CH108: The Reformation

The Protestant Reformation, a transformative period beginning in the sixteenth century that fractured Western Christianity. Martin Luther ignited the movement by challenging the sale of indulgences and championing the doctrine of justification by faith, a shift that eventually led to his excommunication. The narrative expands to include other influential reformers like Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin, as well as radical groups like the Anabaptists and the state-driven English Reformation. Furthermore, the texts examine the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation, where the Church utilized the Council of Trentand the newly formed Jesuit order to formalize its doctrines and combat heresy. Ultimately, this era of religious upheaval reshaped European politics and led to the diverse landscape of Protestant denominations recognized today.