Reformation

“Christians should be taught that he who sees anyone in need, and, passing him by, gives money for pardons, is not purchasing for himself the indulgences of the Pope but the anger of God…”. This statement was made by Martin Luther in the 16th century, during a period of religious change known as the Reformation, in Europe’s history. There were many religious and political reasons why the Reformation in Europe occurred. The Church was thought of as a corrupt institution in the 16th century Europe. The Church refused to translate the bible. New ideas were rarely accepted. The uses of inquisitions were common. But, the biggest criticism of the Church had to do with the sale of indulgences, as seen in Document 1 and Document 3. Indulgences are payments made to the church to get a promise of being accepted into heaven. The sale of indulgences was criticized by Erasmus. Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, or simply Erasmus, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian. Erasmus was a classical scholar who wrote in a pure Latin style. He wrote a play which was performed on a Paris stage, in 1514. This play was about Pope Julius wanting to enter the gates of heaven. But the spirits tell him the gates will not open because all through his life he only cared about power and money. In this play Erasmus is trying to state that the Church is greedy and selfish and how they always will be. Even after being corrupt, the people from the Church still want to enter the gates. “Open the gates, why is there no one to receive me?” he said. This state’s how obnoxious the Pope is. Julius also says, “Make an end, I saw, or I will fling a thunderbolt at you. I will excommunicate you. I have done as much to Kings before this” and “You shall feel them if you don’t behave yourself”. These quote state that the Church still wants to be dominant and that they will never learn from the mistakes they have made. Like