amefa14,+religion+and+government.

=__The Catholic Church__=



Before the Renaissance, everybody relied on the church and God to think for them. During the Renaissance western Europeans began to think for themselves, which the church did not like. Up to this point, people were giving themselves to the church because they did not know anything else. The church had complete power over everyone. The church was also rich because they scared the people into thinking that if they did not give the church money to pay off their sins then they would go to hell. People had been following the church for so long that it was a big change when in the 1350s, people began looking for themselves for answers instead of the church.

The churches were also upset about members of the church starting to break away, acting the same as the citizens. Many people were interested in these different ideas that were being brought up that God and the church could not answer. Many of the kings and queens were realizing that support from the church was not needed to maintain power as it had been needed in the past.

Although the power of the church was declining, there was a growth in people that were interested in religion. With the expansion of knowledge, people began to think more about in depth about religion. People were beginning to understand when reading the bible, instead of just believing what the church would tell them.

media type="youtube" key="dwnWKoLvzcs" height="344" width="425" //Because the churches were so powerful and received a lot of money, their are still many Renaissance churches today. (many in Rome & Tuscany)//

"The Catholic Church and the Renaissance"" //Renaissance Faires, Renaissance Fairs and Renaissance Festivals//. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. .

"Renaissance Churches Pictures - stock photos and fine art prints." //Travel, landscape, and nature pictures - QT Luong stock photos and fine art prints//. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. .

"YouTube - Churches in Rome." //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// Web. 21 Jan. 2010. .