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Protestantism is often eradiated with creation of a new ethic that encouraged capitalist development. It is claimed that the inherited medieval theology had hampered its growth. St. Jerome, the compiler of bible in Latin had declared in fourth century that “a rich man is either a thief or the son of a thief”. This declaration in no way stood in the way of church to amass wealth and landed estates. The reformation censured the riches of pope, the bishops and the monasteries, but at the same time, sanctioned the right of every man to the fruits of his labours and his moderate ways of life. Usury was discouraged and legally forbidden to catholic Christians in the medieval societies. The new protestant spirit allowed amassing of wealth from production and credit. The new economic role of Calvinism and Protestantism in the rise of capitalist entrepreneurs has been the subject of a prolonged controversy among social scientists. The protestant spirit engulfed most of the modern Europe as it became associated with interests and aspirations that were not entirely theological. It led to profound changes in Europe life and society. Magisterial reformation:- the anti-clergy feeling in Europe got crystallised broadly into two streams one was of the radical reformers while the other was of Influential moderate, theologian like Haldreych Zwingli in Switzerland, martin Bucer in Strasbourg and john Calvin of France. These moderate theologians used the services of secular state authorities in spreading their beliefs. They came to be known as ‘magisterial’ reformers, because of reliance they placed on magistrates in furthering the independent, divine mission of moral discipline through church. In other words, they stressed the role of reformed church as an independent power standing side by side the secular state. The reformation, though primarily due to religious schism, also grew due to symbiosis of moderate protestant reformers with the secular need, of the state. The exigencies of strong absolutist monarchies, relying on incipient nationalism, made it necessary for them to restrict the interference of pope in their affair.

Calvinism: – john Calvin born in north western France embraced Protestantism in 1533 and was invited to assist in the reformation of city of Geneva in 1541. Calvin worked to establish a reformed charge and Christian community through city magistrates and reformed ministers. Calvin’s ideas are embodied in the institutes of Christian religion. The basic element in his theology was his belief in the absolute sovereignty and omnipotence of god and total weakness of humanity. Calvin did not ascribe free will to human beings. He believed in the law of predestination the eternal decree of god. It means that human beings cannot actively work through ‘good works’ for their salvation because god decided at the beginning of time who would achieve salvation and who would be demand. However, Calvinism became a prominent force in Protestantism. The Calvinist ethic of the ‘calling’ dignified all work. It also provided Protestantism with a systematic theology and well-organised administrative machinery. Calvin’s theology and reformed church influenced the French Protestants called Huguenots and Scottish Presbyterians. In France, spread of Calvinism, as the city bourgeoisie and power knights joined the ranks of Huguenots, led to the war of religions. Many Huguenots were massacred at st. Bartholomew night on august 29, 1572.

John Knox, a passionate Calvinist preacher, tried to restructure the Scottish church after the model of Calvin’s Geneva. In 1560 Knox persuaded the Scottish parliament to enact legislation ending papal authority. The mass was abolished and attendance at mass forbidden under penalty of death. The Church of Scotland came to be known as Presbyterians church because presbyters or ministers not bishops governed it. Calvin while upholding the sanctity of legitimate secular authority as a direct instrument of divine-will also gave a qualified support to rebellions against tyrannical absolute rule. The political implications of this meant that Calvinists tried to break the power of the catholic and aristocratic minorities.

Anglicanism or the English reformation: – the origin of reformation in English in England can be traced to a number of social, economic and political causes. Demand for reform of the church was voiced in the fourteenth century by the landlords. Although suppressed, they survived in London, East Anglia, Kent and southern England especially among the workers. Their anti-clergy ideals led to a personal, scriptural, non sacramental and lay centred religion. The English humanists also stimulated such cries for reforms. The reformation in England, however, was a state-initiated reform programme and got entangled in the growth of absolutist monarchy. In 1538, instructions were issued that church services were to be compulsorily conducted in English instead of Latin. The English reformation, however, was a gradual and piecemeal process as the majority of believers in England still clung to their catholic faith. The Tudor state lacked the necessary bureaucratic and policing institutions to enforce religious changes. However, the religious reforms brought about profound changes in the English society.

Anabaptists:-the name of Anabaptist is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘to baptise again’. Anabaptists, the radical reformers, believed in adult baptism or entry into the Christian community, thus providing free choice about religious faith, Scriptural basis for baptising children and infants. They were opposed to ecclesiastical hierarchy and wanted to make the church a voluntary association of believers who had experienced a spiritual illumination. The Anabaptists organised an uprising at monster (1534-35), where they introduced their secular ideals. The princes of Germany along with the protestant thinkers-Zwingli, Luther, Calvin as well as the Catholics all combined to track down and persecute there radical elements. However, traces of their ideas survived. Later the Quakers with their stress on inner spiritual awakening and the Congregationalists with their democratic church organisation represented the continuity with Anabaptist ideals.