Reformation Begins

1. Reformation Begins

2. Church Problems -Roman Catholic Church dominated religious life in Northern and Western Europe -Renaissance emphasis on secularism challenged the Church authority -Causes of the Reformation -Social: Renaissance leading to a rise of humanism and secularism which led people to challenge the Church -Political: Powerful monarchs challenged the Church as the supreme power in Europe – viewed Pope as a foreign ruler who challenged authority -Economic: European princes and kings were jealous of the Church’s wealth – Merchants and others resented having to pay taxes to the Church – Indulgences -Religious: Church leaders had become worldly and corrupt – many practices such as selling indulgences were seen as unacceptable

3. Indulgences Indulgence = a pardon -Indulgences were a method of penance for one’s sins -It released a sinner from performing the penalty that a priest imposed for sins -Many got the impression that they could buy their way to Heaven -Church leaders lived lavish lives supported by church donations -Church authorized sale of indulgences to raise funds and to help sinners (so they said)

4. Selling Salvation -John Tetzel -Monk authorized to sell indulgences on behalf of the church -Tetzel begins selling indulgences to people in Wittenberg Germany -Did this to raise money to rebuild St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome -“As soon as coin in coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs” -Seen by Martin Luther

5. Martin Luther -He is the Father of the Reformation -German monk and religious professor in Wittenberg -Luther began to question his salvation -Through intense study of the Bible came to these beliefs: -Salvation is only possible through faith -It is a gift from God -Salvation can not be won or bought

6. 95 Theses -Luther’s response to Tetzel’s actions -Martin Luther objects to the sale of salvation through indulgences -Believed it would corrupt the true faith of Christians and that salvation could not be bought -1517, Luther writes a letter to church authorities protesting the use of indulgences - “95 Theses” -Posted on the door of the Church and invited other scholars to come debate him on the topic -Luther’s name became famous quickly all over Germany

7. Luther Causes a Crisis -Luther’s objections soon became public debate -Challenged Church tradition -By 1519, Luther expands controversy by rejecting the authority of the Pope -This led to the founding of Christian churches that did not accept the pope’s authority -Luther banned and ex-communicated from the Church in 1521 for not recanting his statements (Pope Leo X) -Begins a complete Reform of the church including: -Salvation is a gift from God -Teachings should be clearly based on the words of the Bible

8. Diet of Worms -Holy Roman Emperor = Charles V = Devout Catholic -He opposed Luther’s teaching -Charles V summons Luther to the town of Worms in 1521 to stand trial -Trial at Worms – 1521 -Luther refuses to recant his beliefs and is deemed an outlaw -Luther is protected by local lords -Lutheranism grows quickly in Northern Europe -Edict of Worms – declared Luther an outlaw – no one in the empire was to give Luther food or shelter -Luther and his followers created a separate religious group – and called themselves Lutherans -The Princes in Germany who supported Luther signed a protest and became known as the Protestants

9. Religious Warfare -Charles V can not suppress its growth -War breaks out over religion throughout Germany -Charles V goes to war against the Protestant princes -He defeated them in 1547 but he failed to get them back into the Catholic Church -Charles was tired of fighting and wanted to get every prince together and they met at the city of Augsburg -Peace of Augsburg – 1555 -Each local ruler chooses his religion for his people

10. New Movement -Religious reform in Switzerland was begun by Huldrych Zwingli -Influenced by ideas of Luther and Zwingli -Zwingli led a Protestant movement in Switzerland -Very close to Luther in most beliefs -Zwingli openly attacked abuses in the Catholic Church -He called for a return to the more personal faith of early Christianity -Zwingli is later killed in religious warfare in Switzerland but his religious reform continued

11. Calvinism -When Luther posted his 95 Theses John Calvin was only 8 years old -Calvin described a totally new branch of Christian beliefs -1536 – Calvin published Institutes of the Christian Religion – expressed ideas about God, salvation and human nature -Stressed the Bible -Calvin said that God chooses who he is going to save -Theory of Predestination – (Pre-Determined) - “the elect” – those who God has chosen -Calvin believed the ideal government was a theocracy – government controlled by religion leaders -Development of a theocracy in Geneva -Citizens lives were strictly controlled -Church and State were the same -Scottish preacher John Knox liked Calvin’s teachings and began to implement them and his followers were called Presbyterians

12. French Calvinists -Many nobles converted to Calvinism – called Huguenots -Possible threat to the Catholic monarchy -Hatred between the Huguenots and Catholics -St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre -August 24, 1572 -At dawn, Catholic mobs began hunting for Protestants and murdering them -The massacres spread to other cities and lasted six months -Thousands of Huguenots killed in France (12,000) -Civil war develops in France -Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598 to give some freedom of worship