Things to Think About Causes of the reformation. Importance of
Luther What was Luther's core theological premise?
Slide 4
Causes of the Reformation Crises of the 14 th and 15 th
centuries hurt the prestige of the clergy Babylonian Captivity, 14
th century Great Schism: 1377-1417 Conciliar Movement to reform the
church and give a church council more power than the pope was
rejected by several popes in the 15 th and 16 th century
Slide 5
Corruption in the Catholic Church 1. Simony: sale of church
offices For example, in 1487 the pope sold 24 offices 2. Reformers
were outraged that unqualified people would become bishops or
cardinals. 3. pluralism: an official holding more than one office
at a time 4. absenteeism: an official not participating in
benefices but receiving payment and privileges. Many clerics held
several benefices (or offices) simultaneously but seldom visited
the benefices, let alone performed the attendant spiritual
responsibilities. 5. sale of indulgences: people paying money to
the Church to absolve their sins or sins of their loved ones
Slide 6
Corruption in the Catholic Church 6. nepotism: favoring family
members in the appointment of Church offices Two popes (Leo X and
Clement VII) were sons of Florentine Medici rulers Pope Paul III
made two of his grandsons cardinals 7. Moral decline of the papacy
Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492-1503) had numerous affairs and children
out of wedlock 20% of all priests in the diocese of Trent kept
concubines during the early 16 th century 8. Clerical ignorance:
many priests were virtually illiterate 9. Some abused their power
such as trading sexual favors for the absolution of sins during
confession.
Slide 7
I. The Early Reformation A. The Christian Church in the Early
Sixteenth Century 1. Piety Europeans at the time were exceptionally
pious they made many pilgrimages, remembered the church in their
wills, and devoted much time to religious causes. 2. People of all
social groups devoted an enormous amount of their time and income
to religious causes and foundations. How do you think these people
felt about the state of the church?
Slide 8
Society- Cultural Better educated, urban populace was more
critical of the Church than rural peasantry Renaissance monarchs
were growing impatient with the power of the Church Society was
more humanistic and secular Growing individualism
Slide 9
Critics of the Church Prior to Luther: John Wyclif (1329-1384),
England Stated that the Bible was the sole authority Stressed
personal communion with God. Diminished importance of sacraments.
His followersLollardscontinued his ideas into the 16 th century.
John Hus (1369-1415), Czech Ideas were similar to Wyclif Religious
leader in Bohemia He was burned at the stake for his views Eramus:
In Praise of Folly (1513) Criticized the corruption in the church
and the hypocrisy of the clergy A contemporary remarked that
Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched.
Slide 10
B. Martin Luther (14831546) 1. Background Born in Saxony,
studied law but entered an Augustinian order, ordained a priest,
learned a doctorate in theology, and became a professor of
Scriptures at the new university in Wittenberg. 2. Luthers study of
Saint Pauls letters in the New Testament led him to the belief that
salvation and justification come through faith, which is a free
gift of Gods grace, not the result of human effort, and that Gods
word is revealed only in Scripture, not in the traditions of the
church and not through human effort. For by Grace you are faith
saved through faith an not of yourself it is the gift of God gift
of God not of works works lest any man should boast.
Slide 11
At the same time that Luther was engaged in scholarly
reflections and professorial lecturing, Pope Leo X authorized the
sale of a special Saint Peters indulgence to finance his building
plans in Rome. Luther was severely troubled that many people
believed they had no further need for repentance once they had
purchased indulgences.
Slide 12
Johann Tetzel He was authorized by Pope Leo X to sell
indulgences. As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the soul from
purgatory springs
Slide 13
Slide 14
I. The Early Reformation On Oct 13, 1517 Luther put together 95
Theses arguing, in part, that indulgences undermined the
seriousness of confession. Luthers theses were quickly printed,
first in Latin and then in German translation. He published these
ideas in pamphlets, and his theological issues became interwoven
with public controversies about the churchs wealth, power, and
basic structure. What is the importance of this?
Slide 15
A list of things he thought were wrong with the Catholic Church
(95 Complaints) He criticized: The Power of the Pope The Extreme
Wealth of the Church Indulgences (Catholic concept of
Salvation)
Slide 16
Slide 17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt5AJr0wls0
Slide 18
Luther is summoned to meet with a papal representative Cardinal
Cajetan Luther is directed to recant his position on indulgences
Luther refused
Slide 19
Debate Luther vs. Dr. John Eck WHERE DOES AUTHORITY LIE? Luther
BIBLE not the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church hold all
authority Denial of the authority of the Pope and Church Councils
Luther guilty of heresy
Slide 20
Excommunication The Break with Rome 1520 Pope Leo X issues a
Papal Bull telling Luther to recant his views or he will be
excommunicated. In part through the pressure of his adversaries,
Luther moved further and further away from Catholic theology. Popes
and councils could err, he concluded, there was little distinction
between clergy and laypeople, and clerical celibacy was fruitless.
