The societal implications of the Reformation were vast, leading to significant changes in religion, politics, and culture across Europe. The Reformation, initiated by figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin, challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and promoted the idea of individual faith and interpretation of the Scriptures. This resulted in the emergence of various Protestant denominations and decreased the power of the papacy. Socially, it encouraged literacy and education, as personal reading of the Bible became important. Additionally, the Reformation fostered a spirit of questioning established norms, which contributed to the Enlightenment and subsequent movements for democracy and human rights.