Why did the catholics and protestants start fighting?
Hello, In a nutshell after the fall of the Roman Empire up until the late 18th century, church and state were totally intertwined. The whole Reformation starting in the early 1500’s was considered a clear and present danger to the fabric of society. Leaders of the countries that went over to Protestantism had previous territorial and financial quarrels or gripes with the Catholic church and therefore gave sanctuary or protection to Protestants like Luther and Calvin as well as others. Also Henry VIII who had rigidly defended Catholicism got totally p issed off with the Pope who would not annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon. The Pope’s hands were tied because Katherine was a relative of the royal family of the most powerful European Holy Roman Empire which would have offended that state and dragged Europe into war. Once various European countries and leaders chose their Protestant or Catholic beliefs, they tried forcing their people to tow the Catholic line or convert to Protestan
I assume you have no knowledge of the first Protestants, who also tried to root out and punish those they regarded as heretics. Luther and Calvin both endorsed the right of the state to protect society by purging false religion. Calvin not only banished from Geneva those who did not share his views, he permitted and in some cases ordered others to be executed for “heresy” . In England and Ireland, Reformers engaged in their own ruthless inquisitions and executions. Thousands of English and Irish Catholics were put to death—many by being hanged, drawn, and quartered—for practicing the Catholic faith and refusing to become Protestant. An even greater number were forced to flee to the Continent for their safety. The situation was a two-way street; and both sides easily understood the Bible to require the use of penal sanctions to root out false religion from Christian society. The fact that the Protestant Reformers also created inquisitions to root out Catholics and others who did not fal
