Humanism, which had begun this trend of rediscovering classical works began to become more widespread, and was soon termed Renaissance Humanism. .
Renaissance Humanism focused on rediscovering classical knowledge and integrating it into a world that emphasized human freedom and responsibility. Humanism promoted individuality and the necessity to believe in one's self. Expressionism of the real human body and the surrounding world became associated with Humanist theories. According to the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "The humanists held that through classical letters the rebirth' of a spirit that man had possessed in the classical age and had lost in the Middle Ages could be realized, a spirit of freedom that provided justification for man's claim of rational autonomy, allowing him to see himself involved in nature and history and capable of making them his realm - There was an emphasis on the worth of life on earth as well as the malleability of the individual. This is clearly seen in an excerpt from Pico della Mirandola's Oration on the Dignity of Man (1486) where God says, "We have made thee neither of heaven nor of earth, neither mortal nor immortal so that with freedom of choice and with honor, as though the maker and molder of thyself, thou may fashion thyself in whatever shape thou shalt prefer."" God had supposedly given all the power of decision making to the people. .
During the Sixteenth Century there was a shift in Christian ideology. People did not believe that God would always be present to protect them from Satan. There was a high level of paranoia that Satan was everywhere and that daily life was in fact an individual duel with the Devil. God was not viewed as being the primary guardian of humanity, who would protect Christians from Satan's attacks. This "weakness of faith- made it easy for people to embrace the Humanist philosophy, and believe that they were responsible for their own fate.
