Q: Compare and contrast the motives and actions of Martin Luther in the German states and King Henry VIII in bringing about religious change during the reformation.
The protestant reformation lasted during the 16th century, and began because of the Catholic Church’s clerical immorality, plurality, and ignorance. Two major players, Martin Luther, from the German states, and King Henry VIII, from England, brought reformation in their respective areas in both similar and different ways. While both leaders created protestant religions because they disagreed with some of Catholic Church’s flaws, Martin Luther wanted change for morally and socially correct reasons, and Henry VIII wanted a reformation for selfishly political reasons.
Martin Luther was a German monk who spent most of his life as a professor at the University of Wittenburg. Around the same time, Johann Tetzel, a Catholic Priest who was selling indulgences to raise money for the construction of St. Peters Basilica. Luther highly opposed the selling of indulgences because he felt like they were not morally correct. To Luther, paying money for a “ticket” to get someone out of hell did not make any sense, and especially seemed wrong coming from people who are supposed to be representing God and lead the people. In 1517, Luther nailed a copy of his Ninety-Five Theses to a door of a church in Wittenburg. In his work, Luther addressed several flaws of the church, including clerical immorality, clerical pluralism (selling of clergy seats), and ignorance of ordained clergyman. Luther also felt that it wasn’t fair that people weren’t able to interpret the scripture for themselves, so in 1522, Luther published a version of the bible that translated the Latin or Greek scriptures into a language most people understood. As a result, masses were able to read the scriptures for themselves for the first time and make their own interpretations on its truth. Martin Luther was sentenced to excommunication, and did not recant to the Pope. He traveled around Europe and preached to many people about his protestant Lutheranism, which , along with lacking flaws the Catholic Church had, also did not include a pope. Martin Luther made his religious changes because he wanted to do what was morally right for the masses, and didn’t want anyone to be cheated by the Catholic Church.
On the other hand, Henry VIII, king of England, for extremely political and selfish reasons, which were not focused on the greatest agreement for his country. During the beginning of his reign, Henry had trouble conceiving with his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. He desperately needed a divorce so that he could find another wife who would be able to produce an heir, but the rules when he asked the Pope for an annulment, the Pope declined. As a result, Henry made the decision to break with the Catholic Church and form his own church. In 1534 Henry released the Act of Supremacy that declared himself the head of the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church. Henry’s new religion was similar to Martin Luther’s because they both lacked a pope. Both Henry and Martin had personal issues with the pope and disagreed with the structure of a church with a pope in it, so they left it out when they formed their own. Henry’s Anglican Church differed from Luther’s, however, because everything was nearly identical to the Catholic Church, the only difference being a pope. Henry’s government was motivated by a personal and political need to continue his dynasty.
Ultimately, Martin Luther and King Henry VIII’s motives for religious change came about with dissatisfaction with the Pope, but Martin’s actions against the church were what was socially and morally beneficial, and Henry’s were what would benefit him most politically.
Martin Luther was a German monk who spent most of his life as a professor at the University of Wittenburg. Around the same time, Johann Tetzel, a Catholic Priest who was selling indulgences to raise money for the construction of St. Peters Basilica. Luther highly opposed the selling of indulgences because he felt like they were not morally correct. To Luther, paying money for a “ticket” to get someone out of hell did not make any sense, and especially seemed wrong coming from people who are supposed to be representing God and lead the people. In 1517, Luther nailed a copy of his Ninety-Five Theses to a door of a church in Wittenburg. In his work, Luther addressed several flaws of the church, including clerical immorality, clerical pluralism (selling of clergy seats), and ignorance of ordained clergyman. Luther also felt that it wasn’t fair that people weren’t able to interpret the scripture for themselves, so in 1522, Luther published a version of the bible that translated the Latin or Greek scriptures into a language most people understood. As a result, masses were able to read the scriptures for themselves for the first time and make their own interpretations on its truth. Martin Luther was sentenced to excommunication, and did not recant to the Pope. He traveled around Europe and preached to many people about his protestant Lutheranism, which , along with lacking flaws the Catholic Church had, also did not include a pope. Martin Luther made his religious changes because he wanted to do what was morally right for the masses, and didn’t want anyone to be cheated by the Catholic Church.
On the other hand, Henry VIII, king of England, for extremely political and selfish reasons, which were not focused on the greatest agreement for his country. During the beginning of his reign, Henry had trouble conceiving with his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. He desperately needed a divorce so that he could find another wife who would be able to produce an heir, but the rules when he asked the Pope for an annulment, the Pope declined. As a result, Henry made the decision to break with the Catholic Church and form his own church. In 1534 Henry released the Act of Supremacy that declared himself the head of the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church. Henry’s new religion was similar to Martin Luther’s because they both lacked a pope. Both Henry and Martin had personal issues with the pope and disagreed with the structure of a church with a pope in it, so they left it out when they formed their own. Henry’s Anglican Church differed from Luther’s, however, because everything was nearly identical to the Catholic Church, the only difference being a pope. Henry’s government was motivated by a personal and political need to continue his dynasty.
Ultimately, Martin Luther and King Henry VIII’s motives for religious change came about with dissatisfaction with the Pope, but Martin’s actions against the church were what was socially and morally beneficial, and Henry’s were what would benefit him most politically.