Was The Reformation Inevitable?

Question

If not, how could it have been avoided? If it never happened, how would the world be different today?

Answer 1

The reformation was inevitable. Even in the early days of the Church, religious dogma had different flavors. At the time of the reformation, Christianity has already been split into two groups, Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox. The corruption of the papacy during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, in particular the Medici popes, raised serious questions about church doctrine and the overall morality of the church leadership.

Luther's crusade questioned the moral legitimacy of the Catholic Church, but I also I believe advances in scientific knowledge and the discovery of humanistic teaching by long forgotten Greek scholars during the Renaissance began the inevitable period of questioning among intellectuals and academics within European society, which would have evolved into religious debate.

Without the Reformation, I suspect nationalism would have proceeded at a slower place in certain sections of Europe, and we probably would not have seen the religious wars of the 17th century.

Answer 2

Boy is this a good question. NO, it did not have to be inevitable. IF the popes and cardinals had not become so corrupt and IF they would have stuck to the basic teachings of Jesus - including the admonition that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven - and IF they had not been selling indulgences to forgive sins, and IF they had allowed the bible to be written in languages the people could read , and if their services had been performed in languages people could understand, and IF the priests, bishops, cardinals , and popes had been upstanding righteous men in the 1400s and 1500s - - the Reformation would not have been necessary. The Church would have then been the way Jesus had intended it to be. Unfortunately, greedy, sinful men in charge of the Church were to blame - not the Christian message.
If the reformation had not occurred there would have been no great religious wars in Europe during the latter 1500s and 1600s - though wars would still have taken place over the usual things: control of land, wealth, power.

Answer 3

Boy is this a properly question. NO, it did no longer ought to be inevitable. IF the popes and cardinals had now no longer exchange into so corrupt and in the event that they could have caught to the consumer-friendly teachings of Jesus - including the admonition that that's much less complicated for a camel to bypass by ability of ability of the attention of a needle than a wealthy guy to circulate into heaven - and IF that they had now no longer been merchandising indulgences to forgive sins, and IF that they had allowed the bible to be written in languages the lads and ladies could learn , and if their selections have been performed in languages men and ladies could understand, and IF the clergymen, bishops, cardinals , and popes have been upstanding righteous men in the 1400s and 1500s - - the Reformation ought to now no longer were vital. The Church could have then been the wonderful way Jesus had meant it to be. regrettably, grasping, sinful men to blame of the Church have been responsible - now no longer the Christian message. If the reformation had now no longer occurred there ought to were no first-fee religious wars in Europe contained in direction of the latter 1500s and 1600s - in spite of the fact that wars ought to even even with the shown fact that have taken region over the organic concerns: manage of land, wealth, vigour.

Answer 4

I say yes. Gutenberg and movable type, invented in 1450s, dramatically reduced the cost of printing Bibles and spreading literacy and new ideas. It was only a matter of time before the Catholic church's monopoly on telling everyone how the world worked would be smashed. This is what made it possible for Luther's 95 Theses to be translated from Latin to German and rapidly disseminated throughout the population. All of Europe knew about them within two months; the printing press was the broadband of its day. And of course, Luther's translating the Bible into German merely added fuel to the fire.

Answer 5

It was inevitable. Before the Reformation the Catholic Church became too rich, too arrogant, too self-righteous and too isolated from the people. The result of this was that many people started to lose their faith in God. People saw how stupid, disgusting, fat and lazy the Catholic clergymen were and hated them for this.

Answer 6

When Catholic leadership obscured the truth, reformation was required. First, by Luther. Later, by others. I think it is impossible to get back to the truth. Everyone is too careful to believe anything offered as the original truth.