Another angle...
Say you had reforms like with the Social Services department at Harringay Council in the uk recently (a vry sad child abuse case highlighted the shortcomings in procedures)(let's pretend this was a black and white case). The department underwent changes brought about by review and now operate differently, and one would hope effectively.
Now consider the reformation. Martin Luther pointed out the severe shortcomings in what the Catholic church had become. From this a new church was born, and is known as the protestant church. This was no small protest. It was extremely severe and far reaching.
So the church had to change to get back to what they were about in the first place. The reform facilitated this.
Some people refused to be reformed and went on in the same old way. After all a lot of money and power were yours if you carried on in your old corrupt ways. From the 4th Century (this was the 16th) the church had gone severely astray making secular allegiances to gain that power and wealth which lead to times of stark contrast with actual Christian values.
Say you had reforms like with the Social Services department at Harringay Council in the uk recently (a vry sad child abuse case highlighted the shortcomings in procedures)(let's pretend this was a black and white case). The department underwent changes brought about by review and now operate differently, and one would hope effectively.
Now consider the reformation. Martin Luther pointed out the severe shortcomings in what the Catholic church had become. From this a new church was born, and is known as the protestant church. This was no small protest. It was extremely severe and far reaching.
So the church had to change to get back to what they were about in the first place. The reform facilitated this.
Some people refused to be reformed and went on in the same old way. After all a lot of money and power were yours if you carried on in your old corrupt ways. From the 4th Century (this was the 16th) the church had gone severely astray making secular allegiances to gain that power and wealth which lead to times of stark contrast with actual Christian values.
