The Protestant Reformation

1. The Protestant Reformation 1517-1648

2. Martin Luther • Since then Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason– I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other– my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen. • April 18, 1521 Martin Luther before the emperor and princess of Germany in the city of Worms.

3. Origins of the Protestant Reformation • The Protestant Reformation is the name given to the religious reform movement that divided the western Church into Catholic and Protestant groups. • Martin Luther began the Reformation in the early 16th century. • Although there were several earlier developments that had set the stage for religious change.

4. Religious Change • One of the reasons for religious change was intellectual thought that was caused by the Italian Renaissance. • Christian Humanism- The major goal of Christian Humanism is to reform the Catholic Church. • Humanists believed in the ability of human beings to reason and improve themselves.

5. Desiderius Erasmus • The best know of all the Christian humanists. • A major belief of Erasmus was that Christianity should show people how to live good lives on a daily basis rather than provide a system of beliefs that people have to practice to be saved. This is called “the philosophy of Christ.” • Erasmus wanted to reform the Church in several different ways: spread the philosophy of Christ, provide education in the works of Christianity, and criticize the abuses in the Church.

7. Why was there need for Reform? • Corruption in the Catholic Church. • Between 1450 and 1520, a series of popes failed to meet the Church’s spiritual needs. • These popes where supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the church but instead they were all too often concerned with Italian politics and worldly interests than with spiritual matters. • Many of the church leaders were also concerned with money and used their church offices to advance their careers and their wealth.

9. Salvation • Many ordinary people desired meaningful religious expression and assurance of their salvation, or acceptance into Heaven. • For most salvation became a more worldly or material event. • People began to buy religious relics that would gain a person an indulgence. • Indulgence- release from all or part of the punishment for sin.

11. Martin Luther • Professor and Monk at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. • Through his study Luther had found the answer to the problem of one’s certainty of salvation. • In Luther’s eyes, human beings were powerless in the sight of an almighty God and could never do enough good works to earn salvation. • This teaching was called Justification, the chief teaching of the Protestant Reformation.

13. Ninety-Five Theses • Luther did not see himself as a rebel, but was very upset with the idea of indulgences because it went against everything that the Bible said about salvation. • “As soon as the coin in the coffer [money box] rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” • October 31, 1517, Martin Luther sent a list of Ninety-five Theses to his church superiors, especially the local bishop.

15. A Break with the Church • By 1520 Martin Luther had encouraged the German princes to overthrow the papacy in Germany and establish a reformed German church. • Luther also attacked the Catholic Church’s sacraments which Luther believed had destroyed the true meaning of the Gospel. • Luther wanted to keep two sacraments- baptism and Communion.

16. Trouble for Luther • By 1521 Luther had been excommunicated from the Catholic Church. • Luther was also summoned to appear in front of the legislative assemble of the Holy Roman Empire by the emperor Charles V who believed he could convince Luther to change his ideas. • The Edict of Worms , made Luther an outlaw within the Empire. • Charles V ordered all of Luther’s works to be burned and he himself to be arrested. • In 1522, Luther’s ruler Frederick of Saxony sent Luther into hiding and protected him in Wittenberg.

17. The Rise of Lutheranism • German leaders began to take over Catholic churches and began to established churches that were monitored by the government. • Luther designed a new service that would replace the Catholic Mass that consisted of: Bible readings, preaching of the word of God, and song. • This doctrine developed by Luther became known as Lutheranism. Lutheranism was the first Protestant faith.

18. Politics in the German Reformation • Political strife throughout the Holy Roman Empire, opposition from the pope, and the approaching Ottoman Empire greatly helped the German Reformation. • By the time Charles V could get military forces to enforce his views, the Lutheran princes were well organized. Unable to defeat them Charles V was forced to seek peace.

19. Peace • An end to religious warfare in Germany came in 1555 with the Peace of Augsburg. • This agreement formally accepted the division of Christianity in Germany. • The German states were now free to choose between Catholicism and Lutheranism.

