John Calvin
Leader of the Protestant Reform
He was born into a family of Catholics in 1509. Although he grew up catholic he later converted to Protestantism after studying law, humanism, and philosophy in 1533. After he converted he focused on reform in the Catholic church, he became a very influential and well known Protestant Reformer and published many writings like " Institutes of Christian Religion". Calvin theorized that all followers and believers in god were destined to salvation and God was in control of humanity and all outcomes were caused by God him self. But there was more to Calvinism then just this in fact there are 5 main fundamental tenants.
The five foundational tenets of Calvinism
Total Depravity
Calvin believed that all humans are born evil and are naturally more inclined to sin.
Unconditional Election:
This is the belief that humans cant chose god without god making the decision before they are born weather they will believe in his power or not.
Limited Atonement: By this he means that he believed that God sent Jesus to be sacrificed for the saints not the sins of humans and the unholy
Irresistible Grace: This belief is that who every god chose to believe in his power is destined to that and wont be able to lose their faith in him or do other wise
Perseverance of Saints: What Calvin meant by this is that whenever a human is saved by god he or she cant lose their salvation because they are forever bound to Christ.
Causes of the Reformation
One of the causes for the Reformation was heavy taxation. The middle class and peasants were taxed to pay for the project that went towards the church. Next was indulgences, this helped raised money and pardons were issued by the pope; people could buy pardons to reduce a souls time in purgatory. The final reason was Nationalism, this was the devotion to a particular state or nation rather than the church and the people were unhappy with the heavy taxation and indulgences.