Why the Reformation Occurred in Germany

At the end of the Middle Ages, the moral prestige of the old papal church was severely shaken in all the countries of Europe. Open criticism of its moral shortcomings and its organizational defects had been going on for centuries. To the diverse splinter-movements of heretical sects (which were neve...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ritter, Gerhard 1888-1967 (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: [1958]
In: Church history
Year: 1958, Volume: 27, Issue: 2, Pages: 99-106
IxTheo Classification:KAG Church history 1500-1648; Reformation; humanism; Renaissance
KBB German language area
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Parallel Edition:Electronic
Description
Summary:At the end of the Middle Ages, the moral prestige of the old papal church was severely shaken in all the countries of Europe. Open criticism of its moral shortcomings and its organizational defects had been going on for centuries. To the diverse splinter-movements of heretical sects (which were never wholly suppressed) had been recently added the great reform movements of the Wyclifites and the Hussites. But even they had brought about no lasting and widespread upheaval. Ultimately the old hierarchy had always prevailed. Why then did the Germans, a people slow to be aroused, fond of order, and faithful to the church, take it upon themselves to carry out the most prodigious revolution in the church? And why did only their revolt against the papal church have such vast and enduring consequences?
ISSN:0009-6407
Contains:Enthalten in: Church history
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2307/3161906