The Protestant Reformation

Chapter 17 Sections 3 & 4

Causes of the Reformation

Renaissance ideas (humanism, glorification of the individual)

The Catholic Church after the Middle Ages was weaker (plague, political control)

Printing press (allowed information to spread faster, allowed lay people to read the Bible for themselves)

Northern Renaissance(Christian) Humanism

Taken from Italian Renaissance humanism’s study of the classics

Goal was to reform Christendom Desiderius Erasmus

Studied original Christian texts Handbook of the Christian Knight –

Christianity should show how to live, not be rules to get saved

Praise of Folly (1511) – criticized popes

Corruption of the Church

Renaissance Popes (1450 – 1520) Worried about Italian politics (Papal

States) Financial problems (buying art)

Pluralism Absenteeism Indulgences

Selling salvation to raise revenue People wanted a more meaningful

religious experience

Martin Luther Born in Germany (Nov. 10, 1483) Studied law until deciding to

become a monk Never felt that God would accept

him Studied the Bible Came to a new idea –

justification by faith Salvation was not through good

works, but through faith

Martin Luther vs. the Church Selling of indulgences angered Luther

Pope Leo X was trying to raise money to rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica

Johann Tetzel was the local bishop in Wittenberg

Ninety-Five Theses (October 31, 1517) Wittenberg, Germany Attack on the church and the sell of

indulgences Printed copies spread throughout Germany

Luther vs. the Holy Roman Empire Pope Leo X excommunicates Luther in Jan. 1521 Diet of Worms (1521)

Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor) – orders Luther to recant (take back)

Luther refuses Edict of Worms

No one in the empire is allowed to give food or shelter to Luther

All of his books were to be burned Frederick the Wise of Saxony gives Luther protection

1522 – Luther returns from exile and finds that he has gained followers

Lutheranism The Lutheran Faith developed as a new

Christian Church Translated New Testament into German Salvation through faith alone (not through the church) Bible is only source of religious truth

Peasants’ Revolt (1524) Peasants demand an end to serfdom (inspired by

Christian reformers like Luther) Luther sided with the princes to keep peace Luther loses support of many peasants

German religious wars Some princes sign an agreement with Charles V to

fight against the Lutherans Some princes sign an agreement to fight Charles V &

the Catholic Church (Protestants = protested the church, get it)

Peace of Augsburg (1555) Each German prince would decide the religion of their

area

English Religious Reform Henry VIII – wanted a male heir

Catherine of Aragon – daughter Mary Nephew was Charles V of HRE

Asked pope for a divorce, pope denied

Henry turns to Parliament for help Act of Supremacy (1534) – King became

head of English church, not the pope

New Church called the Church of England or Anglican Church Church keeps most Catholic traditions

English Religious Reform Henry’s Wives

6 wives = 1 son Check out the timeline on pages 492 –

493 Edward VI

Sickly, dies in his teens Protestant reforms put in changes to the

Anglican Church Mary (“Bloody Mary”)

Returned England to a Catholic a nation Burned Protestants at the stake

Elizabeth I Protestant who re-established the

Anglican Church Puritans – “purify” the English church You may have heard of these guys,

many moved to America!

Swiss Reforms (Zwinglianism) Huldrych Zwingli (1484 –

1531) Like Lutheranism – salvation

through faith alone Different

Wanted a theocracy (church city-state) in Zurich

Zwingli’s forces defeated by Catholics

Swiss Reforms (Calvinism) John Calvin

Born in France in 1509 Studied theology, law, and humanism Wrote The Institutes of the Christian

Religion Predestination – belief that God is all

powerful and predestined those who were saved

Geneva – began to reform as a theocracy

Calvinism Spreads John Knox – spreads ideas to Scotland

(Presbyterians) Huguenots in France

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Anabaptists Did not want states to have power over religion Favored by middle and lower class Adult baptism, all members equal Separation of church and state

Would not hold political office or fight in the army

Persecuted by Catholics & Protestants Forerunners of Mennonites and the Amish Influenced the Quakers and Baptists

Catholic Reformation Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings

become the foundation of the Society of Jesus

Followers called Jesuits 3 Goals

Create schools to teach classical studies and religion (Georgetown & Loyola in America)

Missions to spread Catholicism (missionaries sent around the world)

Stop the spread of Protestantism

Catholic Reformation Council of Trent (1545 – 1563)

Re-affirmed traditional Catholic beliefs Church’s interpretation of the Bible

was final Need faith and good works for

salvation Bible and Church were equally

powerful authorities False selling of indulgences was

banned Pope Paul IV – has forbidden books

burned

Effects of the Reformation Religious

New denominations and churches flourish Catholics Church becomes more centralized

Political Decrease of church power leads to the formation

of the modern nation-states Social

Questioning of the church leads to the Enlightenment