How did the teachings of humanism weaken the power of the church?

Answer 1

Catholic AnswerThis is a huge topic, and not really appropriate for a quick answer site like WikiAnswers. The Renaissance humanists based everything on the learning of classical Greek and Roman antiquity, obviously before Christ. The Renaissance humanists, for the most part were good, faithful Catholics and there was no problem with this approach, several popes, as mentioned below were humanists. However, after the Renaissance, actually after the French Revolution, extreme humanistic spirit rebelled against Christian revelation, an awful lot of this was caused by the same factors that gave rise to the protestant revolt AND the protestant theology, in and of itself, made it easier for humanists to try and work entirely without revelation, thus leading people away from the Church.

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

Name originally given to the intellectual, literary, and scientific movements of the fourteenth century through the early sixteenth. Their aim was to base every branch of learning on the culture of classical Greek and Roman antiquity. On its pagan side, it extolled the early non-Christian writers who stressed the full development of human nature, only vaguely interested in life after death. On its Christian side, believing humanists encouraged the free use of the treasures of antiquity without compromising the truths of the Gospel. Christian Humanism began with Dante (1265-1321). Popes Pius II, Sixtus IV, and Leo X favored Christian humanism and did much to promote it. St. Thomas More (1478-1535) typified its best spirit in England. After the French Revolution the extreme humanistic spirit rebelled against Christian revelation and the Church.

Answer 2

Catholic Answer

It's just Catholic, not Roman Catholic. Roman is an epithet first commonly used in England after the protestant revolt to describe the Catholic Church. It is never used by the official Catholic Church. Humanism started out as a wonderful addition to human knowledge and helped to advance Christian understanding of their faith in many ways. Several popes were big fans of humanism. However, carried to its extreme, for instance in France, it wrecked havoc on the Church and the people.

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

Name originally given to the intellectual, literary, and scientific movements of the fourteenth century through the early sixteenth. Their aim was to base every branch of learning on the culture of classical Greek and Roman antiquity. On its pagan side, it extolled the early non-Christian writers who stressed the full development of human nature, only vaguely interested in life after death. On its Christian side, believing humanists encouraged the free use of the treasures of antiquity without compromising the truths of the Gospel. Christian humanism began with Dante (1265-1321). Popes Pius II, Sixtus IV, and Leo X favored Christian humanism and did much to promote it. St. Thomas More (1478-1535) typified its best spirit in England. After the French Revolution the extreme humanistic spirit rebelled against Christian revelation and the Church.

Answer 3

because the answer is figured out self