Sixteenth-century European movement that sought reform of the Catholic Church and resulted in the development of Protestantism. More than a revolt against the ecclesiastical and doctrinal authority of the Church, it also represented a protest by theologians and scholars against the interference of the Church in secular matters and the questionable activities of the contemporary clergy, notably the sale of indulgences and holy relics. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Catholic Church had been tested by the Lollards, the Hussites, and humanism.
The Reformation started in 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the Schlosskirche in Wittenburg, Germany. Luther's attack on the corruption of the Church and the doctrines of papal supremacy, transubstantiation, and clerical celibacy won the support of several German princes. In Zurich, Switzerland, the Reformation was led first by Ulrich Zwingli, and then by John Calvin. Calvinism was adopted in France, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. In England, the Reformation was more politically than religiously inspired. In 1534, Thomas Cromwell drafted the Act of Supremacy that rejected papal authority, and made Henry VIII the head of the English Church. Under Edward VI, Protestantism was established by the Book of Common Prayer (1552). In 1559, in the reign of Elizabeth I, the Church of England was formally established. In Scotland, the Reformation was led by John Knox, and Presbyterianism was established as the state religion in 1560.
From "Reformation" (2014) World Encyclopedia.
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This is the first Handbook of the Reformations to include global Protestantism, and the most comprehensive Handbook on the development of Protestant practices which has been published so far. The volume brings together international scholars in the fields of theology, intellectual thought, and social and cultural history. Contributions focus on key themes, such as Martin Luther or the Swiss reformations, offering an up-to-date perspective on current scholarly debates, but they also address many new themes at the cutting edge of scholarship, with particularly emphasis on the history of emotions, the history of knowledge, and global history. This new approach opens up fresh perspectives onto important questions: how did Protestant ways of conceiving the divine shape everyday life, ideas of the feminine or masculine, commercial practices, politics, notions of temporality, or violence? The aim of this Handbook is to bring to life the vitality of Reformation ideas. In these ways, the Handbook stresses that the Protestant Reformations in all their variety, and with their important "radical" wings, must be understood as one of the lasting long-term historical transformations which changed Europe and, subsequently, significant parts of the world.
Women and the Reformation gathers historical materials and personal accounts to provide a comprehensive and accessible look at the status and contributions of women as leaders in the 16th century Protestant world. Explores the new and expanded role as core participants in Christian life that women experienced during the Reformation Examines diverse individual stories from women of the times, ranging from biographical sketches of the ex-nun Katharina von Bora Luther and Queen Jeanne d'Albret, to the prophetess Ursula Jost and the learned Olimpia Fulvia Morata Brings together social history and theology to provide a groundbreaking volume on the theological effects that these women had on Christian life and spirituality Accompanied by a website at www.blackwellpublishing.com/stjerna offering student's access to the writings by the women featured in the book
The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century has traditionally been viewed as marking the onset of modernity in Europe. It finally broke up the federal Christendom of the middle ages, under the leadership of the papacy and substituted for it a continent of autonomous and national states, independent of Rome. The Historical Dictionary of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation provides a comprehensive account of two chains of events_the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation_that have left an enduring imprint on Europe, America, and the world at large. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 300 cross-referenced dictionary entries on persons, places, countries, institutions, doctrines, ideas, and events.
This collection of primary sources brings together in one volume for students documents on the European Reformations not easily accessible otherwise.