Why is the Reformation so important?

Answer 1

The Reformation changed historical Christianity.

The Reformation was essentially a protest against many practices of the Catholic Church. There were many more actors and issues involved than just Martin Luther and his 95 Theses, but this is what many see as the genesis of the Reformation.

Martin Luther rebelled against what he would have called salvation by faith AND WORKS, as well as the practice of indulgences, which had to do with paying to get deceased persons out of Purgatory, amongst many other things.

Luther struggled mightily with his life and with his life style, and what that meant with regard to his eternal welfare. Once Luther turned to God, try as he might, he could not please God, or feel secure in his relationship with God. Luther went to great lengths to please God and be acceptable to Him, including all the prescribed practices of the Catholic Church. Finally Luther came to believe in salvation by faith alone, and this so wholly changed his life and his understanding of God and salvation, that he rebelled completely against the church. Which resulted in the 95 Theses.

Many others found themselves to be in the same place spiritually as Luther and ultimately the movement we now call the Reformation was born. Salvation that includes any requirement other than faith has huge doctrinal implications, which is why the split from the Catholic Church. Even so, there were differences among those who joined the reformed movement and we now have many denominations within Protestantism.

So, as the first poster wrote, the Reformation changed Christianity, or more appropriately (to me) returned to the doctrine of the Lord and the Apostles. The Reformation changed the world as well, as governments were changed, foreign policies were formed with respect to the changed beliefs, and even wars and such resulted. History was changed.

Answer 2

Catholic AnswerThe Catholic reformation was important as it ended several abuses, it regularized clergy education, regulated dioceses, and made the Church stronger and more holy as it dealt with the protestant revolt, which still resulted in the loss of uncounted souls over the last five hundred years.

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from

A Catholic Dictionary, edited by Donald Attwater, Second edition, revised 1957The Counter-Reformation is the name given to the Catholic movement of reform and activity which lasted for about one hundred years from the beginning of the Council of Trent (q.v., 1545), and was the belated answer to the threatening confusion and increasing attacks of the previous years. It was the work principally of the Popes St. Pius V and Gregory XIII and the Council itself in the sphere of authority, of SS. Philip Neri and Charles Borromeo in the reform of the clergy and of life, of St. Ignatius and the Jesuits in apostolic activity of St. Francis Xavier in foreign missions, and of St. Teresa in the purely contemplative life which lies behind them all. But these were not the only names nor was it a movement of a few only; the whole Church emerged from the 15th century purified and revivified. On the other hand, it was a reformation rather than a restoration; the unity of western Christendom was destroyed; the Church militant (those still on earth) led by the Company of Jesus adopted offence as the best means of defence and, though she gained as much as she lost in some sense, the Church did not recover the exercise of her former spiritual supremacy in actuality.

from

Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

A period of Catholic revival from 1522 to about 1648, better know as the Catholic Reform. It was an effort to stem the tide of Protestantism by genuine reform within the Catholic Church. There were political movements pressured by civil rules, and ecclesiastical movements carried out by churchmen in an attempt to restore genuine Catholic life by establishing new religious orders such as the Society of Jesus and restoring old orders to their original observances, such as the Carmelites under St. Teresa of Avila (1515-98). The main factors responsible for the Counter Reformation, however, were the papacy and the council of Trent (1545-63). Among church leaders St. Charles Borromeo (1538-84), Archbishop of Milan, enforced the reforms decreed by the council, and St. Francis de Sales of Geneva (1567-1622) spent his best energies in restoring genuine Catholic doctrine and piety. Among civil rulers sponsoring the needed reform were Philip II of Spain (1527-98) and Mary Tudor (1516-58), his wife, in England. Unfortunately this aspect of the reformation led to embitterment between England and Scotland, England and Spain, Poland and Sweden, and to almost two centuries of religious wars. As a result of the Counter Reformation, the Catholic Church became stronger in her institutional structure, more dedicated to the work of evangelization, and more influential in world affairs.

Answer 3

The Catholic Church, as such, is not reformable as it is the Body of Christ (Acts 9:1,4; Colassians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:13; etc. However, individuals in the Church, all being sinners, are always in need of reform. Do you have a particular period in mind?

Answer 4

the reformation is important because it changed the way people thought about their religion and it made new religions.