Luther refused to recant these ideals at the Diet of Worms and he
was excommunicated in 1521.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5P7QkHCfaI
Slide 21
I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against
conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I cannot do
otherwise. God help me. Amen.
Slide 22
Elector Frederick the Wise Saxony One of the seven electors HRE
Wittenberg in Saxony Kidnapped Luther Wartburg Castle Began
translation of Bible into German Religious Reformation
Revolutionary
Slide 23
The Wartburg in 11 weeks he translates the New Testament,
September Testament published in 1522 standardizes the German
language 1521 Luther goes to Wartburg
Slide 24
Luther and the Devil
Slide 25
What Luther Believed The Bible was the sole authority Only two
sacraments- baptism and communion- were valid The church consisted
of a priesthood of all believers; not a hierarchical structure
Christians were not subject to the popes interpretation of the
Bible. The Bible contained all that was needed for a person to lead
a Christian lifea church hierarchy of bishops and priests,
therefore, was unnecessary.
Slide 26
The Power of the Pen Luthers On Christian Liberty (1520) A
Christian man is the most free of all and subject to none. Luther
did not mean opposition to secular powers PEASANT REVOLT
(1524-25)
Slide 27
I. The Early Reformation C. Protestant Thought 1. Ulrich
Zwingli (14841531) A Swiss humanist, priest, and reformer who was
convinced that Christian life rested on the Scriptures, which were
the pure words of God and the sole basis of religious truth. He
also attacked indulgences, the Mass, clerical celibacy, and
monasticism. 2. Protestant Ideas (the term comes from the protest
of a group of reforming German priests): salvation comes through
faith alone (not through the sacraments or good works), religious
authority resides in the scriptures, the church is the spiritual
priesthood of all believers. 3. Protestant Disagreements Over the
Eucharist (Luther believed in the real presence of Christ in the
sacrament, but Zwingli saw it as merely a symbolic memorial). The
Colloquy of Marburg failed to resolve these differences.
Slide 28
I. The Early Reformation D. The Appeal of Protestant Ideas 1.
The Power of Luthers Ideas He advocated a simpler personal religion
based on faith, the abolition of elaborate ceremonies, a return to
the spirit of the early church and to the centrality of scriptures
in liturgical life, the abolition of clerical exemptions for taxes
and legal privileges (city councils could then tax the clergy). 2.
Printing Press Reproduced Luthers ideas; woodcuts made it possible
for the illiterate to grasp his ideas. Luthers linguistic skills
(catechisms and translation of the Bible into German in 1523)
helped spread Protestant ideals even further. 3. Political
Authority Luther and other reformers worked closely with the
political authorities, and Luther instructed all Christians to obey
secular authorities, whose authority came from God. Territories
became Protestant when their rulers brought in reformers and
confiscated church property.
Slide 29
I. The Early Reformation E. The Radical Reformation and the
German Peasants War 1. Radical Reformers Wanted to create a
community of believers separate from the state. Some were
pacifists; others believed in communal ownership of property and a
life of simplicity. Anabaptists adopted the baptism of believers
(rejected the sacraments). 2. Impact of Radical Reformers
Initially, they triggered persecution, both from Protestant and
Catholic authorities. But some groups like the Quakers, the
Baptists, and the Congregationalists had an impact on the growth of
American religious and democratic ideals. 3. Peasant Rebellion The
peasants, after crop failures in 1523 and 1524 and the seizure of
village common lands by the nobility and the imposition of
additional rents and taxes, rebelled, citing Luther. Luther
initially sided with them, but later turned against them as the
Peasants War (1525) unfolded, arguing that independence from the
Roman church did not mean opposition to legally established secular
powers.
Slide 30
Luther Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of the Peasants
(1525) nothing is more poisonous, hurtful or devilish than a rebel.
Luther An Admonition of Peace (1535) The fact that rulers are
unjust and wicked does not excuse tumult and rebellion. He is a
hypocrite?
Slide 31
I. The Early Reformation F. Marriage and Sexuality 1. Attack on
Clerical Celibacy Most Protestant reformers married, arguing that
vows of celibacy ran against human nature and Gods commandments.
Many sought to close convents and monasteries, and many nuns left.
2. Position of Women Reformers argued that men and women were to be
spiritually equal in marriage but women were still supposed to be
subject to men. 3. Marriage Created by God as a remedy for human
weakness, but marriages in which spouses did not support each other
endangered their souls and their own communities. Most reformers
therefore allowed divorce and remarriage. 4. Condemnations of
Prostitution Believing that marriage was the only proper remedy for
lust, most Protestants condemned prostitution and brothels.
Slide 32
Katharina von Bora 1525 Six children Enlightened view of
sexuality Marriage a womens career "that husband and wife cherish
one another, become one, serve one another"
Slide 33
Martin Luther: A Reluctant RevolutionaryMartin Luther: A
Reluctant Revolutionary (PBS)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni1gupkGA W0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni1gupkGA W0
