The primary result of the Protestant Reformation was the splintering of the Christian Church in Western Europe, leading to the establishment of numerous Protestant denominations. Initiated by figures like Martin Luther in the early 16th century, the Reformation challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, criticized its practices like the sale of indulgences, and promoted the idea of salvation through faith alone. This movement not only transformed religious landscapes but also sparked social, political, and cultural changes across Europe, laying the groundwork for modern Western thought and the rise of secularism.