21. The Zwinglian Reformation • The idea of Christian unity had fallen apart within Europe with the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. • Protestantism also saw some division within its own movement.

22. Ulrich Zwingli • Ulrich Zwingli was a priest in Zurich. The city council of Zurich, strongly influenced by Zwingli, began to introduce religious reforms.

23. Reforms Made by Zwingli • Removed Relics and images • Removed paintings and decorations • New Church Service would replace Catholic Mass • Scripture reading • Prayer • Sermons

24. In 1529 Luther and Zwingli debated over the Lord’s Supper. • Read the debate on page 774.

25. War in Switzerland • War broke out in Switzerland between the Catholics and Protestants. • The Protestant army was soundly defeated with Zwingli being killed. • The Protestant leadership was now passed to John Calvin.

26. Calvin and Calvinism • John Calvin was educated in his native country of France, however, once he converted to Protestantism he was forced to leave France. • In 1536, Calvin wrote Institutes of Christian Religion. • His writings were a summary of Protestant beliefs. • This work immediately gave Calvin a reputation as one of the new leaders of Protestantism.

27. Calvin and Luther • Calvin and Luther’s ideas about religion were very close, however, Calvin also placed a lot of emphasis on the all-powerful nature of God. • Calvin’s belief of the all-powerful nature of God lead him to the idea of predestination. • Predestination- God has determined in advance who would be saved (the elect) and who would be damned (the reprobate).

28. Protestant Geneva • Calvin created a church government that used both clergy and laity in the service of the church. • The Consistory was a special body for enforcing moral discipline. • They punished crimes such as: dancing, singing obscene songs, drunkenness, swearing, and playing cards.

29. Reformation in England • In England Reformation of the church began in politics unlike in Germany were reformation began with theology. • King Henry VII wanted to divorce his first wife. • Catherine of Aragon • In order to remarry Henry needed the Pope to declare his marriage to Catherine invalid, but the Pope did not agree with divorce. • Henry therefore turned to the English church courts.

31. New Church • In 1534, at Henry’s request, Parliament moved to finalize the break of the Catholic Church in England with the pope in Rome. • The Act of Supremacy of 1534- the king was the only supreme leader on Earth of the Church of England. • This gave Henry control over religious doctrine, clerical appointments, and discipline. • Thomas Moore, a devout Catholic and Humanist, disagreed with Henry’s actions and was beheaded.

32. “Bloody Mary” • Henry VIII’s daughter would eventually be crowned queen. • Mary, a devout Catholic, set out to restore the Catholic Church in England. • The Church of England had become more protestant than Catholic since the death of Henry. • Mary went about the restoration the wrong way burning protestants, earning her the name of “Bloody Mary.”

33. The Anabaptist • Wanted separation of church and state. • They believed the church was a voluntary community of adult believers who had undergone spiritual rebirth and had then been baptized. • The Anabaptist allowed common ground for Protestants and Catholics. Both felt the Anabaptist should be persecuted.

34. Effects on the Role of Women • The Protestants were important in developing a new view of the family. • In Protestantism, the role of the woman was to obey her husband and to bear children. • For women, family life was the only reality for protestant women.

35. Jesuits • The society of Jesus was founded by a Spanish Nobleman, Ignatius of Loyola. • Ignatius’ followers formed a small group called the Jesuits. • There duty was absolute obedience to the pope.

36. In your notes describe the impact of the Jesuits and the Council of Trent on the Catholic Church throughout the world. • Make sure to start with why the Catholic Church needed reform.

37. Catholic Reformation • Paul III began the Council of Trent to help reform the Catholic Church. • Catholic Clergy met in the City of Trent off and on for 18 years.

38. Council of Trent • The Council confirmed the Catholic teachings that opposed Protestant teachings. • With a clear direction in their beliefs, the Catholic Church was unified as a strong religious group behind the Pope.