Reformation: Before the Reformation the church was very disorganized. The church leaders cared about money and their own interests. They did not help the church and the people became worried about their salvation. Some church leaders held two or three offices and could only take care of one office. The other offices were left alone but since they were not empty no one else could come and help. The church was also divided against itself. Some religious people worshiped with relics and many prayers, while others thought about God as much as they could. They formed nunneries and monasteries to keep their minds thinking about God and avoiding idleness. The people used their Bibles to get their answers instead of going to the church. The time was right for a reformation. During the Reformation people discovered more about Greek and Italian literature. The ancient cultures written in that literature had been almost unknown, but then people read and learned about their history. When people from all over Europe were able to read the new doctrines that the reformers believed, they began to develop their own ideas and relied on the church less than they had before. Martin Luther wrote the ninety-five theses declaring new ideas concerning indulgences and the limited power of the pope. Luther spoke in many debates about his new beliefs and he attracted several followers. The Catholic church felt threatened by his bold declaration of the church’s problems. Luther’s books started many little reformations that led to the Reformation of Europe. In England Henry VIII wanted a divorce for his wife who had not given him the male heir that he wanted. The pope needed the support of the nephew of Henry’s present wife and so would not grant a divorce. Henry saw that the church was not helping him and he issued the Act of Supremacy which separated the Church of England from the pope. He eventually got an annulment for his marriage but by that time, he had changed the doctrines of his church. All over England the Reformation was influencing the church and changing the beliefs.
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