The Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation

Causes of the Reformation • Crises of the 14th & 15th centuries hurt the prestige of the Clergy • Babylonian Captivity • Great Schism • Conciliar Movement

2. Corruption in the Church • Simony : sale of church offices (jobs) • Pluralism: an official holding more than one office at a time • Absenteeism: an official receiving payment but not performing job • Sale of Indulgences: people paying to have sins absolved • Nepotism: favoring family members when appointing positions

f. Moral decline of the papacy g. Clerical Ignorance: many priests were virtually illiterate

3. Critics of the Church: emphasized a personal relationship with god as Primary • John Wyclif (1329-1384) of England • John Hus (1369-1415) of Czech • The Brethren of the Common Life: Thomas Kempis, The Imitation of Christ • Eramus: In Praise of Folly • Criticized the corruption in the church and the hypocrisy of the clergy

4. Renaissance Humanism • Textual criticisms and new translations of the Bible undermined Catholic Authority • Paper • Ulrich Zwingli was trained as a humanist used Erasmus’s translation of the Greek New Testament • John Calvin: inf. By Humanism, esp Erasmus • After Martin Luther’s reformation, humanists turned many monasteries into schools

What was the Protestant Reformation? • In the end the reformers, like Luther, established their own religions • The Reformation caused a split in Christianitywith the formation of these new Protestant religions

What was the Protestant Reformation? CHRISTIANITY PROTESTANT CATHOLIC

The Reformers • Martin Luther • John Calvin • Henry VIII

Martin Luther A. Background • Augustinian monk; taught at the University of Wittenberg in Saxony Germany • Johann Tetzel was authorized by Pope Leo X to sell indulgences

Martin Luther • He became troubled over the possibility of not going to heaven • He turned to the Bible, and confession for comfort • In the Bible he found the answer he was looking for

ROMANS 1:17 “The righteous shall by his faith.” Luther realized that only faith (in the ultimate goodness of Jesus), not good deeds, could save a person. No good works, rituals, etc. would save a person if they did not believe.

Martin Luther B. 95 Theses • Luther criticized the selling of indulgences • Historical debate about where Luther sent his 95 Theses • The printing press spread Luther’s work across Europe

Luther's 95 Theses • A list of things he thought were wrong with the Catholic Church (95 Complaints) • He criticized: • The Power of the Pope • The Extreme Wealth of the Church • Indulgences (Catholic concept of Salvation)

Luther's 95 Theses • Gutenberg’s Printing Press made it possible for Luther to spread his beliefs • Posted his 95 Theses on Church doors in Germany • Gained support from people and criticism from Church

c. Luther challenges Church Authority • Initially, the pope viewed the issue of Luther’s 95 Theses as a disagreement between Augustinian & Dominican monks • Defied pope & continued with his crusade • He was protected by Prince Frederick III of Saxony • Luther did not seek to create a new church but rather to reform the Catholic Church

c. Luther challenges Church Authority • 3. Leipzig Debate of 1520 – Luther vs. Johann Eck (great Catholic theologian) • Luther argued the infallibility of the pope • Claimed the church had made a mistake when they executed Jon Hus for heresy • Point of no return for Luther

The first thing printed on Gutenberg’s press was the Bible. • This is a picture of a page from one of Gutenberg’s Bibles.

c. Luther challenges Church Authority • 4. 1520 = Luther published his theology of reform • Salvation is achieved by faith alone • Bible is the sole authority • Only 2 sacraments are valid – baptism & communion • Church consists of a “priesthood of all believers” • Criticized indulgences & simony

c. Luther challenges Church Authority 4. cont… f. Encouraged German princes to reform the churches within their principalities g. The church was not subject to the pope’s interpretation h. Rejected the idea that monks should live in poverty, chastity & obedience

c. Luther challenges Church Authority 5. Luther was thus excommunicated by Pope Leo X in 1520 Luther threw the Papal Bull (papal order) which excommunicated him into a fire thus suggesting that he did not believe the pope had any spiritual authority

Luther prepares to burn Pope's orders

Luther on Trial 6. The Diet of Worms a. Tribunal of the HRE with power to outlaw and sentence execution via burning at the stake b. Charles V insisted Luther recant c. Luther refused d. Edict of Worms (ruling) Luther declared an outlaw

D. 1523 Luther translated the Bible into the vernacular, profoundly influencing the development of the modern German language • E. Confessions of Augsburg (1530) • Written by Luther’s friend, Philip Melanchthon • This was an attempted compromise statement of religious faith to unite Lutheran and catholic princes of the HRE

III. The Political Battle over Lutheranism in Germany • Spread of Lutheranism • Many German states in the North turned to Lutheranism • Denmark & Sweden b/c Lutheran states as well • Lutheranism did no spread much beyond northern Germany and Scandinavia

