The above reasons are various, mainly due to the following reasons:
1, the rise of a modern nation-state.
According to the sociological point of view, the nation-state is also a group. The nation-state needs the recognition of the members in the group.
There are three levels of group identity: the first is interpersonal attraction, and members don't know much about it; Second, members' compliance with the norms, that is, combining personal goals with group goals, consciously accepting the constraints of group norms, and establishing deeper relationships with other members on this basis. The third is the highest level, that is, members have internalized the goals of the group and regarded them as their own goals.
The factors affecting group identity include individual members, the group itself and environmental factors. Let's turn our attention to the rise of the nation-state.
The rise of nation-state is closely related to the war in the late Middle Ages. When the group faces great external pressure, its cohesion will be greatly enhanced and its sense of identity with the group will be greatly enhanced. It is this truth that most of the identity of the modern Chinese nation was formed during the Anti-Japanese War.
Back to the history of western Europe. Spain is the first rising power. The formation of this country benefited from the battle with the Moors. Due to the needs and results of the Moorish war, Spain closely equated its national status with its Catholic beliefs. Its spirit of recovering Iberian Peninsula and conquering the New World is a long and fierce crusade against pagans.
However, in the history of Western Europe in the Middle Ages, the secular kingship and the papal power constantly clashed, and finally ended in the victory of the secular kingship. In Spain and Portugal, the king became a protector of religion.
In France, the Hundred Years' War between Britain and France accelerated France's national identity. During the war, the rights of King China were constantly strengthened, and even the Pope was once a prisoner of avignon.
In Britain, the battle of red and white roses (the Lanchester family and the York family competed for the king of England, and finally the former won, and won Elizabeth of the York family, successfully achieved reconciliation, and the Tudor dynasty was born).
Because the Pope was once controlled by France during the Hundred Years' War, Britain's affection for Catholicism was no longer so strong, and the policies of the French-controlled Holy See were contrary to British interests. So by Henry VIII, Britain also carried out religious reform, mainly to prevent British funds from flowing into the Vatican.
The upsurge of national consciousness also promoted the birth of some countries, such as the Netherlands and Switzerland.
In short,/kloc-At the beginning of the 6th century, Western Europe was no longer regarded as monolithic, and a large number of new nationalities demanded autonomy and clashed with the Pope and the king of Egypt.
The other is the expansion of cities and citizens driven by commodity economy. The economic and political power of the city quickly surpassed the land aristocracy, further accelerating the decline of the land aristocracy and ordinary small farmers. Coupled with the unprecedented inflation in16th century, the fate of farmers and urban poor is very tragic. The growth of commerce and the germination of agricultural capitalism have dug the corner of the old system to a considerable extent.
The war and the application of various new technologies made the original knight class decline. As a result, its superstructure, such as the Pope and the Elector, had a hard time, and they gradually lost their previous influence.
In the past, the whole church system served this system. When this system collapses, how can the church system not be revised?
2. The decline of the authority of the hierarchical church.
There are three events: the Vatican moved to avignon, the great division of the western church and the attraction of the Italian Renaissance spirit to the Vatican.
First of all, the prisoners in avignon, where the Pope lives in luxury, must rely on huge funds to deal with them, and on the other hand, strengthen their status as the legitimate heirs of St. Peter.
The church's taxation has become more frequent and unreasonable, which has further increased the wave of nationalism in Europe.
3. Mysticism as a choice.
Due to the luxury and corruption of the Vatican, some knowledgeable people in the church doubt whether they will take another road, and some people have found the path of mysticism.
This mysticism will not openly attack the church. Most mystics are quiet scholars, and the greatest influence of this school of learning, meditation and meditation is to provide people with a possibility.
The most influential achievement of mysticism is the establishment of cohabitation brotherhood, whose members live a very pious life and take learning and teaching as their pastoral duties.
The two most important contributions they made were copying a lot of manuscripts and establishing schools to provide young people with the best knowledge at that time. Erasmus was one of them.
4. Humanist represented by Erasmus.
The humanistic movement began in Italy and soon spread throughout western Europe. Latin was very popular in the Middle Ages.
However, in the15th century, the revival of classical cultural studies was also going on. Especially the fall of Constantinople. Many Byzantine scholars brought knowledge of ancient Greek language and literature.
The invention of movable type printing further promoted the development of humanistic movement. In the past, the dissemination of knowledge depended entirely on manual copying, and it was inevitable that the copy would be changed without authorization. Now printing has avoided this problem to some extent.
People want to be closer to the original Bible.
The most common attitude of humanists is Erasmus, who advocates returning to the origin of Christianity.
References:
[America] Gonzalez: History of Christian Thought: Volume III, Yilin Press, 20 10.