Free Essay: Machiavelli In The Reformation

Machiavelli in the Reformation

The institution of the catholic church during the renaissance of rome was a complex and beautiful establishment that turned the renaissance into the blissful era that it was. This enormous wheel turned under the guise of pious reverence, and the spokes were the small psychological manipulations divvied out by the enormous world power. The help of indulgences, corrupt popes, and even lack of faith in the upper ranks of the church were the pillars to the parthenon of the church. Faith at this time became a leash, the dominant power of the church was the controlling master, as the general population became the obedient pet, blindly following, painstakingly sweating for their master’s pleasure. And their masters were the corrupt politicians, petty criminals raised to the height of society with purchasable offices. Those who bought the offices were some of the most …show more content…
Machiavelli's main principle is that the end justifies the means. Simony being a bought office, the end being power, and the means being the sin of simony. The Church’s disregard for their own moral standards is evident here. One of Machiavelli's man tenants that is outlined in his famous book the prince is that one should always do whatever possible to gain power. Using this train of thought simony is the emotionless, moral-less, and logical way to gain power. During the reformation, in the aftermath of the renaissance, society was still angled to benefit those in power. Thus simony was the logically perfect fit for the machiavellian society that europe had become. Through the purchase of even one office, one could sway a society to their will. Take Pope Alexander the sixth, simply bought his way into the papacy, and dominated not only the church, but the society that was highly influenced by the church. Also, three other popes committed simony for the papacy: Nicholas III, Boniface VIII and Clement