The Protestant Reformation

Mr. Snell

Part 1

Breakdown of Denominations

Early Reformers

John Wycliffe (1324-1384)– Interested in authority of

clergy.– People should be able to

interpret and read the Bible on their own.

– Lived during Western Schism (more than one pope).

• This caused questioning about Papal Authority.

Early Reformers Cont…

Jan Hus (1369-1415)– He wanted Bishops

elected and not appointed by Pope.

– At the Council of Constance, he made his case but he was burned at the stake for his beliefs.

– Spiritual leader of the Moravian Church.

Early Reformers Cont…

Ideas of the Renaissance spread to Northern Europe and combine with the religious teachings of the North (more rural than Italy, far from Rome and speak a non-Latin-based language) to create Christian humanism aka Northern Renaissance Humanism.

Even though the Renaissance in Italy was definitely secular,, in Northern Europe, the idea of the well educated individual who could improve himself also meant that man could improve himself spiritually (by being able to read the Bible for himself) but first this meant improving/ changing/reforming the Catholic Church.

Thus even though the Renaissance itself was a secular movement, ironically it changed the religion – especially Christianity forever.

Early Reformers

Erasmus (1466-1536)

– “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched.”

– Erasmus is committed to reforming the Church from within.

He also believed in Catholic doctrines such as that of free will (man makes choices which will impact his salvation)

This meant that humans made their own choices about right and wrong and that their actions in this life (living a moral life) would impact their lives AND their salvation more than following the traditions of the Church.

This brings Erasmus into conflict with the Church because in order to achieve this there would have to be a shift in the Church’s thinking because at this time the Church is concerned more with traditions (shrines, pilgrimages, rituals, venerating relics, etc..) than with showing people how to lead good lives.

Some Protestant Reformers rejected free will in favor of the doctrine of predestination- that God has already decided who will be saved and who will not be saved

Important Developments that aid the process to Reformation!

The Printing Press!!!!– Books are now available to

the masses not just the rich! (Faster production=cheaper books)

– People have access to books whenever they want them. First book published by Gutenberg?

• How does this relate to the Reformation?

Printing Press = 3,600 pages per workday

Hand Printing = 40 pages per workday

Language Barriers

Most uneducated people didn’t understand Latin, but knew the local common language or “vernacular”. – Almost all Bibles were written in LATIN before the Reformation.

It was the job of the church clergy to translate the Bible to lay people BUT the ideas of the Renaissance (vernacular, spreading of ideas, more educated people, the idea that MAN matters, a desire for learning) lead people to want to read the Bible for themselves

What happens to spark the Reformation?

Pope Leo X needs money to build St. Peter’s Basilica…so he sells indulgences!– Indulgences- were pardons

issued by the pope that people could buy to reduce a soul’s time in purgatory = (People could buy forgiveness) Meaning the wealthy would have an advantage getting into heaven

Modern DevotionThis leads to a movement within the Church called “Modern Devotion” which seeks to focus on the teachings of Jesus rather than the rituals of the Church as a way to be a good Christian.

But as we will see this movement from within the Church is not enough and the protests grow as the Church hierarchy fails to listen to reformers

What is the Protestant Reformation?

Protestant Reformation- a religious movement in the 1500’s that split the Christian church in western Europe and led to the establishment of a number of new churches.

– People grew displeased with the Catholic Church’s…• Financial Corruption

• Abuse of Power

• Immorality

Pt 2. Martin LutherLuther was a German monk and professor of theology (religion) at the University of Wittenberg. One of the many leaders of the Protestant Reformation.

– Luther objected to a saying attributed to Johann Tetzel that "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs."

Luther’s 95 Theses

In 1517, the 95 Theses were nailed to a church door. They were written in Latin.– Luther’s intention: NOT TO BREAK WITH

CHURCH, BUT REFORM IT!– Criticized:

1.Indulgences2.Power of Pope3.Wealth of Church

God’s Grace won by FAITH ALONE! – Catholic View: Good Works

The Bible is the ONLY valid source of religious Truth (not the rituals of the Church)

Luther kept only 2 sacraments (because they were found in the Bible- baptism and communion.

Excommunication

In 1520 Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther.– Excommunication- expelled him from the

church.– Holy Roman Emperor Charles V by the Edict

of Worms passed measures to suppress Luther’s writings.

– Lutheran princes in Germany issued a protestatio or protest.

• Hence the term Protestant!

Luther begins his own religious teachings and church known as Lutheranism, - the first Protestant church- which stresses that salvation is only achieved through faith (not good works).

Germany is in chaos and civil wars rage- first between the peasants and nobility and eventually the nobles amongst themselves over the religion issue.

In 1555 the Peace of Augsburg ends the conflict between the Catholics and Protestants in Germany giving equal rights to both parties and allowing the nobility of individual states to decide the religion of their subjects.

Other Reformations Pt 3

Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland– Believed in a Theocracy

• A government in which church and state are joined and in which officials are considered to be divinely inspired.

