Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences - Essay Example

All social groups ranging from the ruling class to the peasant class had a strong reason to accept Luther’s reasons and support him. The princes and kings resented the overarching control of the Church, while the peasants resented the wealth of the Church and revolted against the social, political and religious authorities. It was the context and time that played a huge role in the success of Luther. As reformation spread from Germany throughout Europe, it gave rise to violence, religious struggles, wars, and civil unrest.

The widespread conflicts involving Catholics killing Protestants, Protestants killing Catholics and the Thirty Years War can certainly not be justified, whatever the reason was, given the bloodshed and other serious consequences. However, Reformation alone cannot be held solely responsible for these wars as even otherwise there would have been political and social struggles leading to wars at that time in Europe. There was an increasing social and political discontent all over Europe. Reformation offered the opportunity to either establish authority or to break away from it.

This context should not be ignored while discussing the stormy period in Europe during the Reformation. Such political and social unrest should be seen as a significant trigger for the wars and civil unrest all over Europe during Reformation. Brutal wars and bloodshed cannot be hailed or celebrated, but without Reformation, Europe would not have undergone significant changes in its political, economic and social institutions. Change is inevitable, and Reformation was one such a change within the Church but one which led to a larger-scale conflict and war because of the contemporary socio-political conditions.

It was only an opportunity seized by the society of that time, and if it had not been a Reformation, it would have been some other revolution that would have erupted to bring about changes in the society and politics. Also, in some way, Reformation and the conflicts resulting in diverse religious denominations and sects helped usher in the Modern Age, new political, social and economic ideologies and systems, such as the Industrial Revolution, scientific progress, rationalism and political ideals such as Democracy.

Reformation spurred an intellectual backlash that made people question religious fanaticism and encouraged reason, which led to the Enlightenment of the 18th century. Therefore, one cannot be certain of what would have become of Europe without Reformation, as it would have stayed under the control of the Church with no further progress we witness now, or change would have come over whether or not for Reformation. The wars and lives lost were the prices paid for the change.