Ulrich Zwingli

Ulrich Zwingli

1484-1531

He was to Switzerland what Luther was to Germany. It is a funny
thing what happens to people's perceptions of the church and
spirituality when they actually read the Bible. Zwingli was exposed to
Erasmus' translation of the Greek text. He actually transcribed most of
it in notebooks and committed nearly all of it to memory. Upon reading
the text for himself, he immediately realized how broad the catholic
church's interpretation of Scripture had become. He especially took
issue with the adoration of saints and relics, promises of miraculous
cures, and church abuses of the indulgence system. (Funny how we have
similar problems today in the church as well.)

He began to address the aforementioned abused from the pulpit, thus
prompting Rome to put him on trial as a heretic. He thoughtfully laid
out the reason he was denouncing such wandering from the simply and
clear message of Scripture. He asserted the supremacy of the Holy Writ
over church dogma, attacked the worship of images, relics, and saints,
and denounced the sacramental view of the Eucharist and enforced
celibacy as well. In fact, Rome must have been surprised indeed,
because instead of labeling him as a heretic, the local governing body
rather removed themselves from under the umbrella of the Catholic
Church. Thus effectively starting the reformation in Switzerland.

He began to take his message to the other governing bodies in
Switzerland that were subject to Rome. Six bodies agreed with him,
while 5 stayed loyal to Rome. This division swelled into a civil war, in
which Zwingli was wounded and later executed by the opposing side. That
is still where Switzerland finds itself, half protestant and half
catholic.