The Protestant Refomation

The Protestant Reformation all began in 1533, when King Henry VIII had decided he was to get a divorce from his current wife because she could not bear him a male child. Although, the Catholic Church would simply not allow it as for it is against the Roman Catholic religion's beliefs. Henry VIII then decided to leave the Catholic Church and start his own religion which he named, The Church of England. Later when Elizabeth I was in power, the English Church’s beliefs had been influenced by the teachings of John Calvin and Martin Luther. They believed that the Catholic Church was corrupt and strongly dissaproved of a formal hierarchy when practicing one’s faith in God. Instead of a pope or priest, Calvin and Luther believed that all persons should interpret the Bible themselves. They also stated that one had to be a strong believer and have complete faith in God in order to reach salvation.

For more information on John Calvin, Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation visit, www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture3c.html