reformaattorien

Reformaattorit, also known as reformers, were a key group of individuals who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. They were primarily Lutheran or Calvinist theologians who sought to reform and critique the Catholic Church, which they saw as corrupt and out of touch with biblical teachings.

One of the most prominent reformaattorit was Martin Luther, a German theologian who challenged papal authority and spoke out against indulgences, sacraments, and the authority of the Church. His 95 Theses, nailed to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, sparks a chain reaction of protest and sparked the beginning of the Reformation.

Reformaattorit also emerged in other parts of Europe, including Scotland and the Netherlands, where theologians like John Calvin and Theodore Beza developed a more organized and systematic approach to church reform. Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, written in 1536, became a seminal text in the Calvinist tradition.

Some key characteristics of reformaattorit include their emphasis on individual Bible interpretation, criticism of papal authority, and a stress on personal faith as the primary requirement for salvation. They saw themselves as reformers, not creators, seeking to return the Church to its biblical roots and restore simplicity and spirituality.

Throughout the Reformation era, reformaattorit faced opposition from Catholic leaders, who charged them with heresy and sought to suppress their ideas. The reformaattorit, however, persisted in their efforts, spreading reform ideas and influencing the course of European history in significant ways.