One of the most important legacies that the Protestant Reformation left on society was the encouragement to think individually, and develop a personal system of ethics. This was markedly different from the rhetoric that the Catholic Church had towards religious practices. The Catholic Church focused on traditions, institutions and rituals as opposed to personal interpretation.
The modern state has been significantly affected by the Protestant way of thinking. It has led to the development of individualism. In turn, individualism has allowed for the development of ideas such as private rights, the limits on government and the supremacy of the law. It has also led to the protection of individual rights and freedoms.
