For centuries the Roman Catholic Church’s understanding of its role in the world and its perception of the world beyond Rome, were becoming less and less compatible with actual conditions. Society had been changing in Europe throughout the Middle Ages, the Renaissance was dramatically transforming the way in which people looked at the world around them, and more importantly, how they looked at themselves and their place in the world.

The pace of change was not rapid, but it was relentle

Internal factors such as Martin Luther’s stand on the indulgence controversy and external factors such as the recent invention of the printing press led to the rapid circulation of his writings, which in turn sparked smoldering discontent with the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy into raging flames. Luther was supported by a number of secular rulers, partly for political reasons. His challenging ideas were also embraced in a genuinely popular movement, and his theology was spread in Germany by numerous preachers.

In response to this challenge papal authorities ordered Luther to retract and submit to church authority, but he became more stubborn, appealing for reform, attacking the sacramental system, and urging that religion rest on individual faith based on the guidance contained in the Bible. Threatened with excommunication by the pope, Luther publicly burned the

Some topics in this essay:
Catholic Church, Christendom Corruption, Bible Threatened, Ages Renaissance, Martin Luther’s, Catholic Church’s, Pope Councils, Wittenberg October, Testament German, Worms Luther, common people, external factors, roman catholic, church hierarchy,