Calvism

2 Pages 471 Words

Reformation was a 16th century movement in western Europe that aimed at changing many teachings of the Roman Catholic church, which resulted in the establishment of the Protestant church. One church existed in Western Europe in the year 1500. The Roman Catholic Church. At the top was the Pope in Rome who literally governed everything. Three things greatly affected the reformation, the renaissance, men were beginning to dominate thought, The printing press, and last but not least the rise of powerful Nation-States with an all powerful monarch. One individual named Martin Luther got extremely angry at the churches selling of indulgences, he posted his 95 Theses at Wittenberg Castle, in which he criticized the selling of indulgences. Part of his anger was that the German money was going to Rome. Thanks to the printing press, the 95 theses was printed all over Germany, and eventually Europe. The reformation strengthened the middle class, Reformation encouraged the spread of education. In both Catholic and Protestant countries, the reformation strengthened the state at the expense of the church. Reformation also led to the colonization of North America, protestants in England were persecuted for their religious beliefs by Queen Mary. "Bloody Mary" murdered many protestants to prevent the growth of the protestant faith in England. This led to a group of Protestants called pilgrims, to make a pilgrimage to the new world, where they would be free to practice their religious belief without fear of persecution.

Calvinists are not followers of John Calvin, but of his idea. Calvin's Protestant faith emphasizes the omnipotence of God and the salvation of the elect by God's grace alone, basically the theory of predestination. The "elected" are known as "saints" in the Calvinist faith. Calvin denied that human beings were capable of free will. Calvin also stated that the writings of the scriptures are to be taken literally. Following the history o...