1. Criticism of the Church during the Renaissance

2. Church Reforms In Thomas More’s Utopia he writes about an imaginary society with equality among all citizens and education for all. In this book More is countering the corruption in the Church and society.

3. Church Reforms Desiderius Erasmus writes Praise of Folly criticizing the Church claiming it had abandoned true Christianity and was too focus on rituals. In it he states, “He that spares no sort of men cannot be said to be angry with anyone in particular, but the vices of all.”

4. Church Reforms In Francois Rabelais’ works, Gargantua & Pantagruel, he criticizes the Church and its traditions as well as how Europe’s transition to a mercantile system caused problems in society.

5. The Printing Press: 1.Increased literacy in Europe (more people learned how to read). 2.Allowed people to criticize the RCC and pope. 3.Made the bible able to be printed in many languages and people other than clergy could read it and access God for themselves.

6. Reaction of the Church The ideas of Renaissance writers threatened the power of the Roman Catholic Church. They reacted by developing lists of works that censors should forbid from being published. This is called censorship. More, Erasmus and Rabelais were all censored.