• Zwingli also believes in removing all art/ decorations etc… in the churches

• Aligns himself with Luther. In the Swiss religious civil war Zwingli is wounded in battle, captured, killed and his body is cut into pieces and he is creamated.

John Calvin in Switzerland replaces Zwingli believing in PredestinationGod knows who will be saved, even before people are born, and therefore guides the lives of those destined fore salvation.

Like Luther, Calvin believes that FAITH alone is sufficient for “justification,” i.e. the idea of being worthy of salvation by God

Their strong faith and their belief in predestination led many Calvinists to believe they were doing God’s work on earth (even though Calvin stressed to them that NO ONE could be absolutely certain of their salvation.

John Knox in Scotland is a follower of Calvin

–Laid grounds for Presbyterian Church

In England, the Reformation began with the King!

King Henry VIII– The king who had six wives…

• He wants a SON!• He asks the Pope to anul (declare void) his

marriage and the Pope refuses so Henry turns to the church authorities in England and they rule in his favor. Henry’s split with the Church has begun.

King Henry’s older brother Arthur (named after the famous tale King Author and the Knights of the Round Table) dies… Author was married to Catherine of Argon (from Spain) before she married Henry.

This becomes the grounds for his annulment (because Catherine can’t produce a son). She does however give birth to a daughter named Mary. She later becomes a queen of England and restores the Catholic Church! History knows her as Bloody Mary.

Catherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife.  Catherine, a Princess of Spain, was married to Henry for many years.  Her determination to stay married to Henry, in the face of his desire for Anne Boleyn, would change the course of history forever.

Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I.  Henry fell passionately in love with Anne while married to Catherine of Aragon.  He waited several years to marry Anne, but, ironically, lost his desire for her once she became his Queen.

Jane Seymour, Henry's beloved third Queen.  Gentle, capable Jane gave Henry his long-awaited male heir after one year of marriage.  Sadly, she gave her life to do so.

Anne of Cleves, Henry's fourth wife.  This German princess served as Queen for only a few months before she and Henry agreed to divorce by mutual consent.

Katherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife.  Henry's marriage to this sensuous teenager brought him brief happiness, but ended in tragedy. 

Katherine Parr, Henry's sixth Queen.  This intelligent, loyal, forward-thinking Renaissance woman outlived three husbands, including Henry, and went on to finally marry the man of her choice.

The Reformation Parliament

a gathering in England in 1534 that led to the decision that England was no longer under the authority of the Pope.

Act of Supremacy – Subjects were required to take an oath declaring

Henry VIII to be “Supreme Head of the Church of England” a new Church is formed with Henry as its leader.

Henry closes monasteries, sells Church lands increasing his treasury rewarding the loyalty of the nobility who join his new religion and passes laws denying Catholics the same rights as Anglicans.

Henry VIII dies in 1547 and leaves a mess- 3 claims to the throne.

His legitimate children: Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward

Edward becomes King at 9 and only lives to be 16. Passes numerous pro-Protestant laws/rules.

Queen Mary I or “Bloody Mary”

• Raised Catholic like her mother Catherine of Aragon; she reestablished the Catholic Church in England. She killed many protestants and had approximately 300 heretics burned at the stake.

– Queen Elizabeth I (Ends the House of Tudor)

• Raised Protestant and ruled England for 44 years. Ruled during the Spanish Armada, and never married…known as the Virgin Queen.

Anabaptists are separated from other Christian groups on many issues1. They believe in complete separation of church and State (no pledges, participation in wars, no political offices

2. They believed in ADULT Baptism because being a Christian is a voluntary CHOICE that only adults are capable of making

3. Christians are a community of believers who are EQUAL- this meant anyone could become a minister and ministers were chosen by the church community

The Reformation also had a huge impact on society in Europe.

1. Impacted education- since the Reformation came out of the renaissance ideas of a well rounded person, Martin Luther supported public education so that more than the elites could get an education (think about the need to read for reading the Bible)

2. Impacted marriage- which increases because it is promoted among the clergy and lay people in a very traditional manner- wives subservient to husbands

One area in which Protestantism did NOT impact society was in the area of tolerance for other religious groups (i.e. non-believers”). Jewish people were particularly impacted by prejudice and discrimination.

In response to the Reformation the Catholic Church had its own Catholic reformation (or Counter-Reformation) which occurred due to 3 factors

1. Establishment of the Society of Jesus or Jesuits who were very progressive but absolutely loyal to the Pope. They spread their progressive (but very pro-Catholic message to the masses through education). Their ideas were spread because they offered education to those who otherwise could not afford it like free Catholic Schools.

2. Reform of the papacy (the Pope’s role and power). The Church spread the authority and power out a bit- taking some from the Pope and giving some more to other Church officials and lay people.

3. The Council of Trent- an 18 year long meeting to discuss reforms in the Church and clarified Church doctrines

Among the decrees of Trent were the following1.Upholding the 7 sacraments of the Church2.Faith AND good works needed for salvation3.Clerical celibacy4.Stronger belief in Purgatory5.Support for the idea of indulgences but NOT allowed to sell them