The Protestant Reformation Many ideas of the Renaissance like humanism, individualism and secularism stimulated a strong critique of the church“s policy and the clergy“s behaviour. Many people regarded it as a scandal that the catholic church sold indulgences. Indulgences were documents, stamped by the church which could reduce your sins. People who bought indulgences believed that this document could pave their way to heaven. In northern Germany they went so far that they even sold indulgences which could reduce the sins which you are going to commit in the future. They also sold indulgence