Henrician Reform

In regards to Henrician reform there has been many points of view as to why he decided to reform the church and if he was the initiator or the puppet which acted out the Masters bidding. Due to the fact that Anne Boleyn, Cranmer and Cromwell, Gardiner, Tunstall and Norfolk, held his ear. Henry the VIII's church denied the idea of purgatory however continued prayers for the dead. Henry managed to execute three Catholics for backing the primacy of the Pope and then executing 3 Protestants for affirming justification by faith alone. Diarmaid Mculloch stated that Henry's policy was a `ragbag of emotional preferences'. Henry's church was not more Protestant or more Catholic it was based on decisions Henry the VIII made at the time which could be contradicted by other decisions later. However the main debated question is why the reformation in the first place?

In Henry's religious life he was constantly having one of his court scholars play the devils advocate for any theological books that he received. He never wanted just one side he needed them all. He also seemed to be very found of taking the middle road, which may be part of the movement in how it was carried out, but not quite the why.
Henry liked to see himself not only like a King but more like King David from the bible; in his own eyes he was larger than life. He wanted the influence that the old Kings from the bible had by controlling the religious sects. Henry may have believed that by controlling and creating a new religion that he would have more power and control of the people. He made sure that if he or his people heard of others denying his religion that they were executed. Henry wanted more power which one can see due to his denial of the papacy and any religious leaders. He seemed to be insinuating there were no leaders but himself in the Church. Henry the VIII tried to claim leadership over all his priests, trying to assure his word and desires were preached within the churches in that time.