Why were people willing to die for their beliefs in the 16th Century?

Introduction to the Reformation

What did people believe in the 16th Century?

• Catholics and Protestants believed that each other were going to hell

• Protestants believed that the Catholic Church had changed Christianity

• Each tried to convince the other to change religions in order to save their souls from Hell.

• Hell was a place of everlasting torture.

What did people believe in the 16th Century?

• Catholics believed that the Catholic Church had the authority of God.

• Protestants believed the Bible alone + the person’s conscious had the authority of God

• Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)

Source A

Source C

Who has been sent to Hell in this Source?

Why were there mass murders of both Catholics & Protestants?

• Members of each faith believed that they could save peoples’ souls by getting them to change religion through torture.

• Many times the killing took place for political and not religious reasons

• People were convinced that the other side was the wrong side.

French Catholics Murdering Protestants in Paris

• How has the artist made the painting look horrific?

• Was the artist a Catholic or a Protestant? Why?

Source B

English “Martyrs”

• The execution of William Tyndale in 1536. He was executed for translating the Bible into English.

Cuthbert SimmonsAll you have to do is become a Catholic for the pain to stop.

What effect did the “Burning of the Martyrs” have during Mary’s Reign?

‘We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s Grace in England, as I trust shall never be put

out’

Extended Writing

• Why were people willing to die for their beliefs?

• Remember to include:• Peoples’ beliefs about Hell• Why were people afraid to change their religion?

Illustrate your answer with a diagram of someone being burnt to death with a thought bubble to show why they were willing to die for their beliefs

The Reformation

Who exactly was this “Pope” Guy?

• Leader of the Roman Catholic Church

• First bishop among other Bishops

• “it is necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”

• Decides what Christian doctrine is

• Interprets the bible for all Christians

What were some of the problems in the Catholic Church?

• Between 1305-1378 it was confusing who was the real pope

• People could buy their way into the priesthood

• Selling of indulgences• Lack of faith by priests,

peasants highly religious• The Papacy was

highly corrupt

Why did people start to doubt the Church?

• The Pope and many priests were greedy and corrupt

• The power of the Church was not able to stop the plague from spreading

• Christianity was already split between the East and the West

• The Church made people pay heavy fines