Erasmus was a Dutch humanist who became a monk and a scholar.
With the many reformers of his time, Erasmus saw the leaders of his church abusing their powers.
But what made him different was that he did not break with the Church because he would not sacrifice his belief for changes in doctrine and practice.
He rescued theology from the pedantries of the Schoolmen, exposed the abuses of the Church, and did more than any other single person to advance the Revival of Learning.