Reformation Trilogy

By: Susan Merritt Phd

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

During the Middle Ages there were numerous people who attempted reform in the Catholic Church. Only Martin Luther succeeded to establish lasting changes, but his reforms took him outside the Catholic system and established the Protestant system that is the basis of all Protestant denominations and movements of today. What was it that allowed Luther's changes to continue to grow long after his death? Why were the reform attempts of people like Wyclif and Savonarola so short lived and ineffectual? This investigation into the lives and attempted reforms of a trilogy of reformers - Wyclif, Savonarola, and Luther - delves into the cultural history of their eras, seeking to find the external factors that contributed to the failure and success of each. Extensive research demonstrates compelling relationships between the obstacles and the influences each had on the Church and culture of his epoch.