Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation

Today we will watch the movie Luther (马丁路德 ), about the life of Martin Luther and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

Today’s lesson will present some information that will make it easier to understand the history of the movie

(The movie received a lot of money from the Lutheran church)

Christianity• We will begin the semester discussing one

of the most important foundation of Western culture: Christianity

• Today, The Protestant Reformation • ( 宗教改革 )

Review: The Catholic Church• Most powerful Church• Has central authority is in Rome (The Vatican)• The Pope is the highest authority

• under him are Cardinals, Bishops, Priests

Martin Luther (1483-1546)• He was a Catholic

monk/Priest, and his criticism of the Catholic Church inspired the Protestant Reformation

• Wrote the 95 Theses

• Translated the Bible into German

Pope Leo X (1475-1521)

• Pope from 1513 until his death in 1521

• Spent great sums of money on art and literature

• challenged Martin Luther’s criticism

Europe in the Middle Ages

• The Middle Ages is a long period of time from the Fall of Rome (410 AD) to the Protestant Reformation (early 1500’s)

• The Catholic Church is the most important cultural influence of the Middle Ages.

• People paid 10% of wages to the Church and the Church was most powerful in politics.

The Catholic Church in the Middle Ages

• Because the books of the Bible were written only in Greek and Latin, and only the most educated could read the Bible

• In general, only priests and monks could read the Bible (aka The Scriptures, The Gospel)

Medieval Catholic Churchfear of Judgment

• The Church was able to enforce rules and taboos by threatening people with eternal damnation (forever in Hell) for the bad and eternal happiness in Heaven for the good.

• People lived in fear of being judged and sent to Hell for eternity

The Last Judgment

• According to some Catholic philosophy, each person is judged after his death and is sent to Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory.

• The Last Judgment happens at the end of the world, and it is the return of Jesus, the raising of the dead for a final judgment.

• After the Last Judgment, a new heaven and earth will be born.

The Last Judgment by Hans Memling

Purgatory

Purgatory

• Purgatory is a place of punishment/purification to prepare the soul before entering Heaven. Catholics pray for the souls of their loved ones in Purgatory

• Souls in Purgatory will eventually go to Heaven, but it is believed they are not perfect enough yet.

Indulgences• An indulgence is a paper given by the pope,

and it reduces a soul’s time in purgatory. It reduces the punishment of sins.(Sin: 罪孽 )

• During the Middle Ages, indulgences were sold because the people were fearful of hell, and the church could make money,.

Indulgences

What is an indulgence?Why did the church sell

indulgences?How did Martin Luther respond to

the sale of indulgences? (What did he do?)

While you watch the movie, ask the questions:

“This is no ordinary indulgence, this will build

Saint Peter’s Church!”The Catholic Church was in need of money

to pay for the renovation of St Peter’s Church. The Pope encouraged the sale of indulgences as a way to earn money.

St. Peter’s is the largest Christian church in the world. The interior can hold up to 60,000 people. Some people believe it

is the location of Saint Peter’s tomb.

St. Peter’s is an important pilgrimage site for Christians, and it holds many famous artworks

and Christian artifacts.

The Pietà by Michelangelo Bernini’s baldicchino (pavilion)

Pietà (Michelangelo)• Pieta is a subject in Christian art that shows

the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Jesus.

• It is also the only work he ever signed.

Here you can see how big Bernini’s pavilion is next to the men

The Vatican in Rome

This is a view of Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican City

Michelangelo (continued)

This is Michelangelo’s Last Judgment (Sistine Chapel in Vatican City)

95 Theses

• What are the 95 theses?• Why did Luther write the 95 theses?

95 Theses• The 95 Theses mark the beginning of the Protestant

Reformation. Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the church door

• Primarily, the 95 Theses discuss abuse and greed in the Church, especially the sale of Indulgences.

• The 95 Theses are translated into German and spread around the countryside, and Luther gains popularity among the masses.

• Luther refuses to deny his writings and he is thrown out of the church, he must go into hiding for fear he will be killed.

Heresy

• Heresy is the rejection of one or more beliefs of a religion, or a loyalty to "other beliefs.”

