- Sought to reconcile classical learning with Christian faith
- Believed that the study of classical literature and philosophy could help Christians to better understand and appreciate their own religion
- Emphasized the importance of moral education and character formation
- Often critical of the corruption and worldliness of the Catholic Church, but ultimately committed to reformist ideals of renewal rather than separation
- Influential in the development of educational institutions and intellectual thought in post-Reformation Europe, most notably through the rise of Protestant schools and universities.
Humanists of Italian Renaissance
- More focused on the cultivation of individual potential beyond any specific spiritual belief system
- Explored classical themes of civic virtues, personal agency, and individual creativity.
- Placed greater emphasis on secular ethics or virtue rather than a specifically Judeo-Christian moral framework.
- Sought an ethical or rational framework for social interactions based on ancient notions of justice, moderation, and public service.
- Their main objective was to revive interest in ancient Greek and Roman cultures, leading to new perspectives in philosophy, art, history, literature, and natural sciences as they sought inspiration fro the cultural artifacts left by classical ancient traditions
Overall, Christian humanists sought to integrate classical and Christian traditions within a religious outlook whereas Italian Renaissance humanists were focused on rediscovering antiquity as a means to recover civic or ethical norms based on wisdom from the classical period, regardless of specific religious adherence.