The Protestant ReformationOf the 16th Century

Background

Before the Protestant Reformation there was considered to only be one Church, the Catholic Church

1515 – Pope Leo X gave indulgence for those who funded the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

Indulgence: an act of kindness or favor that in return one receives a pardon from temporal punishments of sin (less suffering in Purgatory)

Problem: Only the rich could afford this indulgence

Martin Luther

Born in Germany to Catholic Parents in 1483

He became a monk and also a professor at the University of Wittenburg in Saxony

October 31, 1517 : 95 Theses

Martin Luther

95 Theses

Nailed to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg

Listed 95 arguments up for debate about Church practices, most importantly the sale of indulgences

Luther believed nothing could be done to save us on our own accord

Martin Luther

Ideas of Luther

Purgatory was a false doctrine

Salvation was through faith alone

The Bible alone should be the final authority for truth

The only two Sacraments that were valid were Baptism and the Last Supper because they were the only two with Scriptural support

The Eucharist wasn't a transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, rather it is just Christ who is present through it

Such Ideas were published into books on printing presses by Luther to get his ideas circling faster

Diet of Worms (1521)

As ideas of Luther began to circulate Europe in his newly published books and pamphlets, European leaders loyal to the Church and the pope and clergy called together a council to try Luther on the grounds of heresy

The pope ordered Luther to renounce his heretical statements, but Luther refused to comply saying to do so would go against his better conscience

Luther was forced into hiding by the help of Fredrick the wise

John Calvin

Born in France to Catholic Parents in 1509

French theologian and pastor

Calvin began to doubt his Catholic faith as he began to read the writings of Aristotle, Luther, and Plato

John Calvin

Calvin began to write down his own ideas

Calvin believed Purgatory was a lie created by the Catholic Church to instill fear on the Church during the Middle Ages

Calvin believed the Old Testament laws still applied to Christians

Calvin believed the Catholic Church was a destructive path and that a reformed Christianity would be the surest path to heaven

John Calvin

1533 – Calvin is forced to flee Paris, He was threatened by many rulers of Europe and Church leaders to be executed on account of his radical ideas.

1572- St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

Royal Wedding between Protestant and Catholic

Huguenot (Calvinist Frenchmen) attempt the assassinate French King

Three Days Later: French King attacks the Huguenots responsible for the attempt but the killing spreads on, killing over 100,000 French men

Henry XIII Born in UK as a

Catholic in 1492

King of England

Asked for an annulment from his wife from the pope due to the fact that his wife couldn't produce an heir to the throne

The pope denied his request

Henry broke away from the Church

Church of England Henry XIII put it into English

law that the King was the final authority, not the Pope

Edward VI took over Henry's throne after his death in 1547

Edward was a liberal protestant that kept extreme measures to keep Catholicism out of England

Banned Catholic practices and rituals

Priests were forced to hide out in Catholic homes in secret compartments

Conclusion

The Protestant Reformation did not do what it was intended to do, to have a single Church reform. Rather, the Reformation caused a schism, a division in the Church.

Today, there are over 30,000 denominations of Christianity. We are left with one big problem: Which one is the one Church of Jesus Christ?

The One Catholic Church thats held strong to its beliefs for about 2000 years

Or any of the other thousand denominations that determine doctrine by personal interpretation