Transcript Causes of Reformation

Causes of the Protestant
Reformation
When should one question
authority?
Before the Reformation

Until the 1500s, the Catholic Church was the
most powerful institution in Europe, and it was
led by the Pope
 However, some people were starting to be
dissatisfied with how the Church was doing
things
 Eventually, this would result in the creation of
new types of Christian churches during a time
period called the Protestant Reformation
Social and Political Problems

The Renaissance had caused some
changes that set the stage for the
Reformation to begin:
The printing press meant more people could
read the Bible for themselves
 Humanism encouraged people to ask
questions


However, it was problems in the Church
itself that caused the Reformation to start
Corruption in the Catholic Church

The Church began to get a reputation for
being corrupt
Church leaders abused their power in
various ways
 Bishops and the clergy often lived like the
very wealthy, and seemed part of the ruling
elite
 Sometimes, important jobs within the Church
were sold to the highest bidder, rather than
given to the most deserving person

Corruption in the Catholic Church (con.)

Other examples of corruption in the Church:


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Catholic churches were full of expensive works of
art: statues, shrines, paintings, relics of saints,
altars ornamented with gold and jewels.
The Church charged followers huge fees and
tithes (tax- 1/10th of income). Those who couldn’t
pay faced excommunication (refusal of
sacraments-basically being kicked out of the
Church).
Heretics (people who spoke out against the
Church) were usually excommunicated or put to
death.
Indulgences

One of the biggest ways the Church was corrupt
was the practice of selling indulgences
 People would pay the Church in exchange for
forgiveness of sins
 Why do you think this practice upset so many
people?
What was the result of corruption in the
Catholic Church?

More and more people began to
question the Catholic Church
 A German monk named Martin
Luther decided to make a list of
the complaints he had about the
Church and post it in public so
other people could see it.
 When he posted this list, called the
95 Theses, the Reformation began
The Reformers
Watch the videos on the wiki to learn
more about Martin Luther and two other
Protestant Reformers, John Calvin and
Henry VIII
 Take notes on your Reformation
worksheet