III. The Political Battle over Lutheranism in Germany • B. Emperor Charles V sought to stop Protestantism and preserve the hegemony of Catholicism • In this sense, Charles was like a medieval emperor in that he was trying to maintain religious unity in Europe • Charles was preoccupied with the Turkish threat in Hungary and his dynastic struggle with Francis I of France

Pope Leo X (Medici) • He was the Pope during the height of the corruption

C. Peasants’ War • Twelve Articles, 1525: peasants demanded end o serfdom & tithes, and other practices of feudalism that oppressed the peasantry (like hunting rights • Luther’s views on the peasant movement were somewhat conservative

C. Peasants’ War 3. As many as 100,000 peasants died during the uprising *** Martin Luther DID NOT APPROVE OF THE PEASANTS WAR!!!!! Said we should obey our political authorities!!!!

D. Northern Germany • League of Schmalkalden, 1531 • Formed by protestant princes to defend themselves against Charles V • Francis I of France joined the League (because he did not trust Charles V)

D. Northern Germany • 2. Habsburg-Valois Wars: Basically a war between Francis I & Charles V • Why?? • France had tried to keep Germany divided • France prevented Germany from unification

D. Northern Germany • 3. Charles hated France and was finally victorious over the League in 1547 • However by that time Lutheranism had spread to central Europe • Charles V gave up trying to restore Catholicism to Germany

D. Northern Germany • E. Peace of Augsburg (1555) • Temporarily ended the struggle in Germany over Lutheranism • Provisions (rules of peace) • Princes could choose Protestant or Catholic for their people • Protestants living in Catholic regions free to move and same for Catholics

D. Northern Germany • E. Peace of Augsburg (1555) • 3. Resulted in permanent religious division of Germany • Essentially reaffirmed the independence of many German states • This division stunted German nationalism; Germany was not unified as a state until 1871

IV. The Spread of Protestantism • Anabaptists (formed in1525) • Characteristics • Voluntary association of believers with no connection or allegiance to any state • Did not believe in childhood baptism since only adults could make the decision to commit to Christ

IV. The Spread of Protestantism c. As millenaries, they believed the end of the world was near d. Rejected the idea of the Trinity e. Historians consider them to be the “left wing” of the protestants

3. Long-term impact of Anabaptists • Mennonites: Founded by Dutch leader Menno Simmons b/c descendants of Anabaptists • Quakers: in England shared similar beliefs; and controlled Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware • Unitarians: (rejected the trinity

D. Northern Germany • E. Peace of Augsburg (1555) • 3. Resulted in permanent religious division of Germany • Essentially reaffirmed the independence of many German states • This division stunted German nationalism; Germany was not unified as a state until 1871

John Calvin “May little chickens dig out your eyes 100,000 times.” - Calvin speaking to another reformer whose ideas he disagreed with

C. Calvinism 1.John Calvin Most significant of the new Protestant sects!!!!! a. Frenchman; studied to be a priest and later trained as a lawyer b. Influenced by humanism, especially Erasmus c. Exiled to Switzerland due to his reform ideas

C. Calvinism • 2. Institutes of the Christian Religion • Calvin’s book and foundational work for Calvinism • Predestination: since God is all-knowing, he already knows who is going to Heaven and who is destined for Hell

CALVINISM • c. The “elect” are church members who have had their conversion experience. They should b/c model Christians: “Visible Saints” • 3. Calvin est. a theocracy in Geneva by 1540 • Geneva b/c home to Protestant exiles (England, France, Scotland) who later returned home spreading Calvinism • Believed Church and state should combine to enforce Christian behavior • Only those who committee to following Calvinism were allowed to live in the City

CALVINISM 4. Calvinism was the most militant (Military structured) and uncompromsing of all Protestant faiths 5. Protestant Work Ethic: Calvinists later emphasized the importance of hard work and accompanying financial success as a sign that God was pleased 6. Spread of Calvinism: far greater impact on future generations than Lutheranism

CALVINISM a. Presbyterianism = Scotland by John Knox in 1560 b. Huguenots = French Calvinists c. Dutch Reform Church = United Provinces of the Netherlands d. Puritans = England e. Countries where Calvinism did not spread: Ireland, Spain, Italy

Predestination • Calvin believed in: • Salvation through Predestination • At birth it is decided if you will go to heaven or hell • NO OTHER WAY

Calvin believed in: • Foreknowledge • God knows everything that will happen in your life • Purified approach to life: • No drinking, swearing, card playing, gambling etc..

Christianity Protestant Catholic Lutheran Calvinism Presbyterian Puritan Hugeunots

Martin Luther A. Background • Lived from 1483-1546 in Germany • Father encouraged him to study law • A sudden religious experience inspired him to become a monk

The Protestant Reformation