Final answer:
The belief that Scripture alone is the sole authority stems from the Protestant Reformation, where reformers like Martin Luther emphasized the Bible over Church traditions and the principle of faith alone for salvation, facilitated by the accessibility of scripture thanks to the printing press.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that Scripture alone is the sole authority is a fundamental principle of Protestantism, which emerged from the Reformation. The reformers, led by figures like Martin Luther, believed that individuals should have access to the Bible in their own language and depend exclusively on it as the source of religious authority, overriding Church traditions. The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg played a critical role in spreading this belief by making the Bible accessible to the layperson rather than just the religious elite.
Within this system of belief, practices such as buying indulgences for salvation, upheld by the Catholic Church, were rejected. Instead, Protestants favored the concept of faith alone for salvation, as Luther affirmed through his reading of St. Paul. This interpretation emphasized that God's grace cannot be earned through good works but is a gift to those who have faith. Additionally, Calvinism contributed to the Protestant ethos by emphasizing predestination and holding scripture as the ultimate guide in leading a pious life.
Overall, the Protestant Reformation brought about a monumental shift in Christian practices and beliefs, focusing on the Bible as the only authoritative source for guidance and doctrine, thereby reshaping the religious landscape in Europe and beyond.