Which of the following best describes the origins of the reformation?

Question

A. Martin Luther's excommunication made large numbers of people unhappy with the Catholic church
B. Martin Luther successfully built on more than a century of other scholars' ideas, causing more people to speak up and leave the Catholic church
C. Erasmus of Rotterdam and Martin Luther teamed up to convince people to leave the Catholic church
D. for the first time in the sixteenth century, scholars began to speak out about problems in the Catholic church

Answer 1

The option that best describes the origins of the Reformation is:

B. Martin Luther successfully built on more than a century of other scholars' ideas, causing more people to speak up and leave the Catholic church.

This option acknowledges that Luther's actions were influenced by a longer tradition of critique and reform within the church, including the ideas of earlier scholars and theologians. It also highlights Luther's role in galvanizing a wider movement for reform.