Division in Christianity the Catholic and others?

Answer 1

This began when several German Kings and Princes that wanted more political independence from the rule of the Holy Roman Empire (which was never holy, roman, or an empire) and the religious control of the Pope took advantage of Martin Luther's disagreements with Catholic doctrine and offered him the chance to setup a church of his own. Luther originally had no intention of splitting from the Catholic church, only reforming some problems he saw in it at the time (many of which the Catholic church did eventually correct on their own).

ANSWER:

This is called 'The Reformation' and began around 1517. In Germany Martin Luther and others were dissatisfied with corrupt practices in the Catholic Church. Luther became convinced that the church was corrupt in its ways and had lost sight of what he saw as several of the central truths of Christianity. A similar movement was happening at the same time in Switzerland led by Ulrich Zwingli.

I think Luther was not that interested in setting up his own church but more concerned with reforming Catholic Church practices. However Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Chruch.