Luther Starts the Reformation

Martin Luther’s protest over abuses in the Catholic Church led to the founding of Protestant churches.

I. CAUSES OF THE REFORMATIONA. Secular and humanistic ideas challenged church

authority

B. Germans resisted payment to the church in Rome

C. Problems in the Catholic Church1. Corruption (especially Popes)2. Illiterate priests

D. Early Calls for Reform1. John Wycliffe and Jan Hus2. People of Florence burned possessions

II. LUTHER CHALLENGES THE CHURCHA. Martin Luther----------------------------

1. Opposed Indulgences—pardons for sins or crimes committed whichwere purchased

B. The 95 Theses1. Oct. 31, 1517!!2. Nailed the 95 Theses to a church and asked for open debate3. Reformation—movement of religious reform

4. 3 Main Ideasa. People could win salvation only by faith in God’s gift of forgiveness. The Church taught that faith and “good works” were required for salvation.

b. All Church teachings should be clearly based on the words of the Bible. The pope and church traditions were false authorities.

c. All people with faith were equal. Therefore, people did not need priests to interpret the Bible for them.

III. THE RESPONSE TO LUTHERA. The Pope’s Threat (What do you think he did?)

1. Leo excommunicated Luther

B. The Emperor’s Opposition1. Holy Roman Emperor issued Edict of Worms

a. declared Luther a hereticb. Luther translated the Bible into German while in hidingc. Followers became “Lutherans”

IV. ENGLAND BECOMES PROTESTANT

A. Henry VIII Wants a Son1. 42 year old wife Catherine of

Aragon had not produced a male heir

2. Pope denied annulment of marriage

B. The Reformation Parliament1. Henry VIII asked Parliament to end Pope’s power in

England2. He married Anne Boleyn3. Act of Supremacy passed— made King, not Pope, the head of the Church of England

'A woman who is the scandal of Christendom.'-Katharine of Aragon describes her rival, 1531

C. Consequences of Henry’s Changes1. Seized church land (20% of

England)2. Henry has 6 wives (3rd one

gave him a son, Edward)

The Reformation ContinuesJohn Calvin and other Reformation leaders began new Protestant churches. The Catholic Church also made reforms.

I. CALVIN BEGINS ANOTHER PROTESTANT CHURCH

A. Calvin and His Teachings1. Men and women are sinful by nature2. God chooses few people to save

a. Predestination—God knew from the beginning of time who will be savedi. (What effect would predestination have on people’s

lives?)b. Calvinism—religion based on Calvin’s teachings

B. Calvin Runs Geneva1. Ideal government is a Theocracy—government controlled by

religious leaders2. Calvin runs Geneva

a. Strict rulesi. No bright colorsii. No card playingiii. Religious classes mandatory

b. Geneva “model city” to Protestants

II. OTHER REFORMERSA. The Anabaptists

1. Needed to be baptized again as an adult2. Separation of church and state and refused to fight in

warsa. influenced Amish and

Quakers

B. Women of the Reformation1. Women protected reformers2. As Protestant religion grew, women’s roles were

diminished

III. THE CATHOLIC REFORMATIONA. Many who remained loyal to Catholic Church

reformed the church itselfB. Ignatius of Loyola

1. Established Jesuitsa. members of a religious order devoted to Jesusb. 3 goals

i. Set up schoolsii. Convert non-Christiansiii. Stop Protestantism

C. Reforming Popes1. 4 changes:

a. Investigated indulgences and other abuses or powerb. Approved of Jesuitsc. Inquisitiond. Called Council of Trent

i. Indulgences were valid expressions of faithii. Churches interpretation of Bible was finaliii. Needed faith and “good works” for salvationiv. Bible and Church tradition were equally powerful authorities in Christian life

D. Legacy of the Reformation1. Protestant churches

flourished2. Europe no longer

united by religion3. Monarchs and states

gained power left by church

4. Rejection of Christian belief and challenges to authority set precedent for modern world.