Western civilization paper - Essay Example

While some causes for doubt were natural processes quite beyond the scope or prevention of the church of the times, such as in the case of the Black Death and subsequent plagues that periodically decimated the European population, others were undoubtedly the result of greed and bids for power, such as could be seen in the Western Schism. Finally, social changes ranged far out of the control of the church through a variety of factors. A growth in the population leading up to the reformation, coupled with significant changes in economic structures as agrarian workers moved to towns and villages began to produce a more literary public.

This was encouraged by the invention of the printing press that made the production of books faster and more economical and thus making them more accessible to a wider audience. This, in turn, promoted the spread of Humanitarian ideas throughout the general public following a period of church failures. Thus, while it can be argued that Martin Luther was the biggest catalyst for change, he was heavily assisted by a variety of factors that came together at just the right time and place for his words to have maximum impact.

The most recognized figure of the Protestant Reformation is that of Martin Luther (1483-1546), although this was not necessarily what the humble monk envisioned when he posted his 95 theses in 1517. His early life was spent in preparation for a career in law, but his adolescence gave him a jolt of divine inspiration when he was struck by a bolt of lightening and he turned to a life of serving God. Reports indicate he was a very devout monk, pious and humble, devoted to discovering God. This is revealed in his letters as he addresses the Archbishop regarding his concerns over the sale of indulgencies.

Despite his strong feelings on the matter, he still addresses the Archibishop with excessive-seeming humility: “Spare me, More Reverend Father in Christ and Most Illustrious Prince, that I,