Reformers Create New Churches
Learn how Zwingli, Calvin, and the Anabaptists created new Protestant denominations after Martin Luther's reforms spread beyond Germany in Grade 7 history.
Key Concepts
Martin Luther’s challenge inspired other reformers to break from the Catholic Church. Soon, new Protestant churches, called denominations , appeared across Europe. Each group developed its own unique beliefs and practices, moving further away from Catholic traditions.
In Switzerland, John Calvin taught the idea of predestination , the belief that God has already chosen who will be saved. In England, King Henry VIII created the Anglican Church for political reasons. He wanted to control the church in his kingdom, placing himself at its head instead of the pope .
Common Questions
What new Protestant churches emerged after Luther's Reformation?
Luther's challenge to Rome inspired other reformers to break from Catholicism and create new denominations. In Switzerland, Ulrich Zwingli founded a reformed church in Zurich. John Calvin established his own strict Protestant faith in Geneva. The Anabaptists went further, rejecting infant baptism and insisting on adult believer's baptism.
How did John Calvin's Protestantism differ from Luther's?
Calvin developed the doctrine of predestination—the belief that God had already decided who would be saved. This gave Calvinist churches a distinct theological identity. Calvin also established a strict theocratic system in Geneva, where church leaders enforced moral behavior, going beyond Luther's focus on faith and scripture alone.
Why did the Reformation produce multiple competing Protestant denominations?
Once Luther broke the principle of Rome's supreme authority, each reformer felt free to interpret scripture independently. Without a central arbiter, different conclusions about baptism, predestination, church governance, and the sacraments led to distinct denominations that competed for followers across Europe.