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The Reformation: Overview

The Reformation: Overview. Martin Luther’s Theses: 1517. Catholic theology: faith and good works are required for salvation “Indulgences:” one form by which believers can do good works; money paid to church to atone for sin; key source of revenue for Church

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The Reformation: Overview

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  1. The Reformation: Overview

  2. Martin Luther’s Theses: 1517 • Catholic theology: faith and good works are required for salvation • “Indulgences:” one form by which believers can do good works; money paid to church to atone for sin; key source of revenue for Church • Luther posted theses on door of Wittenberg castle church • Split European society and ignited savage violence that lasted through 1648 • So what was so radical?...

  3. Luther’s Radical Theology • Luther: Confession frees sinner of sinful burden, not by priest’s absolution, by inner grace and faith • Luther: Faith and Jesus’s crucifixion alone were sufficient for man’s salvation • Later, Luther • Believed individuals should read Bible in vernacular and interpret according to own conscience • Attacked reliance on fasts, pilgrimages, saints, masses, and rejected purgatory • Reduced 7 sacraments to 2 (baptism and communion) • Repudiated “transubstantiation,” but affirmed mystical presence of Christ in Eucharist (“consubstantiation”)

  4. Diet of Worms: 1521 • Habsburg Charles V summoned Luther to Worms re: excommunication • Luther: to be convinced only by scripture or reason • After sentence of banishment, Luther hidden by Elector of Saxony • Wrote key works in hiding • Diet propelled Luther’s ideas to international prominence

  5. German “Peasants Revolt” 1525 • Printing press spread Luther’s ideas • Charles V was fervent loyal to Roman Christianity and Church was large landholder • Princes, cities and peasants politicized Lutheranism to seek independence • Reformers used Lutheranism to demand social change • Peasants demanded regulation of rents, end of feudal dues, land and rights to common lands

  6. Luther Opposed the Peasants Revolt • Lutheran peasants, towns and principalities seized Catholic lands and warfare began • Luther repudiated connection with the peasants; up to 100,000 peasants killed • Luther created Lutheran clergy and drew closer to government: maintain order • Charles V urged popes to hold council to hear Protestants, to try to heal the dividing church through compromise

  7. Peace of Augsburg: 1555 • 1530: Turks controlled southeastern Europe, threatened Vienna • Augsburg Confession: 1530: • Charles V desired unified HRE • “Confession” stated common beliefs of Catholics and Lutherans • Unrest continued after Turks were defeated • Peace of Augsburg: 1555 • Ended 30 years warfare between German Catholic and Protestant regions • Cuius region, eius religio (“whose the region, his the religion”): only Lutheranism or Catholicism • No individual freedom of choice – all citizens to follow local choice

  8. John Calvin: Calvinism • Agreed with most Lutheran beliefs, but differed in • Communion a pious, symbolic act – Christ not present in Eucharist • Emphasized predestination: God offers grace to “the elect,” whom he knows in advance • True Christians should Christianize the state, rather than being subordinate • 1530s: faith spread to Geneva, Netherlands, Scotland, parts of England, parts of France • French Calvinists = Huguenots • English Calvinists = Puritans • Theory in history: Calvinism helped spread ethic of capitalism in northern Europe

  9. Anabaptists • Ana = againBaptist = baptize • Believers must be “born again” and that salvation brings responsibility towards fellow man • Religion included social equality, end of feudal system, pacifism, typically from lower classes • Suffered most persecution of all Reformation groups • Radical Anabaptists: establish by revolution an ideal Christian common-wealth, with absolute equality and communal ownership of goods. • Heavily involved in German Peasants War: overthrow feudalism via religion

  10. Anabaptist Seizure of Münster • 1534: Anabaptists overthrew city government of Münster and expelled Catholics and Lutherans • Jan Matthys predicted apocalypse on Easter Sunday • Elect of the Last Days abolished money and private property; desecrated cathedral; attempted to foment revolution elsewhere • Besieged by army of bishop of Münster: starvation threatened after several months • Jan of Leiden succeeded Matthys, declared himself king of Münster, took 15 wives; ran naked through streets in religious fervor • Bishop’s army attacked town and executed virtually all the Anabaptist inhabitants over 4 days; tortured Leiden and hung body in cage

  11. Counter-reformation: Council of Trent: 1545-7, 1551-2, 1562-3 • Catholic council to address doctrine and reform of church practices • Affirmed pre-existing doctrines: no concessions to Protestants • Retain Latin as language of church and scriptures • Individuals forbidden to interpret scriptures without priestly guidance • Reaffirmed that scripture and tradition are of equal value • Clergy must live in their jurisdiction areas; seminary in each diocese • Kept indulgences, but curbed abuses • Loyola: Jesuit Order

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