The Great Schism Analysis

One of the largest chief political factors leading up to the decline of the Western church in the 15th century would have to be marked by “The Great Schism” or “Papal Schism” during the year of 1378. During this time there were three Popes who believed they were the one true Pope. Before the beginning of the schism, there was power of the papal in Avignon, France. Gregory XI, had wanted to return the papacy to Rome, and no longer have it in France (Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity 402). However he passed away and the Cardinals of Avignon had gathered in Avignon to elect a new leader, but those in Rome had argued that the new leader should be from Rome or Italy. Soon after Urban VI would resume as Pope, however there were Cardinals would …show more content…
Luther was not so much moved by the offering of the penances to the people, as much as he was moved by the church charging people for the forgiveness of their sins by selling certificates of indulgences. Luther thought it was way out of line for the church to be charging people for the forgiveness of sins. The church made these certificates seem necessary for one to be forgiven. This influx of money helped the church be built up and they raised enough money to erect St. Peter’s basilica in Rome. The church was reliving the lives of those who were making profits off of sin offerings at the temple during Jesus’ days on earth. Luther objected to this practice in his written 95 Theses, when he posted it to the door of the Wittenberg church. Pope Leo X tried to sway Luther and his thoughts, but Luther was not willing to change his perspective so the pope labeled him a heretic, and excommunicated him. The Pope waited to excommunicate Luther, because at the time there was an election in place, and he did not want the election to go a different direction since Prince Frederick favored Luther. Following the election, the new emperor Charles V met with Luther to discuss his writings and his controversial stance. Luther’s work was condemned, the 95 Theses, and three of his treaties written in 1520: Address to German Nobility, and Babylonian Captivity of the …show more content…
While also adopting the approach at grace from the protestant reformation. Thomas Cranmer seemed to be the best of both worlds in that he was willing to adopt some of the ancient traditions and ideas from the Catholic Church, but also revisit the new understanding of grace from the Protestant Reformation lead by Martin Luther. In addition Cranmer was also the chief reformer in the English Reformation. He was appointed by King Henry the VIII, and played a major part in helping draft The Articles of the Church of England (Cranmer, The Royal Injunctions, Cited in Bettenson, 245). Most of Cranmer’s work is contained in the Book of Common Prayer. Two of the major things that Cranmer affirmed during the reformation was the Reformed view of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, and Salvation from the grace of God. Cranmer believed that our works came out of our receiving of grace and salvation, not that they were what produced it (Cranmer, A Short Declaration of the True, Lively, and Christian Faith, Cited in Kerr, 173). This was one of the major differences from the continental