TheProtestant

Reformation

TheProtestant

Reformation

Causes of the Reformation? Church corruption

Anger of Holy Roman Empire towards Church

Efforts of reformers, like Martin Luther & John Calvin

Secular leaders’ greed for Church land

Church Corruption

• Was all church corruption equal?– What was worse?

• Priests marrying?

• Simony (purchase of church offices)?

• Indulgences (“buying” salvation)?

– They were ALL bad……!

Why did the Reformation Start in the Holy Roman Empire?

• No centralized state (390+ separate entities)

• Church controlled a lot of land in HRE

• Church took advantage of HRE lands and rulers– Weak, generally small

states– Church taxed them

• Most residents of HRE were angry at church abuses

Martin Luther• Luther’s background

– Priest and professor, at U of Wittenberg (HRE)

• Offended by indulgences and John Tetzel, commissioner of Pope– Basis of indulgences: faith +

good works = salvation– Tetzel: "As soon as the coin in

the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs."

• Wrote 95 Theses (arguments) against indulgences & Tetzel– Example: #86– Challenged Tetzel to debate

(ignored)– Luther used printing press

to spread his side of argument

Luther’s Excommunication• Luther began pamphlet

campaign, spreading his ideas

• Distance from HRE to Rome a factor– 1517: Luther’s letter to

Archbishop of Mainz– Late 1518 = initial

response to Luther’s 95 Theses

– What was Luther doing during this time?

• 1521: Diet of Worms– Luther ordered to appear

for trial and execution– Luther attended, then…

disappeared!

• Luther abducted by Electors who wanted

to “convert” to new religion (why?)

• TO TAKE CHURCH LAND! • 100+ years of religious wars a

result

Spread of Lutheranism

Activity

• Read the following Primary Source documents and answer the corresponding questions.

• Then answer the following essay question in 2 paragraphs: “How did the protestant reformation change Europe?”

• Due at the end of class.

Video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijjbtcAEOnY

• What just happened?• Why is this event important?

John Calvin (1509-1564)• John Calvin was a French lawyer• Left Catholic Church around

1530• Fled France to Switzerland due

to anti-Protestant violence in 1536

• Wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion (His statement of belief)– Predestination

• All events have been willed by God• Humans have no free will

– The “Elect”• God has chosen a small group of

people for salvation, the Elect• No one knows who the Elect are• Elect naturally live life according

to Biblical teachings, demonstrating their fitness for salvation

The Reformation in England• Henry VIII had a

problem…..– Wanted a divorce– Pope refused

• Henry’s response (1534)– Henry confiscated all

Church land in England• 20%+ of English lands• Distributed to loyal

noblemen– Started his own

church = Anglican Church

– King was head of church

– Divorce was allowed

Divorced

Executed

Di

ed

Divorced

Executed

ReformationEurope

(Late 16c)

ReformationEurope

(Late 16c)

Effects of the Reformation

• Increase in Nationalism – identity to a nation of people vs. “Christendom”

• Bible translated into vernacular (English, German, etc)

• Catholic “Counter Reformation”

• Religious Wars

Activity

• Read the following Primary Source documents and answer the corresponding questions.

• Then answer the following essay question in 2 paragraphs: “What were the effects of the Protestant Reformation? Do you think the Reformation was successful? Why or why not?”

• Due at the end of class.