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The Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century produces many differing views on religion. The Catholic Church didnt change much until the Counter Reformation, which probably helped to encourage the Protestants. The Protestants not only disagreed with the Catholic Church about their religion, but they also disagreed amongst themselves. Two of the more prominent Protestants of the time were Martin Luther and John Calvin, whose views sometimes coincided, and sometimes did not. Martin Luther was one of the first Protestants, and it could be said that he was the father of the Reformation. Luthers views on the roles of the Church and the State differed greatly with that of the Church.
While the Catholic Church believed itself above the governments of Europe, Luther believed that the Church should be subordinate to the State. While most rulers found this most appealing, particularly those of his home country of Germany, the Church found this as preposterous. Lucky for him, a number of German princes hid him in their abodes, protecting him from the Church when he refused to denounce the ninety-five theses he wrote on religion, challenging the ways of the Catholic Church. If it wasnt for this, Lutheranism, and even Protestantism itself, may have disappeared all together. Luthers social attitudes also differed greatly with the Catholic Church. Luther said that only the Bible, and not religious traditions and ceremonies and such, could determine correct religious practices and lead to salvation.
This, obviously, would have made the Church much less important, thus decreasing the power of the Pope and his followers. He also disagreed with the concept of indulgences. That someone can simply buy his way into Heaven didnt seem to make any sense to Luther, since then the rich could do whatever sinful acts they wished and then simply pay the Church some money and get into Heaven. John Calvin, another Protestant that came after Martin Luther, also had some contradicting views. Luther and Calvin had some major political disagreements.
Unlike Luther, Calvin believed that the State and Church should be united. This would give the Church immense power, and allow it to enforce its beliefs upon all. For example, in Zurich, he combined State and Church, enforcing their stern morality on all. Being that he preferred a simple, unadorned church, the place became rather bland, with strict codes of morality ruling over all.
Calvin also had some social preferences unique to him. Very unlike the Catholic Church, Calvin preferred a dull, unadorned church, a church simple in purpose and function. This promoted a sort of blandness among his followers, who often wore simple black and white outfits and were rarely, if ever, did anything very extreme or exciting. Calvin was also a firm believer in the doctrine of predestination. This allowed many people to simply claim that they were one of the chosen few, and place themselves above the sinful others who were not predestined to go to Heaven as they. Even though they disagreed on many issues of religion, Martin Luther and John Calvin did indeed agree on some issues.
Calvin, like Luther, believed in a simplified church, though I think Calvin may have been a bit extreme. They both believed that only two sacraments were necessary: baptism and the Mass. By attacking traditional Catholic practices so, they became quick enemies of the Pope and Catholics in general. They also both believed that indulgences were improper, and rid such from their own religious ways.
Another Catholic tradition that was attacked, this one was a source of great income to the Catholic Church, and they were not about to give it up. Their social attitudes also had some similarities. They both believed that only the Bible, and not the Pope or Church traditions, could lead people to salvation. Luther translated the Bible into his native German, so that his fellow Germans could read the Bible for themselves.
They both believed that faith, and faith alone could earn them a place in Heaven, not strict practicing of overly pretentious Church activities. The Catholic Church, having relied on the blind support of the European people, was now having many of those blind followers mad capable of seeing, and that was a scary thing to the Catholic Church. While Martin Luther and John Calvin agreed on many subjects, some very significant disagreements make their religions quite different. While Luther believed in the Church being subordinate to the State, Calvin believed that they should be one in the same.
Calvin, being a firm believer in predestination, differed with Luther in that there was no hope for those who had sinned; it was already said that they would go to Hell. In Luthers religion, however, there was still hope.
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