Throughout the sixteenth century, Europe was plagued with both religious and political unrest. The practices and doctrines of the western Christian (Roman Catholic) Church were being directly challenged by reformers who wanted to reshape the Church to reflect their own specific religious beliefs. Particularly, the reform beliefs of Martin Luther and John Calvin soon gained widespread popularity as their ideas spread throughout the German states. Yet, as the Protestant Reformation progressed, the religious and political …showed first 75 words of 569 total…

…showed last 75 words of 569 total…Many reformers had established their own religions and their own theocracies. Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin had challenged the power and authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The actions and decisions of these reformers resulted to the spread of their religions. Calvinism progressed and spread throughout Scotland, Switzerland, parts of England, and eventually to North America. On the other hand, Lutheranism spreads exclusively in Europe in the German states, Norway, and Sweden.