First of all, thank you for understanding that I wasn't trying to pick a fight. I am new to the East and am learning many many things from all of the good people on this Forum. Thanks!!!!!!!
Originally posted by Rilian:
[QUOTE]
- Why after the heights of Papal power achieved by Innocent III did the western church undergo significant internal division?
- Why did the Protestant Reformation happen?
- What gave rise to secularism, the stripping away of the Papal States and the end of the Papacy as a temporal power?
Andrew
It seems to me that the downfall started with Alexander IV. And that the Popes got way too interested in politics. Or it could be punishment for 1204.
Also the Protestant Revolt was in part due to the western schisms and anti-popes who laid claim to the Papal Throne. "Who do you trust? Who can you believe? How can the Pope be supreme when we don't know who he is? Trust the Bible."
Secularism is a result of the Protestant Revolt. If the Bible is open to personal interpretation, then no one interpretation is correct (ie the 30,000+ denominations today.) If someone interprets that most of the stories are just myths. Then the Bible is just a collection of nice stories that don't mean much. Let the state have the power to decide moral issues. Or, since there are many different interpretations of the Bible, to keep the peace we'll have a secular society so no one fights over who should have the religious power in the society. No one will have religious power so we can keep the peace.
Just my 2 cents though...
