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Renaissance and Reformation

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Renaissance and Reformation

Introduction

The contemporary world has been shaped by two world reformations: Renascence and

Reformation. Renascence preceded reformation and curved a path of reformation. Before the

reformation, the world had suffered from wars and plagues that had covered the landscape, and

this event brutalized the world. This was after the Roman civilization had crumbled and chaos

had engulfed the world. But the need to appreciate what humans have done became a light to the

darkened world. Out of this need was born Renascence, and out of Renascence came a paradigm

in science, medicine, art, and writing. A decade after, the church, which had been dominant in

the world for more than 14 centuries, underwent a reformation by one Martin Luther, a Professor

and a Priest, and that fateful journey to Rome. And since his pinning of ninety-five theses, the

church of faith took a new turn. These dramatic events are a vivid picture of the changes we

enjoy today. This essay discusses the two events unfolding at their beginning and their effects in

the body section and concludes the two.

Body Section

Biographical Sketch of Renascence

The Renaissance was a "rebirth" of European economic, political, artistic, and cultural.

During this period, there was a paradigm shift in art, literature, classical philosophy, science, and

reformation with Martin Luther, and there were also some great thinkers that the world would

never see during that period; they were the pioneer of a new world transformation rediscovery

and remaking that would see a new pattern of thinking from architecture to banking and in every

sphere. It was the civilization of the day (Mack, 2011). The saw embraced human ideas in all the
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spheres of influence and saw the printing press so that ideas could be shared easily from the

earliest human authors and reprinting of Roman and Greek ideas and values which had once

united the world.

This period saw a scientist, artists, and architects like Da Vinci rise who invoked

scientific principles such as astronomy, and they could recreate the human body with great

precision. Architecture thrived with Filippo Brunelleschi, whose mathematics was expansive,

and He used it for accurate engineering to design vast domes and buildings (Gibson. 1982).

Astronomy also thrived, leading to Copernicus, who was the first to propose the earth revolved

around the sun and not the other way around. The period was also marked by naturalism and

realism. Artists were able to draw people and objects truly, and they were also able to shadow

emotions and could relay messages that were deeper and needed more than the eyes to

understand; such pictures are The Last Supper and The Last Supper by Da Vinci, the Birth of

Venus by Botticelli and Creation of Adam by Michelangelo (Mack, 2011). The Europeans were

more eager to learn of the world around them, and they set out to the sea to learn of the world,

which led to the world of discovery where major expeditions were made, sea routes were

discovered, and new continents were explored.

Biographical Sketch of Reformation

The reformation was conceived after Luther's fateful visit to Rome for the affairs of his

order; the indulgences campaign caught his attention, and it struck him to get familiar with the

scripture, which was all written in Latin and which only the priests and the monks from the

Catholic church had access to. With such a privilege, he sought acquaintance with the epistles,

familiarizing himself with a fundamental revelation about forgiving sins (MacCulloch. 2017). He

compared and contrasted this to indulgences and landed that justification was made only possible
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through faith. Thus reformation was born with the posting of 95 theses questioning the Roman

papacy and authority and indulgences, which He posted on the doors of the University of

Wittenberg and castle church (Appold, 2011). This led to more writings on and publishing the

conception of faith and the church. This reformation brought division, withdrawal, and dispute

among peasants, especially who were urged to pay for their loved ones for purgatory. He was

brought before the jury and testified of his faith, and soon He began his translation of the Bible

into German.

The interpretations of the Bible were diverse, and many people saw the error in the

Catholic church, and many drifted to the Lutheran thought of Christianity. He then left the

money to begin a new course of life, and many followed Him; many priests and sisters from

other monasteries fled, and it marked a revolution as many went into marriage. This gave birth to

protestants, who became the founders and revolutionists that fueled the reformation (Gordon,

2018). He took advantage of the writing press. Later other protestants Joined, such as John

Calvin in French, who stressed other doctrines from Luther's writings (Appold, 2011). Later the

protestants writings of Calvin spread to other countries such as France, Scotland, and

Transylvania. In England, Henry VIII was the author of reformation in England, where he

required every parish to have a Bible copy. This brought about an era of spirituality, literacy,

education, and new religious order. It also expanded intellectualism in the church with a global

mindset, which led to lasting political changes and persecutions.

History of Reformation

The reformation began in 1517, being trailblazed by Martin Luther, a son of Peasant who

grew to become a priest after attaining a degree in arts in humanity. During his visit to Rome, he

was surprised to discover a thriving merchandise of relinquishing souls from purgatory and
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attendance of forgiveness from indulgence by paying according to a person's capability, where

those with status and wealth paid more. John Tetzel especially preached this with a sermon

composed of his jingle to lure believers into buying such lies. He normally says, "As soon as the

coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs" (Christion History Institute, 2023). This

was when Pope Leo X, in 1517, needed to build St. Peter's Basilica and was selling pamphlets to

get funds for the construction. (Harbison, 2013) This led Luther to write 95 theses on the church

wall and the Wittenberg university. This was followed by Bible translation that let theological

discourse and many writing of many materials that led to the Protestant.

