The Importance of the Printing Press to the Development of...

The Importance of the Printing Press to the Development of the Reformation Both contemporaries and historians acknowledge that the printing press was significant in the spread of ideas of the Reformation. It has been argued by Elizabeth Eisenstein that printing did not just spread Protestant ideas but helped to shape the Reformation in the first place Printing was a cause of religious changes, and not simply a consequence (The Printing Press as an agent of change, CambridgeUniversityPress) Printing ended the scribal corruption and copying errors which made it easier to define theological positions exactly and made it easier for Luther to attack the corruption of the Doctrine. With regard†¦show more content†¦The Church had faced heresy before and had generally contained it slowly but surely, but now it seemed defenseless. The printing press gave it no time. We can see the effect the printing press had on the rate of literacy, in the 60 years since printing had been invented, literacy had grown 20 percent in towns. Although there were some Catholics writing to Luther, they were outnumbered twenty to one by those writing in favor of him. All could have been different if Luther didnt use to such great effect as he did, he used the press as a weapon in personal contests with his opponents. In the early years of the reformation, the Lutherans won the battle of the books hands down. Through the press Luther could also give shape to the services and methods of the new, emerging Church. He was able to publish Hymns and an authentically Lutheran version of Mass. Luther himself recognised his indebtedness to the press, proclaiming that printing is: Gods highest and extremist act of Grace, whereby the business of the gospel is driven forward. Although Printing did not ensure Luthers total control over the Reformation. The press could spread the ideas of one man more quickly and certainly than ever before. John Foxe, writing in the 1560s paid homage to the power of the Press in spreading theShow MoreRelatedInfluence Of The Renaissance On Modern Europe1174 Words   |  5 Pagesmany developments and events have transpired in Europe during these years; none of which were more significant than the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the French Revolution. Of these three events, the Renaissance proved to be the most important event in shaping a modern Europe, with developments in education, class structure/order and social change issues, religion, building construction/use, Medici banking system, art and architecture, humanism, printing and the printing press, andRead MoreThe Protestant Reformation And The Reformation Essay1379 Words   |  6 PagesThe Protestant Reformation Why the Protestant Reformation is considered a significant development in the Christian Church. 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