Throughout the sixteenth century, Europe was plagued with both religious and political unrest. The practices and doctrines of the western Christian (Roman Catholic) Church were being directly challenged by reformers who wanted to reshape the Church to reflect their own specific religious beliefs. Particularly, the reform beliefs of Martin Luther and John Calvin soon gained widespread popularity as their ideas spread throughout the German states. Yet, as the Protestant Reformation progressed, the religious and political views and actions of each man soon determined the long term acceptance…
