The Protestant Reformation

1. The Protestant Reformation What factors lead to the Reformation? What was Martin Luther’s role in the Reformation? What were the teachings and impact of John Calvin?

2. Church Abuses • The Church had become more and more involved in politics during the Middle Ages • Popes and Italian princes competed for power • The Church fought to maintain and expand their land • They would excommunicate leaders that tried to do things they disagreed with, including appointing leaders they didn’t like • To pay for art, new cathedrals, and high-class lives, the Church • Raised fees for services like marriages and baptisms • Sold indulgences • These were a lessening of the time a soul had to spend in the middle ground between heaven and earth (purgatory) • Before this, indulgences could only be obtained through good deeds

4. Opened Minds and Early Revolts • More people were able and willing to think for themselves during the Renaissance • Education and critical thinking were encouraged (humanism) • Because more people could read the Bible for themselves (as a result of the printing press), they started questioning things • 1300s: • John Wycliffe in England wrote sermons calling for change; his followers kept his movement alive after his death • Jan Hus in the Czech Republic led a reform movement and was executed for it

5. Martin Luther • Martin Luther, a German monk and professor of theology, had a problem with what the church had become (corrupted and worldly) • In 1517: • A priest in Germany wanted to raise money to rebuild a cathedral • He promised that if people bought indulgences to help pay for the cathedral, the buyers and their dead family members would all be guaranteed entrance into heaven • Martin Luther saw that this excluded poor people entirely; this was the final straw for him • He posted 95 Theses (arguments) against the Church and its abuses on the door of the church

7. 95 Theses • Martin Luther argued that: • Indulgences had no Biblical basis • The Pope had no authority to release souls from purgatory • Christians could be saved only through faith • Reactions: • Copies were distributed throughout Europe • The Church called on Martin Luther to withdraw his views, but Luther refused and was excommunicated • Diet of Worms: meeting where Luther hoped to defend his ideas, but instead the Holy Roman Emperor declared Luther an outlaw • Many accepted Luther’s teachings and renounced the authority of the Pope…and became known as “Protestants” because they “protested” the authority of the Pope

9. Luther’s Teachings • Martin Luther (Lutheranism) taught that: • All Christians have equal access to God through faith and the Bible (translated Bible into German) • Every town should have a school so that all children could read the Bible • These things were wrong and should be banned: Indulgences, confession to a priest, pilgrimages, and prayers to saints • Priests should be allowed to marry

10. Peasants’ Revolt • Many peasants supported Martin Luther and his reforms • They hoped for social and economic, not just religious, reform • 1524: • A Peasants’ Revolt spread across Germany to demand an end to serfdom and better conditions in general • Luther was in favor of social order and respect for political authority, so he denounced the revolt • Nobles suppressed the rebellion by killing tens of thousands of peasants and destroying thousands of homes

11. The Peace of Augsburg • 1530s and 1540s: Charles V tried to force Lutheran princes to come back to the Catholic Church, but they refused and fought over it • Compromise: The Peace of Augsburg, 1555 • Each prince could decide which religion (Catholic or Lutheran) would be followed in his lands • Most Northern German states chose Lutheranism • Most Southern German states chose Catholicism

12. Switzerland and John Calvin • John Calvin • Born in France and trained as a priest and lawyer • 1536: published a book that explained his beliefs and how best to run and organize a Protestant church • Main idea of John Calvin: Predestination • God had long ago determined who would gain salvation • World is divided into two kinds of people: saints and sinners • All should try to live like saints, though only those who are predestined for heaven could succeed • 1541: Protestants in the Swiss city-state of Geneva asked John Calvin to lead their community • He set up a theocracy • Hard work, discipline, honesty, and morality were emphasized • Harsh fines were imposed for breaking a law, like dancing or fighting or laughing in church • This seemed great to many Protestants and Calvinism spread throughout Europe • Calvinism spread to America in the 1600s as people tried to escape persecution from Catholics at home

15. Your Job • You will now be a reformer! • Pick something that needs to be reformed and write down your OWN 95 (or…maybe a few less) theses of what changes need to be made about this. • Write it in a list and we will “nail” it to the appropriate door.