Who was a Dutch humanist notably critical of the Catholic Church and opposed Luther's break from it?

Desiderius Erasmus was a prominent Dutch humanist known for his critical stance towards various practices within the Catholic Church. He emphasized the need for reform from within rather than advocating for a complete break as Martin Luther did during the Reformation. Erasmus believed in a return to the original scriptures and ethical living based on Christian values, which made him a key figure in Renaissance humanism.

His criticism was directed at church practices and the corruption he observed, such as the selling of indulgences, but he did not endorse the radical reforms proposed by Luther. Instead, Erasmus sought a middle ground and argued for a reform that adhered to the church's foundations, promoting scholarly critique to enhance the faith rather than an outright schism. This position placed him in a complex relationship with both the Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformation, illustrating his unique role in the religious and intellectual landscape of the time.

Erasmus's work laid important groundwork for subsequent discussions on religion and morality, capturing the tension between reform and tradition in the context of early modern Europe.