What was the date of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation?

Answer 1

The reformation started with Martin Luther's posting of his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenburg church. Although he only intended to end corruption in the clergy & papcy & end the selling of indulgences, the movement had a life of its own. Princes realized they could profit from seizing Church property and thereby become richer, more powerful, and more independent. The 'big deal' was that it split Western Christianity, led to questioning of Church authority, years of warfare, a separate Protestant Northern Europe, the Scientific Revolution, new technology, navigation, theory of a heliocentric universe implied the Church could err, leading to the questioning of the Church's authority to establish the 'truth', the Inquisition's burning of heretics, both Roman Catholic and Protestant abuse of women by burning 'witches' and eventually to freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of speech, demand for academic accountability in establishing 'truth'. The Reformation was a major paradigm shift for Western culture and influences lives today. The first answerer neglected to answer the question. Although Luther's Posting is only one possible date for the start of the Reformation (Wycliffe preceded him, for instance), even agreeing to Luther, since the question asked "What date..." it might have been useful to include it. Luther put his postulates on the Wittenburg door on October 31, 1517.

Answer 2

it's generally accepted to be 1517 - when Martin Luther nailed his "95 theses" to the cathedral door.

Answer 3

1500's to 1600's