The Weakning of the Catholic Church

Corruption was rife in the Church, with the spiritual higherups acting more like royalty, and vows were broken.
There was also some financial impunity, as there would be selling of "indulgences" throughout the Church. As well, as positions being sold with a price tag.
Monarchs would abuse the pope, forcing them into political submission, an example is when Frances king ordered for the pope to be kidnapped for not approving of the taxing of French clergy.
An crisis occured when Gregory XI passed away, leaving an successor who did not want to move back to Avignon, and there was a major dispute over who would be the major hat wearer.

Early Calls for Reform

Early onto the Western Schism, there were many early critics, such as John Wytecliff, who would claim that the Bible is the ultimate sense of governance within the Church, translating it into English against Church tradition. This will get him and his followers killed.
There was also Jan Hus, a bohemian priest who wanted to return the Church back to the people, and offer it in English not latin, he too was martyred.
There was Catherine of Siena. A devoted woman to religion, and a mystic. She was the striking point, as her teachings helped people prepare for the Reformation.
Erasmus is a reformist within the Church, and his attacks on Catholicism helped pave way for people to desert. Should also mention the fact the attacks lead the way for one Martin Luther.

Luther was born in Germany in 1483 a devout catholic and became a priest.
Luthers studies of the bible made him follow the sacrements dearly, however, Luther became not so happy about the Churchs coping of the financial situation.
Luther pushed for change by listing out points, named the 95 thesises. Causign controversy.
He would be labeled an heretic and excommunicated from the Church, but in hiding, his teachings became more popular.
This triggered the Peace of Augsberg, which allowed the princes of the HRE to choose the religion of their subject.
This started the start of the end of Catholic unity.

Martin Luther got the ball rolling for several other people including but not limited to:
Huldrich Zwilingi
Priest from Zurich influenced by Luther. He would influence Zurich to go to a bible based system of worshiping.
John Calvin
Calvin was a humanist who emphasized salvation coming only from God.
Henry VIII of England
Seperating England from the church for political and personal reasons.
William Tyndale
Priest, scholar and writer who would attack the Church. He transalated the bible in the early 1660s, creating the KJV, or King James Version.

The first major Protestant sect is Lutheranism, beginning with the excommunication of its founder.
Lutherans like Luther, did not believe in their salvation, believing it as God's will, and by accepting Jesus Christ and being truly sorry for the sins you have commited.
Lutherans rejected traditional religious authority.
Lutherans would chant in German, and nuns could marry.

Corruption was rife in the Church, with the spiritual higherups acting more like royalty, and vows were broken.
There was also some financial impunity, as there would be selling of "indulgences" throughout the Church. As well, as positions being sold with a price tag.
Monarchs would abuse the pope, forcing them into political submission, an example is when Frances king ordered for the pope to be kidnapped for not approving of the taxing of French clergy.
An crisis occured when Gregory XI passed away, leaving an successor who did not want to move back to Avignon, and there was a major dispute over who would be the major hat wearer.

Early onto the Western Schism, there were many early critics, such as John Wytecliff, who would claim that the Bible is the ultimate sense of governance within the Church, translating it into English against Church tradition. This will get him and his followers killed.
There was also Jan Hus, a bohemian priest who wanted to return the Church back to the people, and offer it in English not latin, he too was martyred.
There was Catherine of Siena. A devoted woman to religion, and a mystic. She was the striking point, as her teachings helped people prepare for the Reformation.
Erasmus is a reformist within the Church, and his attacks on Catholicism helped pave way for people to desert. Should also mention the fact the attacks lead the way for one Martin Luther.

Luther was born in Germany in 1483 a devout catholic and became a priest.
Luthers studies of the bible made him follow the sacrements dearly, however, Luther became not so happy about the Churchs coping of the financial situation.
Luther pushed for change by listing out points, named the 95 thesises. Causign controversy.
He would be labeled an heretic and excommunicated from the Church, but in hiding, his teachings became more popular.
This triggered the Peace of Augsberg, which allowed the princes of the HRE to choose the religion of their subject.
This started the start of the end of Catholic unity.

Martin Luther got the ball rolling for several other people including but not limited to:
Huldrich Zwilingi
Priest from Zurich influenced by Luther. He would influence Zurich to go to a bible based system of worshiping.
John Calvin
Calvin was a humanist who emphasized salvation coming only from God.
Henry VIII of England
Seperating England from the church for political and personal reasons.
William Tyndale
Priest, scholar and writer who would attack the Church. He transalated the bible in the early 1660s, creating the KJV, or King James Version.

The first major Protestant sect is Lutheranism, beginning with the excommunication of its founder.
Lutherans like Luther, did not believe in their salvation, believing it as God's will, and by accepting Jesus Christ and being truly sorry for the sins you have commited.
Lutherans rejected traditional religious authority.
Lutherans would chant in German, and nuns could marry.