How Martin Luther Broke the Barriers of Catholicism

     Christianity is currently the biggest religion on the planet, and it's broken many barriers.  During the Renaissance, Catholicism was the only Christian religion practiced in eastern Europe.  But this started to change in the early 1500-1600s, during a time called the Reformation.  And even before that, Catholicism was already losing its hold on eastern Europe.  

     One of the main causes for this happening was the humanism that came about during the Renaissance.  Humanists believed in free thought and were often non religious or secular.  They challenged many accepted beliefs.

     Another thing that added to the number of people detaching from the Catholic belief was the acts of the Church's own authority figures.  There had been many Catholic believers who were shaken by the corruption in the Church.  Some bishops and clergy had been using questionable methods to accumulate money.  Other times popes seemed more concerned with their amount of power and wealth than the religion they practiced.

     Many started to doubt the Church's teachings and authority enough to completely seperate themselves from the Church.  Those who did so were called "Protestants" because of their protesting against the Catholic Church.  Eventually there was an establishment of Protestant Churches.  These Protestant Churches sprouted many new beliefs, and over the years the Catholcisim has split into many other beliefs.  Today there are several hundred million Protestant Churches all over the world.  Protestant beliefs make up about 40% of all Christian followers.  

     And without one man named Martin Luther the Reformation might not have even happened.  He was bold enough to break the barriers, and open the floodgates to new possibilities for Christianity.