The Protestant Reformation

1. The Protestant Reformation Jacobs 2010

2. What was the Protestant Reformation? • Religious reform movement where Protestant groups split from the Catholic Church in Rome beginning in the 1500s • Based on early development during the Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance • Protestant: Any of several denominations of Christianity that separated from the Roman Catholic Church based on theological or political differences during the Reformation

3. Spread of Renaissance Ideas • Christian humanism spreads during the 1400s as a result of the Renaissance spreading from Italy to northern Europe. • The printing press helped ideas spread through the trade of printed literature.

4. Christian Humanism • Christian humanism: the belief that human freedom and individualism are intrinsic (natural) parts of, or are at least compatible with, Christian doctrine and practice. • It is a philosophical union of Christian and humanist principles. • Medieval Christianity encouraged unity and not individualism and humanism had not yet emerged.

5. Christian Humanist • Christian humanists believed in the ability of humans to reason and improve themselves and thus society. • Believed studying the classics and ancient Christian texts would bring about reform in the Church and in society. • To change society you must change the humans in society first.

6. Desiderius Erasmus • Thought Christianity should show people how to live good lives on a daily basis • Contrary to Medieval ideas that people have to be focused on obtaining a favorable afterlife • Believed pilgrimages, fasting, and relics were not that important compared to pure faith • Used humor and satire to criticize the abuses of the Church in The Praise of Folly • Monks, he criticized, “Insist that everything be done in precise detail…Just so many knots must be placed on each shoe and the shoelace must be of only one color” • He DID NOT want to break away from the Catholic Church

7. Why did the Church need reforming? • Between 1450 and 1520 the “Renaissance popes” focused more on politics, money, patronage, and power instead of spiritual matters. • Many church officials used their power to obtain money • Local clergy often seemed ignorant of spiritual duties • Salvation became a specific process often based on the exchange of money or relics in return for forgiveness • Clergy: people ordained for religious service (priests, monks, nuns, friars, bishops etc.)

8. Indulgences • The Catholic Church allowed earthly punishments to be tossed out for certain sins • Usually, if a person confessed a sin and did penance (usually said specific prayers, did good deeds, etc) they were granted an indulgence • An indulgence also relieved punishment/penance in the afterlife in Purgatory • In some cases indulgences could reduce time in Purgatory by 1,443 years • Indulgence: the forgiveness of a specific punishment for sin in return for money, relics, riches

10. Why Indulgences Became Bad… • During the Middle Ages the Church began selling indulgences for money and/or other goods such as relics • Relic: an item of religious significance often regarded with feelings of respect and reverence • SALE OF INDULGENCES • In essence, the Church was selling forgiveness and this upset many believers especially those who could not afford it. • Religious officials became rich and used their money to support art and war while many of their followers lived in poverty

11. Johann Tetzel “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.”

12. Martin Luther • Catholic monk and professor at University of Wittenberg (Germany)—Did not see self as rebel • Catholics believed salvation was achieved through faith and good works • Luther believed in salvation through faith alone because you could never do enough good works • God’s grace cannot be earned by performing good deeds • Justification by faith alone-being faithful will give you salvation. Good works should be done no matter what but they will not give you salvation.

13. Martin Luther’s Teachings • All Church teachings should be based on the Bible. Both the pope and Church traditions were false authorities • People could win salvation by faith in God’s gift of forgiveness. (didn’t need “good works”) • All people with faith are equal. Therefore, people did not need priests to interpret the Bible for them.

14. Ninety-Five Theses • October 31, 1517-Luther sent a list of things he did not like about the Church to his superiors • Ninety-five Theses • Criticized sale of indulgences • Printing press allows copies to be made and Luther’s ideas quickly spread throughout Germany • In Rome, the Catholic Church doesn’t take him seriously saying he is “some drunken German who will amend his ways when he sobers up.” • Many believed he “nailed” the document to the Castle Church in Wittenberg but sent a letter to his bishop and other bosses instead

15. Effects of Luther’s Theses • His protest led to the rise of Protestantism. • In challenging the pope’s authority Luther contributed to ending the religious unity of Western Europe

16. Break with the Church • Luther began wanting a complete religious break from the Church • Ways he would go about it: • He wanted to establish a German reformed church • He asked German princes to overthrow the power of the Catholic Church in Holy Roman Empire (Germany)

17. Sacraments • Luther criticized Church’s system of sacraments • Sacrament: a formal religious ceremony conferring a specific grace on those who receive it.

18. Catholic Sacraments • There are seven Catholic sacraments • Baptism • Communion • Penance (Confession/reconciliation) • Confirmation • Marriage • Anointing of the sick (Last Rites) • Holy Orders (becoming a priest, nun etc.)

20. Protestant Sacraments • Luther kept two of the seven sacraments: • Baptism • Communion

21. Luther’s Other Changes • Luther also proposed that clergy have the ability to marry. • Salvation through faith alone • Consequences: • Luther was excommunicated in January of 1521 • Excommunication: act of banishing a member of a church from the communion of believers and the privileges of the church; cutting a person off from a religious society • He was also called before imperial assembly in HRE in Worms. Charles V(HRE &Catholic) tried to convince him to change his mind

22. Edict of Worms • Martin Luther is made an outlaw within the Holy Roman Empire • People were supposed to burn his works • Luther was supposed to be captured and brought to Worms • BUT, within Holy Roman Empire were individual German kingdoms • Luther’s ruler in Saxony, Elector Frederick of Saxony, hid Luther and protected him.

23. Luther’s Effects  Rise of Lutheranism • Religious revolution • Luther gained the support of many German rulers in the kingdoms within the Holy Roman Empire (a Catholic Nation) • Luther set up new churches and services • Services included Bible readings, preaching, and song • Lutheranism was the first large Protestant faith

24. Charles V

25. Empire of Charles V

26. Politics in German Reformation • Charles V was the Holy Roman emperor and he was also the king of Spain. • He also controlled Milan, Hungary, Austria, and Naples • He wanted his land unified and Catholic • His problems: • Rivalry with Francis I of France and conflict over lands on borders (these conflicts last until WWII) • Pope Clement VII supports France (He’s the Pope during the Reformation) • Ottomans advancing on eastern part of HRE against Charles V • Many of the German states had gained considerable independence during the Middle Ages and posed a threat to Charles V Leaders of these states became supporters of Luther

27. Peace of Augsburg • The Lutheran leaders were more organized and eventually Charles V has to seek peace with them • Peace of Augsburg • Formally accepted the division of Christianity in Germany (Lutheranism and Catholicism) • States could chose which division they wanted • Lutherans were to have the same legal rights as Catholics • DID NOT recognize the principle of religious toleration for individuals so rulers could persecute people of another faith • Protestant Catholic • Catholic Protestant

28. Peace of Augsburg

29. Peasant Revolts