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