• In the Middle ages, thousands of people were killed for heresy. (Heretic)

Martin Luther was accused of heresy.

Inquisition • The Catholic Church ordered the

Inquisition to fight and suppress heresy• Thousands believed to be heretics were

tortured and killed.

also in the movie: Peasant’s War (1524)

• A peasant Revolt took place mostly in Germany. Many peasants claimed to be followers of Luther

• About 300,000 peasants took part in the rebellion. 100,000 people were killed.

Luther’s reaction to the Peasant War:

• “Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay, and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful, or devilish than a rebel …”-Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants

Luther encouraged the nobility use violence to stop the peasant revolt.

(In the movie, Luther feels sorry for the Peasants)

Why didn’t Luther support the peasants?

• Christians should submit to their lawful government.

• He wanted to begin a church, and he needed the support of the nobility

• He believed that a good Church would need a stable and strong government

• The movie portrays Luther as more saintly and sympathetic than perhaps he was in reality

Translating the Bible into German

• Why would the Roman church fear a Bible written in a common language?

• Why would a German bible separate Germany from Rome?

Luther’s Bible

Consequences

• What were the consequences of Martin Luther’s rebellion?

Protestant vs. Catholic (today)

• Catholics have a central authority in Rome, and the Pope interprets the Bible

• Catholics have “communion” at every church service and believe in the “real presence”

• Protestants can interpret the Bible individually.

Protestants and Catholics

• Both read the same Bible• Both believe that Jesus lived, died, and

was brought back from the dead.

• These days Catholics and Protestants usually get along

Communion (Eucharist)

Why? The Last Supper

According to Christians, the night before Jesus was killed, he ate supper with his disciples (students) and Jesus said the bread and wine was his body and blood. He then said to eat the bread and the wine to remember him. Christians believe that Jesus meant he would sacrifice his body for the people, and they did not need to sacrifice animals anymore.

Children at First Communion

Lent! The Easter season is coming….

• This year, lent begins March 9 and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, April 23.

• Sunday April 24 will be Easter, which is the day to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

• Lent is a serious time of fasting, praying, and simple living.

• The day of Easter is meant to be a day of joy and celebration

During lent, some people act out Jesus’ death

Lent is a sad time to remember the suffering of Jesus. And Easter is the day to celebrate his

victory over suffering and death.

Lent, Easter• Some Catholic churches will cover all

decorations and statues in the church during the Lent Season.

• At midnight Easter Sunday….

Easter!

• In America, Easter eggs are a common tradition.

• We color the eggs• And little children “hunt” for

Easter eggs in the garden

My niece hunting for eggs

BEWARE2 bloody scenes:

1. First scene is Protestants being burned at the stake

2. When Elizabeth is in the boat, there is a dead man’s head

• Elizabeth: “Why must we tear ourselves apart over this small question of religion…We all believe in God.”

• “No Madame, there is only one true belief. The other is heresy.”

Class• Class time is divided into sections:

1.Review homework, Q’s, introduce today’s topic

2. Teacher lecture (students take notes)3. Write in notebook about topic4.Watch movie

Notebooks!

• Each day you should take notes • After lecture, you will write on an assigned

topic.

• Each day you should bring the same notebook to class because I will have random notebook checks

Notebook Checks

• Your daily grade will consist of your notebook grade

• After each random notebook checks, you will receive a “daily grade” (not a test grade).

• These grades will be used for your final participation grade.

Notebook checks

• Notebook checks will be a SURPRISE, and they will be RANDOM

• so if you forget to bring your notebook to class you CANNOT bring your notebook the next week for a grade

• So bring your notebooks each week

Notebook checks• You will receive a ZERO if you forget your

notebook or are absent without an official excuse (请假条 )

• Points will also be taken off for laziness and for an unorganized notebook.

• Your notebook MUST be for this class only! Do not combine notes from other classes.

define in 1-2 sentences: Christianity, Protestant, Roman Catholic, The Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, 95 Theses, Indulgences, Purgatory, The Inquisition, Heresy