How Important Was The Protestant Reformation

Learning the history of religion is important for both religious and non-religious people. It allows an individual to develop a better understanding of the cultural aspects of people who lived long before them. One important component of religious history that all people should be aware of is the Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation began in 1517 A.D. and is viewed as a big deal by many theologians. Before the Reformation occurred just about all Christians were Roman Catholic. Other forms of religion did exist, but Roman Catholicism was the most dominant by far. It is quite easily agreeable that the Reformation happened for a reason. That reason was due to the multitude of false teachings the Roman Catholic Church had adopted over the centuries.
Another aspect of religious history that is considered important is the person who was credited for this tenacious movement. Before the 16th century, men like John Hus and John Wycliffe attempted to “reform” the Catholic Church. They, however, were not successful and it is Martin Luther who is credited as the “Founder of Protestantism.” Martin Luther’s message was not much different from the earlier reformers. The timing of his message however, may be a key reason as to why it stuck when the other messages did not. The printing press was invented less than a hundred years before hand allowing his message to spread rather quickly. A multitude of other factors contributed to his success as well. Martin Luther promoted his message to people of all classes, not just the wealthy individuals that belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. Also, the political upheaval in Germany helped him gain support from German princes who wanted to acquire freedom in a time of need. Martin Luther’s message lead to a religious movement that would never be forgotten due to the timing, audience and its appeal among German political