A term covering a number of changes in Western Christianity(Europe) between the 14th and 17th centuries, resulting in thesplit in Christianity between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.The Reformation, widely conceived, was a reaction against thehierarchical and legalistic structures of the Papacy and the RomanCatholic Church. Reformers rallied against the Roman CatholicChurch's dogmatic theology, economic and religious exploitationof the common masses, and colonialization and conquest of indigenouspeoples. Most fundamentally, the Reformation challenged the Papacy'sclaims of divine authorization and infallibility.
One particularly well-known Catholic method of exploitation inthe Middle Ages was the practice of selling indulgences, a monetarypayment of penalty which, supposedly, absolved one of past sinsand/or released one from purgatory after death. It was the sellingof indulgences that led the Reformer <!g>Martin Luther to post hisfamous 95 Theses - a document challenging Roman Catholic authorityin theological matters, including indulgences and many others.Luther's opposition to the selling of indulgences was not new,however. In most of the Reformation movements stress lay not uponnew understandings or doctrines, but on a return to the more authenticand original excellence of tradition.
Luther, one of the main Protestant Reformers, eventually arrivedat the conclusion that divine relationship and salvation comeby grace through faith, not by good works, belief in dogma, oreconomic propitiation. One's relationship to the divine is initiatedby God, and one can only participate in this relationship by remainingopen to it. Therefore, Luther's theology placed him in squareopposition to the Roman Catholic practice of selling indulgences.
The Roman Catholic emphasis on the acceptance and adherence toits dogma exemplifies its legalistic bent, while for the ProtestantReformers it is just this legalism which cuts one off from theGood News of the Gospel. Therefore, Protestant Reformers tendedto give primacy to the New Testament and Scripture.
