Transcript spielvogel chapter 13

REFORMATION AND RELIGIOUS
WARFARE IN THE 16TH CENTURY
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The second half of the 15th century –
Italian Renaissance humanism spreads to N.
Europe
Northern Humanism = Christian Humanism
Goal of N. Humanism = reform Christianity
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Both Italian and N. Humanists focused on the
study of the classics –
Ancient Greek and Latin texts
Return to the writings of antiquity
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Study the sources and writings of early
Christianity
Study the writings of church fathers
Early Christianity was a simple religion
Human beings can reason and improve themselves
Education and study of early church writings
could reform the church and society
Support for schools
Work on new editions and translations of the
classics, the bible, and writings of church founders
Education = improved people = improved society
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most influential of the N. Humanists
Born in Holland – called Erasmus of Rotterdam
Reform program of Christian Humanism
“the philosophy of Christ” = Christianity should guide
our daily life, not only be a system of beliefs and
practices
Emphasized – inner piety
De-emphasized – external forms of religion
Prepared new and accurate text of the bible
The Praise of Folly –
1. written in 1511
2. humorously criticized corruption of society
3. criticized abuses in the church
“ERASMUS LAID THE EGG
THAT LUTHER HATCHED”
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trained in the law
Interested in the new classical learning –> studied
Greek and Latin
Put his learning into service to the state -> govt
official/lord chancellor
religiously devoted/believed in the universal
Catholic Church
Refused to go along with Henry VIII’s break with
the Catholic Church
Executed for treason for not cooperating with the
king’s break with Catholicism
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THOMAS MORE
I die the king's faithful
servant, but God's first.
Thomas More
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Written in 1516
The word utopia = nowhere
An imaginary perfect society on an island near
the new world
Cooperation and reason replace power and
fame as motivators
All people work the same amount and receive
the same
Wholesome, enriching, and orderly world will
create good people
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Why did people want to reform the Catholic Church –
failure of the renaissance papacy to provide spiritual
leadership
popes too concerned with wealth and art
Popes too concerned with worldly power and politics
Popes too concerned with sensuality and debauchery
Popes and church too concerned with money and
finances
Simony
Pluralism
Absenteeism
Clerical immorality
Clerical ignorance
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Mechanical/external
approach to salvation
veneration of relics
buying indulgences
The Modern Devotion
movement
popular mystical
movement
following the
teaching of Jesus