Final answer:
True, Christian humanism sought to reform the Catholic Church by combining classical learning with individual piety and moral improvement, championed by figures like Desiderius Erasmus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christian Humanism and the Catholic Church
The statement is true: Christian humanism combined classical learning and individualism with the goal of reforming the Catholic Church. During the northern European Renaissance, scholars advocated for a humanism that sought to improve individuals' piety and moral standing through the revival of classical antiquity texts alongside early Christian teachings, principally to bring about a reformation within the church. Notable figures like Desiderius Erasmus, who followed Christian humanistic principles, believed in using Christian teachings to guide daily life, leading to a more profound inner transformation and, therefore, a more sincere religious devotion that was distinct from purely external practices like pilgrimages or fasting.
Humanist ideals and the study of humanities served as the foundation for creating eloquent, well-versed citizens, capable of contributing to the civic life of their communities. These ideals, although secular in many respects, developed within a Christian context, with the church itself patronizing many Renaissance arts.
The movement's push for reform eventually interacted with the broader religious landscape in Europe, leading to significant events like the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, the latter of which represented the Catholic Church's response to Protestant criticisms. Christian humanism played a pivotal role in these developments as it fostered a critical view of the Church that called for deep-rooted changes.