The Reformation

1. The Reformation Chapter 14 Part 1

2. Causes of the Protestant Reformation • The Prestige of the Church was in decline due to the Crises of the 14th and 15th centuries: • The Babylonian Captivity 1309-1377 • The Great Schism 1377-1417 • The Conciliar Movement ( sharing power with an assembly and restricting Pope’s power with a Constitution was rejected by several 15th and 16th century Popes.

3. Corruption within the Church • Simony The sale of Church offices • In 1487 the pope sold 24 offices • Reformers unhappy by unqualified people in Church offices • Pluralism an official holding more than one church office at a time • Absenteeism a church officials collecting payments and privileges even when not performing a duty

4. More Corruption in the Church • Nepotism: The appointment of Church offices to family members • Leo X and Clement VII were both sons of Medici Florentine rulers • Pope Paul III made two of his grandsons cardinals • The Sale of Indulgences: people paying money to the Church to absolve their sins or sins of their loved ones

5. The moral decline of the papacy • Pope Alexander VI had numerous affairs and children out of wedlock • In the early 16th century, 1/5 of all priests in Trent kept concubines • Clerical Ignorance: Many priests were illiterate • Some abused their power (trading sexual favors for absolution, etc.)

6. Critics of the Church • Emphasized a personal relationship with God • Wyclif: (England) The Bible is the sole authority • Diminished the importance of the sacraments • Stressed personal communion with God • Lollards continued his ideas into the 16th century

7. Critics • Jan Hus (Bohemia) • Freedom of debate • Ultraquism • Vernacular • Transubstantiation • Was executed at the Council of Constance

8. More Critics • Thomas a’ Kempis wrote The Imitation of Christ • Founded The Brethren of the Common Life • Encouraged Christians to life simply and make religion a personal experience

9. More Critics • Erasmus In Praise of Folly • Criticized the corruption of the Church and the hypocrisy of the clergy • “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched.”

10. Christian Humanists in the North • Criticized the Church AND questioned the validity of the Vulgate • New Translations of the Bible undermined Catholic authority • In the North: Erasmus, Ximenes (Spain) LeFevre (in France) Valla (in Italy)

11. Italian Renaissance • Deemphasized religion • Secularism and individualism emphasized by Church leaders • Many decried the moral decline of the Church

12. New Critics opposed to the moral decline of the Church • Ulrich Zwingli was a preacher who was trained as a humanist and used Erasmus’ edition of the Greek New Testament • John Calvin was influenced by humanism; especially the writings of Erasmus • After the Reformation, many monasteries were turned into schools by humanists.

13. Martin Luther 1483-1546 • Was supposed to be a lawyer • Conversion experience • Augustinian monk • Taught at the University of Wittenberg in Saxony

14. At the Same time… • Pope Leo X looking for more money to build St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome • Authorized John Tetzel to sell indulgences • “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” • Tetzel’s selling of indulgences had gotten out of hand

15. October 31, 1517 The 95 Thesis • Luther went beyond the mere criticism of selling indulgences • He questioned the authority of the Pope to grant indulgences (Scriptural questions) • The actual nailing of the 95 Thesis may not have happened • But the printing press spread his ideas rapidly

16. The Pope was not worried • Luther’s outbursts did not seem unlike theological debates between different orders of monks that were common • BUT in 1518 when Luther was told by the pope to stop, he defied the Pope’s authority • Luther’s protector was Frederick III (the Wise) of Saxony

17. In a 1520 debate • With Catholic theologian, Johann Eck • Luther denied the infallibility of the pope (and a general council) • Claimed that the Church made a mistake when executing Jan Hus

18. Remember what was going on in Italy • Renaissance • The League of Cambrai and invasion

19. 1520 Luther published his theology of reform • Salvation through faith alone • Bible is the sole authority • Rejected most sacraments (baptism, communion and penance still ok) • The Church = priesthood of all believers • Criticized indulgence sales, simony, etc. • Rejected poverty, chastity, obedience • Encouraged German princes to reform the Church in their states (advantages)

20. Leo X excommunicated Luther 1520 • Luther threw the Papal Bull containing the news into the fire

21. 1521 The Diet of Worms • Was the tribunal of the HRE which had the power to outlaw and sentence execution through burning at the stake • Charles V had promised before his election to HRE that he would not allow anyone to be executed or outlawed without a fair trial

22. The Diet of Worms • Charles V demanded that Luther recant his writings • Luther, “Here I stand, I can do no other” • Edict of Worms: Luther was outlawed as a heretic by the HRE • But was saved and protected by agents of Frederick the Wise

23. 1523 Luther translated the Bible into the Vernacular • = the development of the modern German language • Since any literate German could have access to Scripture…was a democratizing factor for religion

24. 1530 Confessions of Augsburg • Written by Luther’s friend…Philip Melanchthon • He tried to mend the rift between Lutheranism and Catholicism within the German states of the HRE • Didn’t work BUT… • Confessions of Augsburg became the traditional statement of the Lutheran Church

25. Confessions of Augsburg • Salvation through Faith alone • Bible is the sole authority • The Church is the Priesthood of all believers

26. The early spread of Lutheranism • German princes in the North were drawn to Lutheranism: • they could escape the authority of the Catholic Church • They could confiscate Church lands within their kingdoms • The Southern part of the HRE remained Catholic

27. The spread of Lutheranism • Denmark and Sweden also embraced Lutheranism • Calvinism will win much of the rest of Western Europe…later

28. The Political Repercussions of Lutheranism • Charles V (too late) tried to stop the spread of Lutheranism • Remember…Sack of Rome 1527 • Was busy fighting Francis I in Italy • Also Turks were threatening Hungary • Now HRE and the Pope allied against Lutheranism

29. The Swabian Rebellion • Aka The Peasants’ War 1524-1525 • Peasants believed that Luther would support a liberal social agenda because he was religiously liberal • BUT, Although Luther sympathized with the plight of the peasants, he was not interested in social or political reform; only in reforming the Church

30. The Swabian Rebellion • 1525: TheTwelve Articles (Peasants’ Demands) • End of serfdom and tithes • End of Feudal hunting rights and other oppressive practices • 100,000+ peasants involved • Luther: Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of the Peasants

31. The Swabian Peasant Uprising • Luther was disgusted with the violence • Admonished both Lutheran and Catholic princes to crush the revolt • They did • The peasants felt betrayed • REMEMBER: Although Luther was a religious liberal, he was no threat to the existing social or political order.