Reformation and<br> counter-reformation

The dissatisfaction for the oppressive power and corruption of the Roman Catholic Church increased continuously in the 15th century and in 1517 the German monk and scholar Luther, publicly protested against corruption, Indulgence, dogmatism, the celibacy of the clergy, the papal sovereignty. The movement initiated on the basis of his ideas was called Protestantism which means protest in Latin. Thanks to the new invention of typography, Luther's ideas spread rapidly all over Europe and found many supporters; by 1530 large regions of Germany, Denmark, and Sweden went away from the Catholic Church. A form of Protestantism became dominant religion in Switzerland while another dogmatic revolution that was brought about by Calvin, Calvinism, was spreading in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Scotland.

The Catholic Church reacted with its own reforms (known as counter-reformations) which enacted moral and disciplinary rules and tried to clarify ecclesiastical doctrines; at the same time rejected any compromise with Protestantism.

The Catholics argued that in order for the faithful to enter paradise they would have to participate in the rituals of the church and be virtuous while the Protestants rejected it with the rationale that Christ was crucified to redeem the people and whoever believes he will enter Paradise because of his own efforts exalts himself and reduces the sacrifice of Christ. Both preached the love of Christ and in the 16th century they were mutually massacred in the name of this love. One of the largest massacres took place on the night of St. Bartholomew on 23-24 August 1572, when French Catholics who emphasized the need for good deeds to enter paradise slaughtered in Paris thousands of men, women, children and infants.

Having devised a methodical plan, they entered the Protestants' homes all night and did not leave if they had not slaughtered the whole family. Only a few have escaped, only those who had Catholic friends who could hide them in their homes. Some found an opportunity to get rid of enemies or financial opponents. The following day, similar massacres occurred in other French cities with a Protestant population such as Rouen, Bordeaux and Orleans. When on 3 October 1572 with a royal order the slaughter ended, more than 30,000 men, women and children had lost their lives. The Pope, learning the news, organized festive events and ordered the decoration of a Vatican Hall with a mural about the massacre that he considered as a great victory.

The French civil war ceased only in 1598 when religious tolerance was legislated. However, the division of the Catholics with the Protestants continued to lead several European states into a series of wars. The main exponent of Catholicism was the Spanish King Philip II, who tried to force his beliefs by force to many countries. In the thirty-year war between the Protestant Germans and the Catholics many human losses occurred, without any substantial effect, as Christianity in Europe remained firmly divided as before the bloodshed.

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