The Protestant Reformation

1. The Protestant Reformation

2. Corruption in the Church • Babylonian Captivity • Great Schism • Conciliar movement – create a church council that is more powerful than pope

3. Corruption of Church • Corruption • simony (sale of offices) • pluralism (holding more than one office) • Absenteeism • nepotism (favoring family for offices) • moral decline • Popes having numerous affairs and children • Prostitutes • Traded sexual favors for the absolution of sins • clerical ignorance • Man priests were illiterate

4. Early Critics • John Wyclif – scripture is the sole authority • Jan Hus – similar beliefs, • Brethren of the Common Life • Encouraged Christians to live simply and make religion a personal experience • Mysticism – direct experience w/ God • Thomas a Kempis – The Imitation of Christ • Erasmus • “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched” • Julius II’s Ecumenical Council • Strove to reform the church – many obstacles

6. Martin Luther • Son of a copper mine owner • Father wanted him to study law • Due to thunderstorm – became a friar • Ordained a priest in 1507 and earned a doctorate of theology • Professor of scriptures at the University of Wittenberg • Confused – religious routine, confessions, fasting – still did not feel he was meeting God’s demands and still had anxiety about sin • Studied St. Paul’s letters – believed that faith alone will earn salvation – not external observances and penance

8. John Tetzel • Authorized by Pope Leo X to sell indulgences • Payments that would reduce a person’s punishment in Purgatory, or a passed relative • “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs” • Pay for clerical pluralism and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

10. 95 Theses • Criticisms of the indulgences AND questioned the scriptural right of the pope to sell them • Oct 31, 1517 - Nailed on door of Wittenberg church? • Printing press spread the work • Pope initially thought it was just a debate among monks • At this point – not attempting to create a new church, just reform the Catholic Church

12. Debate and Trial • People started to debate this issue: Where does authority lie in the Catholic church? • Public disputes – Luther v. Eck • Denied Pope’s authority • Papacy gave Luther 2 months to recant • Luther threw papal bull into the fire • Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X • Charles V & Diet of Worms – Luther was asked to recant but he refused • Excommunicated and outlawed as a heretic • Frederick the Wise of Saxony protected Luther • -Hid and translated the New Testament

14. Luther’s works • Address to the Christian Nobility • Secular govt can reform church • On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church • Attacked sacraments – should only be baptism, penance, and communion (Eucharist) • Consubstantiation • Liberty of a Christian Man • Faith alone, bible is sole source of truth

15. Ulrich Zwingli • Swiss humanist, introduced reformation • Used Erasmus’ New Testament • Christian life rested on Scriptures • Attacked indulgences, the Mass, monasticism, clerical celibacy • Disagreed with Luther on some issues, notably the Eucharist

16. Protestantism • Protestant = protest drawn up by a small group of reforming German princes – protesting against the decisions of the Catholic majority • Term applied to all non-Catholic Christians

17. Lutheranism • How is a person saved? • Faith alone (FIDA SOLA) and God initiates salvation • Where does religious authority reside? • Scripture alone (SOLA SCRIPTURA) • What is the Church? • Entire community of Christian believers • What is the highest form of Christian life? • All people of faith are equal

18. Other beliefs • The Church is a spiritual priesthood of all believers – no hierarchy • Scripture only supports 3 sacraments: baptism, penance, and the Eucharist • Consubstantiation – bread and wine undergo a spiritual change whereby Christ is present but the bread and wine are not transformed

19. Social Impact of Luther’s Beliefs • Before Luther: • City governments in Germany resented clerical privilege and immunities • People disgusted with priestly teaching – established preacherships – education and 100 sermons a year • Luther’s writing that “a Christian man is the most free lord of all” contributed to peasant unrest in Germany. • Following crop failures, Swabian peasants in 1525 demanded an end to death taxes, new rents, and noble seizure of village common lands • The Twelve Articles - Swabian grievances • Luther initially backed the peasants

20. Social Impact of Luther’s Beliefs • When the peasants turned violent – Luther said NO!! • Don’t have to follow Pope, but must follow govt • Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of the Peasants – “slay and stab the peasants…nothing can be more poisonous , hurtful, or devilish than a rebel” • Church became subordinate to State • Luther owed his success to the printing press • Arguments that helped women: • All vocations have equal merit • Women should read the bible and girls go to school • Against clerical celibacy – clergy can marry • Luther married Katharina von Bora • Sex is okay within marriage

21. However… • Women belong in the home – their “special” domain • “Let them bear children until they are dead of it; that is what they are for.” • Hated Jews – On the Jews and their Lies

22. What attracted so many people? • Simple religious life • Personal relationship with God • Faith alone • Return to the spirit of the early Church • Abolish the elaborate ceremonies • Appealed to the poor, the educated, men, women • Bible should be translated into the country’s language

23. The Spread of Protestantism

24. Germany and Protestantism • 1477 -Marriage of Maximilian I of the House of Habsburg and Mary of Burgundy united the Austrian Empire with Burgundy and the Netherlands • Made the Habsburgs the strongest ruling family in the Holy Roman Empire. (PG 467) • France hates this– why? • Valois family vs. Habsburg family; wants Burgundy and Netherlands • Son, Philip of Burgundy, married Joanna of Castille (Spanish) • The Habsburg Charles V (1500–1558) inherited Spain, and Spanish possessions in Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia, in addition to the lands mentioned above. • Diverse collection of states and people, each governed in a different manner – lands spread out • In 1519 Charles was elected Holy Roman Emperor. He believed that it was his duty to maintain the unity of Christendom – was a strict Catholic

