Q: What was the Great Western Schism, and how was it resolved?
The Great Western Schism refers to a time in church history when the entire catholic church was divided. From 1378 to 1415, there were two popes, but no one knew who the legitimate pope really was. Some people supported one, some supported the other, and others still tried to remain non-biased. Each pope excommunicated the other, so there was a lot of confusion.
In an attempt to resolve the issue, an ecumenical council was called in 1409. They chose a new pope and declared that he is the new legitimate pope. But this only made matters worse, as now there were three popes! Finally, another council was called, and one of the first popes stepped down, while the other slowly lost popularity.
Q: Who was John Wycliffe?
John Wycliffe was a very bold religious figure who was among the first to speak out against the catholic church and gain a following by doing so. He taught a number of ideas that were in direct contradiction to the teachings of the catholic church. He denied the legitimacy of indulgences, confession, and, to an extent, even the pope.
He believed in predestination and taught that while good works are a sign of being one of God’s elect, they do not have any impact on your salvation. He also believed that the church shouldn’t own property, which got him in a lot of trouble later. Overall, some of his teachings made him very popular, while others brought people to be quite suspicious of him. John Wycliffe is thought to be a forerunner to the protestant reformation and one who played a big role in the growing movement against the customs of the catholic church.
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