In the sixteenth century when people of Europe revolted against the wrongdoing, orthodoxy and backwardness; their movement was supported by many social reformers. They sharp criticized Church and priests and declared the Bible to be the true direction giver or path guidance to religion and salvation.
- John Wycliffe : He criticized the orthodoxy of Christian church and inspired the common people to lead life according to Bible. Wycliffe was a progressive thinker. He left an impresion by his ideology on the common man. This is why he is known as ‘The morning star of Reformation’. He advocated the state rights on Church’s property.
- John Hans : John Hans was influenced by WyclifFs ideology. He believed that faith in the Bible would liberate the person and there is no need to obey the pointless dictates of the church. He also inspired people to deny the commandment or orders of Pope. With the result he was declared athiest and was burnt alive.
- Sevonaola : They believed that religious head must be moralistic in life, simple and chaste and not given to luxuries. Pope stopped them from criticizing the clergy and church. On ignoring the orders of Pope they were given death sentence.
- Erasmus : Holland based humanitarian writer Erasmus was popular for his humour in his creative work ‘In Praise of Folly’. Erasmus in his writing with humourous style criticised the priests’ ignorance and hypocracy. In 1516 AD he published a new title as an edition of ‘New Testament’ about the pure speech of principles of Christainty.
- Martin Luther : Martin Luther was a German monk. In 1517 AD he started a revolt movement against the sale of apology letters, this is called movement against Catholic churches or protestantism. He made people believe that to get connected with God there is no need of the clergy. Getting inspired by this thoughts, churches in Germany and Switzerland snapped ties with Pope and Catholic church. In 1546 AD this famous religious reformer died.
- Svengali : Idealistic and humanitarian thinker, Svengli was born in 1484 AD. He opposed Pope and declared the Bible as the only guideline for humans. In 1525 AD he established reformist church. He compromised with the church opposition thoughts later and set the tradition on easy worship mode for Christians.
- Calvin : Calvin was bom in 1509 AD in France and he was a supporter of Protestantism. According to Calvin the wish of God is highest. Everything happens according to God. God’s graciousness leads to liberation. He created a book titled ‘Institutes of the Christian religion”. This book proved to be the most influential in the history of protestantism. All these reformers influenced people by their thoughts and creativity by which efforts for religious reformation as a demand gained height and as a result religious reformation took place.
