THE REFORMATION AND THE RISE OF THE MODERN WEST: A THEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

Abstract

This paper explores the profound influence of the Protestant Reformation on the emergence of the modern Western world. From a theological and historical perspective, it evaluates the core doctrinal shifts introduced by Martin Luther and subsequent reformers and links them to developments in secular governance, capitalism, individualism, and modern scientific inquiry. It argues that the Reformation restructured not only the religious but also the socio-political fabric of Europe, paving the way for modernity. The article also examines the Reformation's enduring theological legacy and its implications for understanding the modern Western identity.