The Reformation is known as the greatest movement for Christ that began in 1517 and is considered to be the revival of Biblical theology and faith in the New Testament. At that time, the church and people’s faith were challenged, and the religion itself was in decline. Indulgences, continuous abuse of power by bishops and other issues pushed people far from their religion and their faith. However, the Reformation inspired by Martin Luther led to such changes to the German society as well as to the entire world that no one could imagine. Political, social and economic order was changed so much that the Reformation may be seen as a history-changing turning point.
The Reformation changed the view on politics. The government was completely separated from the Church, and the latter ceased to have political power. Neither religion nor bishops were allowed to interfere into the affairs of state. The very idea of governing and managing people by monarchs, emperors or governors was previously subject to decisions of the representatives of the church. The Reformation gave a rise to secularism, but did not provide a background for religious nihilism. People became more assured in their religious views, but their lives inside countries were subject to common laws.
Social life was also dramatically changed under the influence of the Reformation movement. Apart from the Luther movement in Germany, it inspired supporters of Zwingli in Switzerland, followers of Calvin in France and monarchs of England to change the order in their countries too. It resulted in the reformation of deep-rooted social relations and led to the division of Western Christendom into Protestant and Catholic traditions. Establishment of national churches encouraged the growth and unity of many European states at that time. The Reformation changed people’s view and perception of liberty. It encouraged science and put it aside from religious control and the church’s overview. Ignorance of physic and chemical processes in nature changed to deep interest.
The European Reformation had a profound impact on the economic life of people. Modern developed nations of the EU were poorer than African countries before the Reformation started. Life expectancy was also very low, while infant mortality was extremely high. A powerful push to science and development led to great changes in the ways people used to work and produce. The beginning of capitalism gave Europeans a chance to live longer and have better standards of living. The Economic development and industrial revolution became possible mostly due to the results of the Reformation in the sixteenth century.
In sum, the Reformation had much more long-run consequences than the short-run ones. The views of people regarding the connection between the church and economic, social and political life changed that made possible improvement of standards of living, better governance and gave people a chance to develop science. Everything that humanity has now, including technologies, are the product of the revolution in the minds of the Europeans that is the main result of the Reformation.
Bibliography
Arnold Jack L. “The Cause and Results of the Reformation.” Third Mill 1, no. 2 (1999). http://www.thirdmill.org/files/english/html/ch/CH.Arnold.RMT.2.HTML
Miller Darrow. “Life Expectancy and the Economic Effect of the Protestant ReformationWho Knew?” Darrow Miller and Friends. Last modified July 21, 2011. http://darrowmillerandfriends.com/2011/07/21/life-expectancy-economic-effect-of-protestant-reformation/
“Protestant Reformation – II.” Mb-Soft. Accessed July 26, 2016. http://mb-soft.com/believe/txn/reformat.htm
