Printing Press, Protestantism and Dissenterism

[Duvduv]

I have found it extremely interesting how the effects of the printing press and translation of the Bible led to an avalanche of change in religious beliefs for several hundred years, not unlike the effects of the internet today.
If I understand correctly, once the Bible was widely available in vernacular languages there was the possibility of almost endless numbers of teachings about what each group considered true Christianity, and did not stop with the advent of the Church of England.
Apparently the dissenters who were considered radicals felt the CoA hadn't gone far enough to eliminate features of Catholicism which was not considered to be biblical Christianity at all. What I wonder is why did this process go so much further in England and the United States and move so little in the rest of Europe? Why did the avalanches not occur in France, Germany, Russia, etc. to the same extent, given the effects of the printing press and translation of the Bible?

 

[Albion]

Could you refine that inquiry a bit and be more specific?

Some of what I am reading does not seem to square with the facts of history.

 

[crossnote]

What I wonder is why did this process go so much further in England and the United States and move so little in the rest of Europe? Why did the avalanches not occur in France, Germany, Russia, etc. to the same extent, given the effects of the printing press and translation of the Bible?

My 2cents is that England, Scotland, Wales etc., and the United States were further from Ground Zero (Rome and Constantinople) than were Russia and South Europe. Similar to how some countries have a stranglehold over the internet, while others are a bit more free.

 

[Lukaris]

There is an early English Catholic translation of the Bible: Douay–Rheims Bible - Wikipedia

Not to mention the Wycliffe Bible:

Wycliffe's Bible - Wikipedia

The Wycliffe Bible was suppressed in its time ( 1390s) but the article I have linked indicates that Wycliffe’s name was slandered as among agitators behind a peasant revolt. Perhaps if he was not wrongly attached to this, the Bible would have become more widespread in English well before the printing press & reformation. It seems that when Wycliffe’s translation was actually read, the authorities had no problem with it.

 

[Willie T]

I have found it extremely interesting how the effects of the printing press and translation of the Bible led to an avalanche of change in religious beliefs for several hundred years, not unlike the effects of the internet today.
If I understand correctly, once the Bible was widely available in vernacular languages there was the possibility of almost endless numbers of teachings about what each group considered true Christianity, and did not stop with the advent of the Church of England.
Apparently the dissenters who were considered radicals felt the CoA hadn't gone far enough to eliminate features of Catholicism which was not considered to be biblical Christianity at all. What I wonder is why did this process go so much further in England and the United States and move so little in the rest of Europe? Why did the avalanches not occur in France, Germany, Russia, etc. to the same extent, given the effects of the printing press and translation of the Bible?

Sounds like you've been reading the book, Christianity's Dangerous Idea.

 

[ViaCrucis]

There is an early English Catholic translation of the Bible: Douay–Rheims Bible - Wikipedia

Not to mention the Wycliffe Bible:

Wycliffe's Bible - Wikipedia

The Wycliffe Bible was suppressed in its time ( 1390s) but the article I have linked indicates that Wycliffe’s name was slandered as among agitators behind a peasant revolt. Perhaps if he was not wrongly attached to this, the Bible would have become more widespread in English well before the printing press & reformation. It seems that when Wycliffe’s translation was actually read, the authorities had no problem with it.

From what little I know it's a pretty straightforward translation of the Vulgate into Middle English. Though it's peculiar in that, apparently, the copy of the Vulgate Wycliffe was using included the spurious Epistle to the Laodiceans.

Wycliffe's translation can be found online here.

-CryptoLutheran