Many tried to leave or reform the Roman church earlier. The Heugonots, Albigensians and others. They were dealt with ruthlessly and many were martyred. There was not one big happy family prior to the Reformation, heresy has always been called out, often at the cost of one’s life
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The Heugonots and Albigensians were considered heretics.
The first heresy fought by the Church was Arianism.
Wikipedia: Arianism is the nontrinitarian, theological teaching attributed to Arius (c. AD 250–336), a Christian presbyter in Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of God the Father to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Arius asserted that the Son of God was a subordinate entity to God the Father. Deemed a heretic by the Ecumenical First Council of Nicaea of 325, Arius was later exonerated in 335 at the regional First Synod of Tyre, and then, after his death, pronounced a heretic again at the Ecumenical First Council of Constantinople of 381. The Roman Emperors Constantius II (337–361) and Valens (364–378) were Arians or Semi-Arians.
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There have been heretics for a long time and they will continue to rear their Satan-led heads in the future, no doubt.
We humans will NEVER get along the way God wants us to. That is due to ORIGINAL SIN. Oh well. Some folks do try.
Happy new year to you and yours.