The Protestant Reformation was a transformative period that reshaped Western cultural history, influencing not just theological perspectives but also art, education, and literature. It challenged the Catholic Church's role as an intermediary between individuals and God, advocating for a direct, personal relationship with the Divine, thus fostering an environment where widespread literacy became essential. Martin Luther's translation of the Bible into German and the dissemination of pamphlets emphasized this need, altering the audience and medium of literature in early modern Europe. Heiko A. Oberman highlights the Reformation's impact on education and literary publications of the time.

The Reformation also critiqued the Catholic Church's alliance with scholasticism and its worldly entanglements, advocating for a "universal priesthood" and a return to spiritual origins. As noted by Francis A. Schaeffer, it rejected the Church's humanism to stimulate new artistic developments. In Germany, religious pamphlets like the Twelve Articles incited agrarian revolts, revealing literature’s role in social upheaval as argued by Perez Zagorin and supported the rise of political propaganda, as discussed by Miriam Usher Chrisman.

Despite criticisms that the Reformation suppressed Renaissance cultural flourishing, it emphasized individual spirituality and education. Luther's advocacy for universal public education and translating religious texts into vernaculars led to the flourishing of printing presses. This pluralistic approach, as Carter Lindberg notes, had lasting socio-political impacts. The Reformation’s connection to Renaissance humanism is further explored by Lewis W. Spitz and Charles G. Nauert Jr., who discuss its role in sparking educational reform and intellectual exploration.