The Rise of Protestantism - Paper Example

Introduction

As the fifteenth century drew to a close, there was a dire need for reformation in the church. The corruption and decline of the papacy were then well established. For instance, the papacy had been weakened significantly by the Great Schism that had divided the allegiance of Western Europe among three popes. The church was also plunged into wars and bribery as the leaders sought to restore the glories of ancient Rome. The turmoil in the church led to the rise of the protestant reformation. It was no longer good enough to reinforce or clarify some Christian theology as Christians now demanded a radical shift to some of the fundamental foundations of traditional Christianity. This paper will examine various factors that may have motivated the rise of Protestantism in the early sixteenth century.

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The Rise of the Lutherans

The rise of the Lutherans had a profound impact on the rise of Protestantism. Luther's theology was based on the basis that the word of God was the starting point and the final authority for his theology. Hence, the Bible was of utmost importance and the answer to his quest for salvation (Gonzalez, 2010). As such, Luther held the opinion that the church had no authority over the Bible. He held that it was neither the church that made the Bible nor the Bible that made the church, but the gospel, Jesus Christ.

As a result, the Lutherans held that the Bible has authority over the church, tradition, and the pope. Hence, despite determining the content of the Bible by recognizing the gospel in certain books and not others, the Lutherans held that the scripture was a trustworthy witness to the gospel beyond the church that chose the books (Gonzalez, 2010). The rise of his theology as a force in religious matters in Germany and beyond was a significant factor in the rise of Protestantism.

The Anabaptists

The Anabaptists were radical reformers who held that there should be a marked contrast between the church and society. The reformers held that to be truly obedient to the scripture, the reformation started by the Lutherans must go further (Gonzalez, 2010). They held the belief that while a person becomes a member of society by birth, one can only belong to the true church by a personal decision. As a result, the Anabaptists rejected infant baptism.

The Anabaptists also argued that the practice obscured personal decision that is central to the Christian faith (Gonzalez, 2010). They also held that the members of the church had an obligation to discipline its members and not leave such matters to the state. While these messages were not well received in Germany and Austria but circulated well in disconnected parts of Europe starting with Zurich.

The Anabaptists drew condemnation and opposition from Catholics for their disruption of social order. However, as the size grew, so did the condemnation and persecution of the Anabaptists across Europe with most being burned and drowned (Gonzalez, 2010). In such difficult times, the stories of heroism of the martyrs helped the movement grow despite the fierce persecution, resulting in what is referred to as revolutionary Anabaptists.

Political Events in Great Britain

In England, the rise and spread of Protestantism owe much of its success to the political events surrounding the marriage between Henry, the heir to the English throne, and Catherine of Aragon from Spain. Their marriage failed to produce a son. The king explored the various ways to annul his son’s marriage with Catherine. The resulting events led to Henry VIII following a policy that led to a break from Rome.

In particular, in 1534, the parliament enacted a series of laws that forbade various payments and contributions to Rome and the king was the supreme head of the church in England (Gonzalez, 2010). The king’s fifth wife was a supporter of reformation, helping spread Protestantism after the death of King Henry VIII in early 1547. It has to be understood that king Henry was a conservative, holding firmly to the church's traditional teachings.

The availability of the English Bible was a powerful tool for the reform advocates as they went from place to place adapting teaching from scriptures that supported their goals. For example, members of the clergy were allowed to marry and images were withdrawn from the churches (Gonzalez, 2010). Despite Mary’s persecutions, the Protestant reforms would go on under the leadership of Elizabeth.

Reformation in Scotland

During a period of peace and unity between England and Scotland, Protestantism made its way into Scotland. The reformers found fertile ground in Scotland due to the earlier doctrines of Lollards and Hussites (Gonzalez, 2010). In particular, Protestantism found adherents among the nobles who constantly read and circulated smuggled literature of protestant authors.

Throughout the kingdom, the Protestants began to consider St. Andrew’s castle as the bastion of their faith. The cause of reformation in Scotland was headed by John Knox (Gonzalez, 2010). Despite major setbacks from both France and England, the reform agenda in Scotland would continue because its roots had firmly been entrenched into Scottish politics and society.

The Rise of Protestantism in the Low Countries

Like the rest of Europe, reformation gained adherents in the Low Countries from as early as 1523 (Gonzalez, 2010). The reform was sparked off by the burning of two Protestant martyrs in Antwerp. Besides, in the Low Countries of Europe, Protestantism was intertwined with a long and bitter struggle for independence. During the reign of Charles V most territories in what is today Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, near the mouth of River Rhine retained many of their ancient privileges and forms of governance.

Cultural unity was also lacking in the seventeen provinces, perhaps fuelled by the different languages spoken. For example, the territories regarded Charles as a Flemish while his son Philip was raised in Spain. The provinces were put in the service and interest of Spain after Philip was crowned. Philip’s actions drew resentment from the leaders in the seventeen provinces from 1556 onwards (Gonzalez, 2010). The political struggle against the complete unification with Spain took the form of Protestant reformation. Lutherans and Anabaptists found in the Low Countries a fertile ground for their preaching.

In the end, Calvinism became the main form of Protestantism in the region. As more Spanish soldiers poured into the Low Countries, the presence of foreign troops angered even those who opposed the reformers. Soon, the leaders and magistrates of the seventeen territories openly rebelled against Philip. Ultimately, the rebellion spread to include the nobility, bourgeoisie, and the entire population. As Gonzalez (2020) explained, all these rebellions the movement took religious overtones. The long struggle that continued between Philip and the rebels only helped spread Protestantism and helped in the formation of three distinct countries, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium.

The Printing Press

Technological advancement, especially the emergence of the printing press contributed significantly to the rise and spread of Protestantism. The printing press came in handy in spreading the teachings of reformation, particularly in Hungary. Hungary was partly under the Ottomans and Hapsburg (Gonzalez, 2010). The Hapsburgs supported Catholicism and took measures to protect it from Protestantism. However, those caught using printers would be drowned by the decree from Ferdinand I.

However, despite these threats, books on Protestantism continued to circulate, produced from clandestine presses. The printers would be moved from place to place and smuggled in barrels, thereby making it almost impossible for the authorities to curb the spread of reformation. The availability of these printers led to the proliferation of vernacular publications, including the Bible. Now many people could read the Bible on their own unlike before. The availability of the Bible in vernacular led to the conversion of Many Hungarians to Protestantism. By 1600, as many as four out of five Hungarians were protestant (Gonzalez, 2010).

Conclusion

The discussion sought to examine in depth the various factors that may have motivated the rise of Protestantism in the early sixteenth century. As demonstrated, political events, cultural differences, the Charisma of various individuals, cultural dynamics, and the printing press among other factors led to the rise and spread of Protestantism in the early sixteenth century. However, for the most part, the rise and spread of the reform agenda was met with fierce resistance from the authorities and some sections of the community, leading to the death of hundreds of thousands of people. However, the persecutions did not hamper the rise of reformation and in some cases helped in its emergence.

Reference

Gonzalez, J. L. (2010). The story of Christianity: Volume II. HarperOne.