Renewed Religions Struggles

 In the first half of the 16 th Century, religious conflict had been confined mostly to central Europe  The Lutherans and Zwinglians trying to secure rights and freedoms  In the second half of the century, the focus shifted west to France, The Netherlands, England and Scotland.

 Battle for Calvinists to be recognized  The Peace of Augsburg (1555) was the principal that a regions ruler determined it’s religion. Lutheranism became a legal religion in the Holy Roman Empire.  Did not extend recognition to non-Lutheran Protestants. Other sects were prosecuted as heretical.

 Catholics began a counter offensive against what they saw as a heretical new religions.  This is known as the Counter Reformation

 Calvinism vs. Catholicism (Counter- Reformation)  Calvinism was more regionally and locally organized with boards of presbyters, or elders, directly shaping policy.  Catholicism believed in a centralized Episcopal church system arranged in a strict order from pope to parish priest and stressing unquestioning obedience to the person at the top.