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          ARRoGANT                CoURiERS      WiTH     ESSaYS

Grade Level:       Type of Work           Subject/Topic is on:
 [ ]6-8                 [ ]Class Notes    [How the Protestand      ]
 [x]9-10                [ ]Cliff Notes    [Reformation and the     ]
 [ ]11-12               [x]Essay/Report   [Counter Reformation were]
 [ ]College             [ ]Misc           [Important to Europe     ]

 Dizzed: 08/94  # of Words:328   School:Public Co-Ed    State:NY
>>>Chop Here>>>>
 The Protestant Reformation and the Counter-Reformation were two very
important events in European history. They are a vital part of the Renaissance.
They signify the point at which the power of the church dimineshes and
the power of the monarchs increases. 
 The Protestant Reformation began with Martin Luther. Martin Luther
had once been a monk for the Church, but, after leanring about the way
indulgences were practiced in the Church (particularly practiced by
Tetzel), he wrote 95 statements about indulgences and posted them at
a local church. He had assumed that the Church would accept these statements.
Unfortunatly for the Church, the statements were not accepted. 
 By not accepting Luther's teachings, the Church had inadvertantly encouraged
its own decline. Since they did not kill Luther immediatly, he was able
to spread his "heresy," and, by the time the Church realized how large
a threat he was, it was too late. Luther had, in the 1520's started
the religion of Lutherism. 
 Lutherinism conflicted directly with the Church. It said that only
two sacraments were necessary: baptism and communion. This reduced would
reduce the power of Lutheran ministers and also save peasants money.
This encouraged peasant converts. This also encouraged lords and princes
to convert. They would convert to sieze the holdings of the Church in
their lands and also to gian power over the new religion. Instead of
the Church controlling the officials, the officials controlled the (Lutheran)
Church. 
 Lutherinism also stressed intent. He said that, for God to forgive
a person, the person would have to feel real regret, instead of iust
paying a fine. Luther also stated that, for a person to have good credited
to their soul, they would have to have a good intent, not just a fear
of Hell. I believe that these facts were unimportant to converts compared
to the facts that Luther had defined Lutherinsim much better that the
Church had defined Christianity. 
 
