Answer: Questioning by reformers inspired more reformers.
The Reformation was a schism in Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther's publication of the <em>Ninety-Five Theses</em> in 1517. It lasted roughly until 1648, when the Thirty Years' War ended.
The movement gave rise to several different Christian denominations, such as Lutherans, Baptists, Unitarians, Anglicans and Reformed. Its ideas were mostly restricted to Western Europe, although they were carried to the Americas and the rest of the world with the establishment of colonies. Although the Catholic Church tried to suppress these movements with the Counter-Reformation, the spread of ideas was difficult to contain. The beginning of the movement in Germany inspired other reformers all over Europe. The spread of information was aided by Gutenberg's recently introduced printing press.
There were many ideas that influenced the Reformation, such as the ideas of humanism and nationalism. Nevertheless, the movement was ultimately theological. It did not try to undermine Christianity as such, but Catholic practices that were perceived to contradict the scriptures.
