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Protestant Reformation Dbq Essay

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The Protestant Reformation: An Ununited Cry for Change
The Protestant Reformation was an outbreak of resentment toward the Catholic Church in Europe starting in 1517. Catalyzing this era of reform was a man named Martin Luther, as he posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The Ninety-five Theses were a list of questions and propositions regarding the Church’s corrupted traditions. This was an important event, highlighting the corrupt aspects of the Church, and kicking off an array of different plans to help reform the Church. People such as John Calvin, leaders in England, and most importantly, Martin Luther helped to kick off the start to a new era of change, by making their opinions publicized. People began to recognize these flaws and form their own opinions as to how religion should be, in result, creating new branches of specialized beliefs. The …show more content…

Martin Luther supported the idea of performing good deeds in general, stating that they were not needed for salvation or to receive an indulgence, they were simply expected as a good person (document 3). King Edward VI of England also believed that good works were not needed in order to get into heaven and that they were in fact, not needed at all (document 10). The Church believed that in order to get into heaven you must perform good acts, to please God and help to forgive your sins. Martin Luther in addition, believed that Christ himself was the head of the church, not the pope (document 7), while the Catholic Church considered the pope as the Holy Father and leader of the church (document 5). Luther supported the combination of church and state, while John Calvin and other reformers believed in complete separation of religion and political affairs. Luther saw baptism as a sacrament, parallel to the Church’s view, while other Protestants, such as Calvin, saw it as important, but not a

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