The Reformation

The Protestant Reformation took place in sixteenth and seventeenth century Europe. The movement was in response to religious leaders who felt the dominant Christian religion of Catholicism was weak and too forgiving of sinners.

Catholicism

Catholicism was the dominant Christian religion in Europe prior to the Reformation. Catholicism was focused on high ideas and non-worldly matters unlike the Protestants who believed in God's desire that people work hard on earth.

Lutheranism

Lutheranism was one of the emerging movements of the Protestant Reformation. The religion was established by German scholar and leader, Martin Luther.

Calvinism

Calvinism was one of the emerging Protestant religions that resulted from the sixteenth century Reformation in Europe. Jean Calvin, a French cleric, established the religion which was one of the most dogmatic of the movements and believed in the doctrines of predestination and election.

Pietism

The emerging concept of predestination—that...