of Primary Sources is displayed through the several strengths that help to enhance our understanding of historical evidence regarding the Protestant Reformation. First and foremost, I believe it is important to address the immediacy and authenticity they provide, allowing us as historians to have direct access to the thoughts, experiences, and actions of historical actors who lived during the Reformation period. It is through engaging with these primary sources that we, as well as many other historical scholars, can gain firsthand knowledge of the beliefs, motivations, and emotions that animated individuals and communities during this pivotal moment in history. And in my case, they enable us to uncover overlooked or marginalised voices that may challenge or complicate dominant narratives of the Reformation. It is through exploring a diverse range of primary sources that it is possible to illuminate many perspectives that may, otherwise, be underrepresented in historical accounts of the Reformation. However, despite the value in

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The Protestant Reformation was important in European History because with it came a Counter-Reformation. The Reformation revealed corruption in the Church, such as buying and selling salvation—indulgences—for profit, simony, and the overall battles for power and wealth (within the Church). Martin Luther and John Calvin were crusaders for the reformation and were able to share their ideas and beliefs effectively; they were then accepted/recognized by the people—the educated and uneducated, the middle class and nobility. Luther and Calvin’s beliefs allowed for other people to find a sense of freedom and individualism in religion.

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Plan of Investigation This investigation seeks to identify the qualities and characteristics of Martin Luther, which are truly indicative of The Protestant Reformation in Europe. The body of the investigation describes the significant events in the life of Martin Luther, that impacted the era. The specific characteristics that he exhibited will be identified, examined and analyzed. During the Protestant Reformation society started to question the ideas of the church. Reformers started to expose the church for their acts such as the selling of indulgences, insisting that the Pope had no authority over purgatory and much more.

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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.

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During the sixteenth century, the Protestant Reformation began due to the use of the printing press to spread new religious ideas, the corruption of the clergy, and the Church’s practice of the sale of indulgences. The printing press was used to spread new

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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.

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Jeramie Jones Dr. Hermann History 101 Right before the 16th century, there were huge changes in the way people started to think. One major movement that influenced this was the wave of humanist thought, which understood the importance of the study of classical text to emphasize a larger value of the individual, to which the Protestant Reformation owed a lot to. This basis of thought is a huge reason people began to critique the teachings of, and even question the theological foundation of the Catholic Church. The main reason for which religion was so divisive in the 16th century was that people finally began to think for themselves. Despite Roman Catholicism being the dominant in Europe all before the 16th century, a new wave of Protestantism

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Historians argue that there were many causes of the Protestant Reformation, but there was one main issue that instigated its formation. Economically, resentment of the Church’s wealth and taxes influenced the drive for reformation and particularly, other European leaders. In the same respect, the Church’s growing political authority and push for power troubled such leaders. Despite the perceived supreme power of the Church in Europe, the religious affairs and corruption amongst the Church’s leaders were more important causes of the reformation. An increased disdain and mistrust of the Church dominated the opinion of the public and further supported the idea of reformation.

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The Reformation in its successive stages, reproduced a massive doctrinal and jurisdictional shift. Puritans advocated for the “abolition of prayer for souls in purgatory, changes in church services and the abolition of pilgrimages, processions, and the veneration of saints” (Ingram, 1995). Anti-Catholic rhetoric was encouraged by the Puritans, and there was an increase in stress upon the personal responsibility of the individual in religious faith and observance. Anti-Catholicism, which developed into a characteristic facet of English culture, unexpectedly united Puritans. The papacy identified with the Antichrist, and “Catholicism was remotely linked with tyranny, oppression, disloyalty, and persecution” (Ingram, 1995).

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