Protestant ReformationProtestant Reformation

Protestant ReformationProtestant Reformation

A “protest” against church abuses, & a “reform” A “protest” against church abuses, & a “reform” movement throughout the Christian Church.movement throughout the Christian Church.

Protestant Reformation: Protestant Reformation: BackgroundBackground

In Medieval times Christianity dominated the lives of In Medieval times Christianity dominated the lives of people.people.

Since most people were uneducated, however, their Since most people were uneducated, however, their understanding of Christianity was often distorted with understanding of Christianity was often distorted with some superstitions and imaginary concepts. some superstitions and imaginary concepts.

Fear of damnation in an afterlife was of major Fear of damnation in an afterlife was of major concern.concern.

Damned souls in Hell; 7 “deadly” Damned souls in Hell; 7 “deadly” sinssins

Last Judgment, Cathedral of Notre Last Judgment, Cathedral of Notre DameDame

Angel & Devil at the last Angel & Devil at the last judgmentjudgment

ReliquaryReliquary

Reliquaries held relics; “holy” things like bones of Reliquaries held relics; “holy” things like bones of saints. Christians of Medieval Europe would often saints. Christians of Medieval Europe would often pay money to have relics placed in their homes. It pay money to have relics placed in their homes. It was believed that these relics would make their was believed that these relics would make their homes holy and ensure an eternal after life in heaven.homes holy and ensure an eternal after life in heaven.

One of the heads of St. John the One of the heads of St. John the Baptist Baptist

Relic: Arm of St. John the Relic: Arm of St. John the BaptistBaptist

Causes of the Protestant Causes of the Protestant ReformationReformation

Renaissance Education; critical thinkingRenaissance Education; critical thinking Pope Leo X’s lifestylePope Leo X’s lifestyle Sale of Indulgences (remission of temporary Sale of Indulgences (remission of temporary

punishment due to sin)punishment due to sin) Sale of DispensationsSale of Dispensations Sale of RelicsSale of Relics Sale of Church officesSale of Church offices

The Protestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation

* * People starting to get upset with the People starting to get upset with the Catholic church for:Catholic church for: The Church’s love for luxuryThe Church’s love for luxury Selling of indulgencesSelling of indulgences Morally corrupt officialsMorally corrupt officials• Popes would compete with kings for Popes would compete with kings for

power causing wars.power causing wars.

Jan HussJan Huss• One critic of the Church was One critic of the Church was Jan Huss.Jan Huss.

- Preacher at Oxford University- Preacher at Oxford University- - Believed all Christians formed a “priesthood of believers.Believed all Christians formed a “priesthood of believers.- Believed state was supreme over the church- Believed state was supreme over the church..

• Because of his beliefs he was…burned at the stakeBecause of his beliefs he was…burned at the stake• Because of Hus more and more people spoke out against Because of Hus more and more people spoke out against

the church.the church.

• Englishman John Wycliffe believed church should give up earthly possessions

• His views unpopular with church officials

• Was removed from teaching position

John Wycliffe

Early ReformersEarly Reformers

IndulgencesIndulgences Money given to the church so that sins could be forgiven. Money given to the church so that sins could be forgiven.

They could also be obtained in exchange for money gifts They could also be obtained in exchange for money gifts to the church.to the church.

More and more people protested such practices that More and more people protested such practices that started the Protestant Reformation.started the Protestant Reformation.

Before, the church would only sell indulgences for good Before, the church would only sell indulgences for good deeds.deeds.

Luther’s ProtestLuther’s Protest Martin Luther 1483-1546Martin Luther 1483-1546 He was a German monk and professor of theology at the He was a German monk and professor of theology at the

University of Wittenberg in the German city of Saxony.University of Wittenberg in the German city of Saxony. Through his studies he began to question the church’s practice Through his studies he began to question the church’s practice

on the sell of indulgences.on the sell of indulgences. John Teztel, an indulgence seller John Teztel, an indulgence seller in Wittenberg for the in Wittenberg for the

rebuilding of St. Peters Cathedral in Rome, was the final straw rebuilding of St. Peters Cathedral in Rome, was the final straw for Luther.for Luther.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ4URCVook4

Luther in protest posted his Luther in protest posted his 95 thesis 95 thesis on the on the door of Wittenberg’s All Saints Church. door of Wittenberg’s All Saints Church. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPbEkWGKxzw

In response the Pope told Luther to In response the Pope told Luther to recant recant or or take back his ideas.take back his ideas.

Luther Luther declined and was excommunicateddeclined and was excommunicated.. The new HRE Charles V summoned Luther to The new HRE Charles V summoned Luther to

the Diet of Worms, or the assembly of German the Diet of Worms, or the assembly of German princes. princes. Luther again refused to take back Luther again refused to take back what he had said.what he had said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1YS5JuVGUA

Luther’s TeachingsLuther’s Teachings Fredrick of Saxony rescued Luther and housed him. There Fredrick of Saxony rescued Luther and housed him. There

Luther wrote down his theology.Luther wrote down his theology.1. Salvation was achieved through faith alone.1. Salvation was achieved through faith alone.2. Bible was the sole source of religious truth.2. Bible was the sole source of religious truth.3. Priesthood of all believers – All Christians had equal access 3. Priesthood of all believers – All Christians had equal access to God through faith and the Bibleto God through faith and the Bible

He translated the Bible into the German He translated the Bible into the German vernacular.vernacular. Permitted the clergy to marry.Permitted the clergy to marry. All of these beliefs were adopted by the Lutheran churches All of these beliefs were adopted by the Lutheran churches

that were set up by Luther’s followers.that were set up by Luther’s followers.

John CalvinJohn Calvin The most important reformer after Luther.The most important reformer after Luther. Preached predestination, the idea that God had long ago Preached predestination, the idea that God had long ago

determined who would gain salvation.determined who would gain salvation. Believed there were two kinds of people.Believed there were two kinds of people.

1. Saints1. Saints2. Sinners2. Sinners

Calvin set up a theocracy, or government run by church Calvin set up a theocracy, or government run by church leaders in Geneva, Switzerland.leaders in Geneva, Switzerland.- Calvinist Geneva seemed a model community.- Calvinist Geneva seemed a model community.- There were punishments for fighting, swearing, laughing in - There were punishments for fighting, swearing, laughing in church, or dancing.church, or dancing.

As Calvinism began to spread set off wars across Europe As Calvinism began to spread set off wars across Europe mainly with the Catholic Church.mainly with the Catholic Church.

Spread of Lutheran IdeasSpread of Lutheran Ideas By the 1530’s the Lutherans were using a By the 1530’s the Lutherans were using a

name to protest papal authority. They now name to protest papal authority. They now called themselves Protestants.called themselves Protestants.

The Peace of Augsburg signed in 1555 The Peace of Augsburg signed in 1555 allowed each prince to decide which religion, allowed each prince to decide which religion, Catholic or Lutheran, would be followed in his Catholic or Lutheran, would be followed in his lands.lands.

Invention of the Printing PressInvention of the Printing Press 1456 Johann Gutenberg 1456 Johann Gutenberg

created a movable metal created a movable metal type on a machinetype on a machine

The Printing Press The Printing Press helped to spread ideas helped to spread ideas of the Protestant of the Protestant Reformation.Reformation.