2007-04-10 12:38:48 · 8 answers · asked by LUCRETIA B 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
...because they realized that by becoming protestant they not only freed themselves from the control of the Roman Catholic Church and all of the taxes, tithes, and lessened power of the sovereign that went along with submission to the pope, but that they also appeased the people's desire for change and made themselves appear more tolerant. This change did not occur in other parts of Europe because they were:
a) closer to the fairly strong military which the Papal States controlled
or
b) they were Eastern Orthodox and so did not have indulgences being sold, one of the causes of the reformation.
2007-04-10 13:10:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some rulers in Northern Europe, especially German princes, saw the Reformation's attacks upon the Catholic Churchand established authority as useful tools to attempt to rid themselves of the domination of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburgs. It was a way to "buck the system."
2007-04-10 22:22:24 · answer #2 · answered by witdfk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you will find that in nearly every case it was politically expedient and nothing to do with religious belief. The rulers of each country wanted the allegiance of their people. They didn't want the Pope in Italy to be too powerful.
2007-04-10 19:42:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This was partly political. For many rulers, there was more opportunity available if they had a religious reason to refuse the demands of the church.
2007-04-10 19:43:41 · answer #4 · answered by Still reading 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) resented the authority of the Roman Catholic Church
2) coveted the land held by the Church, along with its revenues
3) resented the practice of selling indulgences, the income of which went to Rome.
4) resented ecclesiastical courts whose authority interfered and usually superceded local court decisions.
2007-04-10 19:46:12 · answer #5 · answered by greydoc6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
opposed the power of the Vatican and the Catholic church. until the reformation the pope ruled with an iron fist. so some say.
2007-04-10 19:42:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they were sick of the Roman Catholic Church butting into affairs of state and taking land for church property that couldn't be taxed to provide the crown with tax revenues.
2007-04-10 19:42:27 · answer #7 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They do not know better.
2007-04-10 19:42:10 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