History of Renascence Development

Renaissance is said to have taken place between the 14 th and 17th centuries, which was

set to promote art, literature, and philosophy, which saw an age where great innovators, artists,

authors, reformers, and politicians were born during the period. This period was preceded by a

period known as the "Dark ages," which is said to have been a time of pandemics, an age of

ignorance and famine, as well as war that covered the landscape (Schmitt, 1988). This period

between the fall of Rome led to total chaos in the world.

Renaissance has its roots in Italy. It began with a movement called humanism which

advocated for human control and appreciation for works done to advance human life and ideas

such as literature, classical arts, education, and science. The entire motion was set in Florence,

Italy, by a powerful family that ruled Florence for 60 years and its rich citizens who could afford

support for budding artists (Schmitt, 1988). That spark ignited the passion of Italian writers,

politicians, and artists, who declared their interest in participating to create something entirely

new. The movement began in Italian city-states such as Milan, Rome, and Ferrara. Later, it
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spread to other countries such as France, Western Europe, and Northern Europe during the 15

century, leading to world exploration.

Similarities

Reformation Renaissance

It was revolutionary in thinking through It brought protestant faith where forgiveness

science and art and appreciating the past of art was not for sale, but the justification was

and philosophy. made through faith.

It brought a new age of doing things Faith was entirely taught from a new

creatively and using science to solve perspective, and the past lectures were

problems. discarded.

The thoughts of science developed have Christ-Dom has been shaped through Bible

shaped every sphere of science, construction, writings as Christians and Christian

art, banking, commerce, and philosophy. theological writings and thoughts.

All sphere of education is now done from an Theology was born, shaping how the Bible is

intellectual point under curriculum to alight taught in churches and every other place.

thoughts to discovering what was discovered

in the Renaissance.

They were both revolutionary.

Both reformation and Renaissance were evolutionary; they brought a complete change

extensively. Reformation gave birth to Protestantism, where they now believed that their sins

were forgiven through faith and were not paying again for indulgences and paying for the release
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of purgatory of their loved ones. Thus forgiveness ceased from being from the sale, and it was

now based on faith and walking with God through righteous living and confession. On the other

hand, Renaissance saw a new way of thinking, making art, and accurate mathematics for

architecture. There was also a new way of commerce and Banking, which discarded the old way

where art and philosophy were less appreciated and incorporated as essentials to man's daily life.

They bridged the gap and ushered in a new age.

Renaissance bounced from a dark age of fighting, pestilence, reduced economic activity,

and less appreciation of culture, arts, politics, and philosophy. But after its inception, a new age

of a generation that appreciated the arts as important nuggets to man brought a revival, and with

it, a new age was ushered. This is the same as the reformation since it came from a dark world of

doctrinal exploitation, and many were ignorant. But the interpretation of the scripture made

many appreciate faith and forgiveness through confession; hence many were delivered from lies.

Shaped current world

Both Renaissance and reformation have shaped the current world. Reformation is the

reason for the current protestant churches today; many believed and were delivered. Today the

Bible has been translated into almost every language, and many people have access to buy a

copy. There are more Protestant Christians whose lives are dictated by Bible, same as many laws

in the world are informed by the Mosaic ten commandments. Similarly, Renaissance brought

intellectualism to politics, art, and philosophy, informing the world in every sphere of man.

Construction is mathematical, and anatomy is based on Da Vinci's discovery which has made it

possible for the operation of humans. The science world, on the other hand, is explosive from

astronomy to every sphere of science that uses the Renaissance's basic principles.
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Brought about intellectualism

As a lecturer, Luther ushered intellectualism and is the Father of theology and scripture

commentary, which has brought higher scripture learning. Many exegeses of scriptures from

Luther have made the scripture better understood. Renaissance has made the world of art and

science easy to explore and made it work for man. Today there are courses pursued, and they are

making the world. Every day everyone benefits from the philosophy and banking and money

system thought of the day.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both the events of the Renascence and Reformation changed the world.

Reformation saw the world shifting from how it used to do things, and reformation changed the

entire belief system and drew the path of Protestants. In history, these will go down as the most

memorable events that changed have shaped the contemporary world. Therefore, these

transformations must be appreciated throughout history, in present and future life.

References

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renascence of functionalism. In The concept of development: The Minnesota symposia on

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Gordon, C. P. (2018). The renascence of continuous-flow peptide synthesis–an abridged account

of solid and solution-based approaches. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 16(2), 180-

196.

Mack, Peter. 2014. “Peter Mack ,a History of Renaissance Rhetoric 1380–1620(Oxford–

Schmitt, C. B., Skinner, Q., Kessler, E., & Kraye, J. (Eds.). (1988). The Cambridge history of

Renaissance philosophy. Cambridge University Press.

Appold, K. G. (2011). The reformation: a brief history. John Wiley & Sons.

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Christian History Institute. 2023. “Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses Precipitated Huge Changes in
the Church | It Happened Today.” Christian History Institute. January 23, 2023.
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