Hi guys,

Discuss three factors that led to the Protestant Reformation.
All thoughtful answers are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Three Factors which Engendered the Protestant Reformation

1) Deplorable practices ocurring within the church: These depravities and blights included nepotism, pluralism, and the sale of indulgences.

2) A growing excess of superfluous cermeony, pomp, and, most importantly, wealth in the Church

3) The political discontent of the virtually independent German princes, who contemned the rapacious, money-grubbing Catholic church but could only discard it by supporting Luther, whose protests justified such rash actions

It was mainly the development of individual thinking, the responsibility for individual acts and attitudes was dissociated from the group based guidance/directions of the Church.

The princes and kings did not want to be under control of the Pope. They found Martin Luther's philosophy to be appealing, "salvation only by faith alone".

Martin Luther was by no means perfect. And if he lies about the Jews why wouldn't he lie about his other enemy, the Church?
I find his anti-semetism excessive despite Europe being anti-semetic. Good thing Martin Luther Jr. came along...
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/1543-Luther-JewsandLies-full.html

Huge land estates were donated to the church by the wealthy in order to please God. German money would go to the Church, but then be spent in other places such as building churches in Rome. Naturally the church became the scapegoat.

Mohammadm, you ingrate, do we get a "thank you," or are you going to ignore our help?


Okinrus, do you recall what Luther recommended be done about the the Peasant Revolts of the 1520's?
LOLwww.stupidity.com (http://www.stupidity.com/story1final/page139.htm)

He told the Princes to eradicate the peasants, showing just how much of a draconian conservative he was in the social arena!
The reformer wanted the reformers dead!? Haha

Martin Luther:

"German Catholic priest who felt that the Pope was misinterpreting the word of God. He founded the Protestant religion, so that lay people could misinterpret the word of God for themselves."

-The Online Atheist Dictionary (http://www.atheistdictionary.com/)