What was a significant impact of the Protestant Reformation on Western Europe?(2 points) Responses Increased centralization of power within the Catholic Church. Increased centralization of power within the Catholic Church. Strengthening of the authority of the Pope as a unifying figure for all Christian denominations. Strengthening of the authority of the Pope as a unifying figure for all Christian denominations. A decline in religious diversity as Protestantism became the dominant faith. A decline in religious diversity as Protestantism became the dominant faith. The fragmentation of the Christian Church into various denominations, leading to religious diversity.

Answer 1

The significant impact of the Protestant Reformation on Western Europe includes:

1. The fragmentation of the Christian Church into various denominations, leading to religious diversity. The Reformation resulted in the establishment of numerous Protestant denominations, such as Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism, which provided alternatives to Catholicism and contributed to a more diverse religious landscape.

2. A decline in religious diversity as Protestantism became the dominant faith. While the initial outcome of the Reformation was the fragmentation of Christianity, in certain regions Protestantism gained dominance and led to a decrease in the influence of Catholicism, shaping the religious affiliations of populations.

These points highlight both the division created by the Reformation and the subsequent emergence of Protestantism as a major force in Western Europe.