What was Christianity like before the Reformation?

Before the Reformation, all Christians living in Western Europe were part of the Roman Catholic Church. This was led by the Pope, based in Rome. The Church was extremely rich and powerful. In church, services were held in Latin.

What was one cause of the Reformation?

The major causes of the protestant reformation include that of political, economic, social, and religious background. Economic and social causes: technological advances and the ways the church were collecting revenue, Political: distractions with foreign affairs, problems with marriage, challenges to authority.

Why were the Waldensians considered heretical?

Soon after being deemed heretics, the Waldensians became heretical in their beliefs, primarily over the church’s association with wealth, divinity, and power; they rejected the authority of priests, as divine communicators with God, while chosing to base their own on individual merit.

Did the Waldensians keep the Sabbath?

Since 1850 they considered the Waldensians to be among the Sabbath-keepers during the Middle Ages;38 since 1857 they connected them to the fulfilment of eschatological prophecies. In his History of the Sabbath and the First Day of the Week, John N. Andrews collected many sources on Waldensians as Sabbath-keepers.

What did Catholics believe before the Reformation?

The Catholic Church, the only Christian religion before the Protestant Reformation began in 1517, taught during the medieval age that followers could achieve salvation through a variety of means. Grace, faith, good works and indulgences were all ways to become one again with God.

What were Martin Luther’s main beliefs?

His “95 Theses,” which propounded two central beliefs—that the Bible is the central religious authority and that humans may reach salvation only by their faith and not by their deeds—was to spark the Protestant Reformation.

What do the Waldensians believe?

Modern Waldensians share core tenets with Calvinists, including the priesthood of all believers, congregational polity and a “low” view of certain sacraments such as Communion and Baptism. They are members of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe and its affiliates worldwide.

What religions keep Sabbath?

The Sabbath is observed in Judaism and Sabbatarian forms of Christianity, such as many Protestant and Eastern denominations. Observances similar to or descended from the Sabbath also exist in other religions.