26. Holy Roman Emperor rules over the whole territory German states A prince/king governs the local areas Takes away HRE power 7 of these princes/kings are “electors” who elect the next HRE Crowned by the Pope – HRE is Catholic

27. Germany and Protestantism • Luther pleaded with German (HRE) princes to destroy papal power in order to morally reform the Church • Appeal to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation • Urged them to abolish indulgences, etc. • Many German princes converted to Lutheranism because it allowed them to seize Church property. • Charles V was preoccupied with other problems – other lands and wars • 1521-1555 – Habsburg-Valois Wars • Charles V vs. France over Burgundy. • French foreign policy = take down HRE • The French supported Lutheran princes within Germany (HRE) against Charles. • Kept German lands in HRE divided • Peace of Augsburg (1555) – each prince can determine their country’s religion • North became Lutheran, South remained Roman Catholic • No other religions mentioned

28. John Calvin - Calvinism • Much of northern Europe broke with the Roman Church by 1555. • John Calvin – born in NW France • Studied law and was Catholic • Then had “a sudden change of mind, brought about by God” • Converted to Protestantism and wanted to reform the church • Asked to reform the city of Geneva • Wrote The Institutes of the Christian Religion • Knew scriptures inside and out and was an eloquent speaker

30. T = TOTAL INABILITY • A man cannot save himself – God alone can save you • God has absolute sovereignty • No action will get you God’s grace • Humans are weak and have no free will • We are insignificant grains of sand

31. U = UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION • God chooses to save people unconditionally; that is, they are not chosen on the basis of their actions • Predestination – God decided at the beginning of time who would be saved and who would not

32. L = LIMITED ATONEMENT • The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was for the purpose of saving only the elect – only Calvinists are saved (the elect)

33. I = IRRESISTIBLE GRACE • If God chooses to save you, he will – His grace is irresistible • Can’t say no

34. P = PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS • Those people God chooses cannot lose their salvation; they will continue to believe. If they fall away, it will be only for a short time.

35. Calvinism • Reformed the city of Geneva – “A City that was a Church” • A Christian society ruled by God through civil magistrates and reformed ministers • Consistory – 12 laymen + Company of Pastors (Calvin = #1) • Their eyes are everywhere • Crimes: • Card playing, dancing, family quarrels, drinking • Absence from sermons, criticism of Calvin or other ministers • Punishment: banishment or execution • The Genevan government prosecuted heretics • Used torture to get confessions

36. Michael Servetus • Spanish humanist – denied the Trinity, child baptism and stated that people under 20 cannot commit a sin • Escaped Inquisition and went to Geneva • Rearrested and burned at the stake by Calvinists

37. Other Calvinists Beliefs • The Calvinist ethic of “the calling” glorified all vocations as pleasing to God. • Encouraged hard work and vigorous activism. • Wanted women to participate in congregation • Still obedient to men • Wealthy helped poor – schools, orphanages, funds for widows • Model for Presbyterian, Huguenots, Puritans

38. Anabaptists • Anabaptist = “to baptize again” • A voluntary association of believers who experienced an inner light • Anabaptists believed in: • adult baptism • religious tolerance • separation of church and state • They shared property and admitted women as ministers. • Pacifism • No public office or armed forces

39. Attracted people in small areas – poor, unemployed, uneducated • Model for Quakers and Baptists • Were hated and persecuted • Burned, beaten, or drowned

40. HENRY VIII and THE ENGLISH REFORMATION

42. The English Reformation • The Lollards (followers of Wycliffe)- driven underground in the fifteenth century • survived and stressed the idea of a direct relationship between the individual and God. • 16th cent – Traditional Catholicism had a strong hold over the people • RC Church was in a healthy condition • Reformation not driven by church abuses but rather the King’s emotional life

43. Henry VIII desired a divorce from his queen, Catherine, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, so he could marry Anne Boleyn. • Excuse – Catherine can’t provide male heir • If a woman rules next (only daughter Mary) another war will start • Asked for annulment, stating that valid marriage to Catherine never existed • Law of God states that a man may not marry his brother’s widow • Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (Lord Chancellor) appealed to the Pope for a divorce • Was accused of delaying procedures so he was stripped of title and property

45. Pope Clement VII refused to annul Henry's marriage to Catherine. • Would’ve been admitting that the previous pope who allowed marriage would have been wrong – fueling Luther’s movement • Catherine’s nephew is HRE Charles V • Henry used Parliament to legalize an official break from the Roman Catholic Church

46. Act in Restraint of Appeals - Pope has no say in England • Complete break from the Roman Catholic Church • Act of Supremacy – Made Henry the head of the Church of England (still Catholic) • Thomas More – resigned chancellorship – later beheaded

47. Results • Henry needed money - he dissolved the monasteries and confiscated their lands • This did not lead to more equal land distribution • Property sold to upper and middle classes and the proceeds were spent on war • New Chief Minister - Thomas Cromwell • Pilgrimage of Grace – massive multiclass rebellion • Truce but leaders were executed • England still Catholic but Protestant literature circulates