Transcript The Reformation

The Reformation
1517-1648
The religious movement that
divided the western Church into
Catholic and Protestant groups.
Reasons for the Reformation
• Christian Humanism – came from the
Renaissance in northern Europe, a major
goal was to reform the Catholic Church
• Corruption – popes too concerned with
politics instead of spiritual matters, some
cared more about advancing careers and
gaining wealth, if a person bought a relic
from the church they could gain an
indulgence and this would release them
from sin.
Corruption in the Catholic Church
• Pope Julius II actually led armies into battle
against his enemies, this upset many
Christians.
• “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul
from purgatory springs.” – Monk Johann Tetzel
• Indulgences could take years off from purgatory
Martin Luther • a monk and a university professor
who rejected the corruption of the
Catholic Church, wrote “Ninety-Five
Theses” expressing his beliefs:
1. Believed that humans were saved by faith in God instead of
good works. This is main idea of Protestant Reformation.
2. Bible was the only source of religious truth, not priests.
3. Believed that buying indulgences only harmed one’s chance for
salvation.
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
• Luther's popularity encouraged
others to share their doubts
about the Catholic Church.
• Sent the list to church superiors
and bishops.
• Thousands of copies were
printed and spread throughout
Germany using printing press.
• Pope Leo X called him “some
drunken German who will
amend his ways when he sobers
up.”
Martin Luther
• Martin Luther called for German princes to overthrow the
Papacy and the formation of the Reformed German
Church in 1520.
• Wanted the sacraments of baptism and Communion kept
in the new church. Also wanted clergy to marry.
• He translated the Bible into the vernacular.
• He was excommunicated by the Church in 1521.
• Emperor Charles V thought he could change Luther’s
ideas, but he was ignored. He was declared an outlaw
by the Edict of Worms. Was to be captured and works
burned. Luther had to go into hiding.
• Many German rulers took control of churches and
followed Lutheranism doctrine. Lutheranism became first
protestant faith.
Politics in German Reformation
• Charles V had armies fighting all across Europe
to keep the Holy Roman Empire intact.
• By the time forces arrived to stop the Protestant
movement, it was too late and the German
princes who followed Luther were well
organized.
• Peace of Augsburg accepted division of
Christianity into Germany.
• Ruler could determine which religion his
subjects had.
Spread of Protestantism
• Ulrich Zwingli led reformation movement in
Switzerland.
• Sought an alliance with Martin Luther and
German reformers, but could not agree on
certain rites.
• War broke out between Protestant and Catholic
states in Switzerland. Zwingli was defeated in
battle.
• He was killed, body was cut up, burned, and
ashes were scattered.
• John Calvin then took over the movement.
Spread of the Reform
• Native of France who had to flee to
Switzerland.
• Like Luther, believed in doctrine of
justification by faith alone to achieve
salvation.
• John Calvin wrote “Institutes of the
Christian Religion” in 1536. a
summary of Protestant beliefs.
• Believed in predestination, that God
had determined in advance who
would be saved and who would be
damned.
• The faith of Calvinism emerged from
his teachings.
English Reformation
• Rooted in politics, not religion.
• Henry VIII needed a son. Needed to divorce his first wife
Catherine, with whom he had a daughter named Mary.
Wanted to marry Anne Boleyn.
• Pope would not annul his marriage fast enough, so he
sought to break with the Catholic Church.
• Head of highest court in England nullified his marriage
and he married Anne Boleyn. Still had a baby girl, who
eventually became Queen Elizabeth I.
• 1534, Act of Supremacy declared the King to be only
religious authority in England.
• Thomas More, a devout Catholic, spoke out against this
and was beheaded.
English Reformation
• Church of England, or Anglican Church,
was created.
• Henry dissolved the monasteries and sold
their lands.
• Henry’s doctrines remained close to
Catholic teachings.
• Edward VI, Henry’s nine year old son by
his third wife, took over after Henry died in
1547. He carried on with the new church.
Henry VIII 1491-1547
Henry’s Armor
Henry VIII
• Married six times – 2 wives divorced, 1 died, 2
beheaded, and 1 survived.
• Had several mistresses and one illegitimate son.
• Enjoyed jousting. Suffered a serious leg wound
in 1536 jousting accident.
• Was a musician and a composer.
• Became extremely overweight later in life (waist
was 54 inches).
• Covered with boils, suffered from gout, diabetes,
and possibly syphillis.
“Bloody Mary”
• After Edward died at age 16, Mary came
to the throne.
• She wanted to restore Catholicism to
England.
• Burned over 300 Protestants as heretics.
• Earned nickname “Bloody Mary”
• Because of her brutality, England became
even more Protestant than before.
• Elizabeth I took over after her death from
influenza.
Anabaptists
• Some religious reformers did not want the political
leaders to have much power.
• Some became radicals known as the Anabaptists.
• Believed in complete separation of church and state.
• Refused to hold political office or bear arms.
• Believed in adult baptism (Catholics and Protestants
believed in baptizing infants).
• Followed early practices of Christianity, thought all
believers were equal. Any member of the community
could be a priest or spiritual leader.
• Many were persecuted by Catholics and Protestants.
• Amish and Mennonites are the modern descendants.
Persecution of Dirk Willems
(Netherlands,1569)
John Knox
• Scottish clergyman and leader
of the Protestant Reformation
who is considered the founder of
the Presbyterian denomination
• Initially worked in the Church of
England under Henry VIII.
• Studied Calvinism in Geneva.
• Preached until his death in
1572.
Counter Reformation
• The discontent with the Catholic Church also
caused reforms in it.
• The Society of Jesus is a Roman Catholic
Church religious order whose members are
called Jesuits, Soldiers of Christ, and Foot
soldiers of the Pope, because the founder, Saint
Ignatius of Loyola, was a knight before
becoming a priest.
• The purposes of the sect were education,
conversion and stopping the spread of
Protestantism.
Council of Trent - 1545
• Considered one of the Church's most important councils.
• Convened as a response to the Protestant Reformation
by Pope Paul III in order to examine church doctrines.
• Both faith and good works were declared necessary for
salvation.
• Sacraments and celibacy were upheld.
• Selling of indulgences was forbidden.