Understand the historical context surrounding the beginning of this era. In Italy beginning in the 14th century, a new movement began to shape the thinking of the Western world. People had become highly dissatisfied with the Roman Catholic Church. Many recognized that they had been oppressed economically, educationally and culturally. This movement sparked a new educational interest in philosophy, science, culture, literature, art, and new religious thought. It would become known as the Renaissance.
It was an era of academic freedom. This led to many positive developments but not all this new learning was good. The Renaissance produced a new spirit of criticism and skepticism as well. Eventually this led to the development of modern German Rationalism, which questions the very existence of God.
During the 15th century, scholars and clerics alike began to reject the authority and dictates of the Catholic Church. SOME RELIGIOUS THINKERS RECOGNIZED THE SERIOUS MORAL CORRUPTION IN THE CHURCH AT ROME. Visitors to Rome were appalled at the sexual immorality and decadence openly displayed at the Lateran palace.
In 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk, nailed his now famous Ninety-five Theses to the door of the court church in Wittenberg,Germany. Luther protested the selling of papal indulgences for the forgiveness of sin, among other things. He was excommunicated and ordered to recant. Pope Leo X drafted a papal bull, or decree, denouncing Luther's teaching, but Luther publicly burned the encyclical. Emperor Charles V planned to stop the new movement with military action but was drawn off by the threat of invasion from the Turks.
Though it was not his original intention, Luther's act started the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther was never a part of God's true Church. Northern Germany became Lutheran. John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli conducted a similar movement in Switzerland, as did John Knox in Scotland. By 1531, Henry Vlll established that the main body of the church in England would come under the authority of the Crown. Roman Catholic religious authority and dominance was vigorously questioned.
The winds of change had only begun to blow with the advancement of the Renaissance and Reformation. In 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed for conspiracy to assassinate Queen Elizabeth l. This removed the ongoing threat of catholicism trying to seize control of the British throne. Then in 1588, the invincible Spanish Armada was overwhelmed by a great storm at sea. People all over England and throughout Europe knew this was a great miracle from God. This ensured Britain's political independence from Europe, and it's people believed more firmly than ever in freedom from Catholicism. The lasting effect was a separate, mostly- protestant Britain.
GOD BLESS AND SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION
First Corinthians 15:1-11
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