>What were the causes and consequences of religious division in sixteenth-century Europe? Chapter 13 examines the religious conflicts and divisions of the sixteenth century. Calls for reform of the Christian Church began very early in its history and continued all the way through the fifteenth century. Throughout this long history, a diverse group of reformers, many of whom were members of the clergy, argued that the church had become too worldly, had lost sight of its original mission, or had allowed Christian teachings to be corrupted. What was new in the sixteenth century was the breadth of acceptance and the ultimate impact of the calls for reform. This acceptance was due not only to religious issues and problems within the church, but also to political and social factors. In 1500, there was one Christian Church in western Europe to which all Christians at least nominally belonged. One hundred years later there were many, a situation that continues today.

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