Why did reformation spread like wildfire?

Answer 1

luther, calvin and other reformers achieved these when many people joined the movement for different reasons. The princes wanted to acquired church property and consolidate their power, others joined for religious reasons, many for personal gains. The reformation made many gains.

Answer 2

Another answer from our community:

through the printing press invented by Gutenberg.

Answer

The reformation mostly spread through princes who saw an opening to grab more power for themselves in the new protestant movement, and thus remove any influence of the Church making themselves the sole law of their lands.

Answer 3

because catholics were dissatisfied with the roman church.

That is kind of the answer. The real answer is the invention of the printing press. They helped spread the 95 thesis. This was a list of all the things wrong with the church. Martin Luther wrote this list. People all over Europe read this and they broke away from the Catholic Church and became the Protestant Church. Which is partly

what the Reformation is.

Answer 4

The reformation of Martin Luther spread in Germany in spite of the Holy Roman Emperor (Charles V) attempting to exert his secular power. Apart from the rights or wrongs of religious reform, the Catholic Church was deeply unpopular not least for the reimposition of serfdom and the harsh terms of labour services, extracted as a traditional due in addition to rent.

Lutheranism spread to the Netherlands in spite of the martyrdom of its early missionaries.

The Huguenots only became a force in the south of France, secure in strongholds far away from royal armies. A final settlement accorded the Huguenots significant privileges including the right of worship.

In some other countries, kings saw an opportunity to wrest power from the Catholic Church, although in the case of Christian IV of Denmark, conviction possibly outweighed political considerations.

Henry VIII of England was one of the Reformation's strongest opponents, but political considerations ultimately outweighed whatever principles he might have had. He needed a male heir and believed that only by obtaining an annulment and remarrying could he achieve that aim. Thus, England became part of the Reformation in spite of limited initial support.

Religious demonstrations orchestrated by John Knox, led in 1560 to the establishment of a Calvinist regime in Scotland. This was clearly a case of conviction rather than opportunism on the part of nobility.