The Spread of

Protestantism: Calvin

& Zwingli

The P

eace

of

Augsb

urg

Stated that…. German states could

choose between Catholicism and Lutheranism Lutheran states had same

legal rights as Catholic

states So why was it so important? What did it

symbolize?

Even before the Peace of Augsburg,

division already started to appear

in Protestantism…

Zwingli

Ulrich Zwingli was a priest in Zurich, Switzerland who introduced religious reforms All relics and images

were abolished Paintings & decorations

of churches removed Introduced new church

service: scripture reading, prayer, and

sermons (instead of Catholic mass)

Zw

ingli &

Luth

er

Noticed similarity in ideas

and need for Protestant

unity

As movement began to

spread throughout

Switzerland, Zwingli tried to

make alliance with Luther &

other German reformers

Why???

Zw

ingli

& L

uth

er

(cont’

d)

Unable to agree on the

meaning of the sacrament of communion, so they

remained separate. Luther thought it was

literal; Zwingli insisted

it was figurative What does this tell

you? What message

does it send about religion?

Calv

in

John Calvin educated in

France, but had to flee to

Switzerland after conversion to Protestantism Published Institutes of

the Christian Religion

(1536), which summarized Protestant

ideas Gave him reputation as

one of new leaders of

Protestantism

Calv

in &

Luth

er

On most important doctrines, Calvin agreed with Luther Especially stood by

principle of justification

by faith alone Emphasized all-powerful

nature (omnipotence)

of God much more than

Luther

“The E

tern

al

Decre

e”

Calvin believed in

predestination; he believed

that God had already

determined who would be

saved and who would be

damned

The elect (saved)

The reprobate (damned)

He called this “The Eternal

Decree”

Calv

inis

ts

Calvin’s followers had firm

conviction they were doing

God’s work and became

determined to spread faith

Why might that have

been??

Calv

inis

m &

G

ove

rnm

ent

In 1536, Calvin set up a

church government in

Geneva, Switzerland

using clergy and laity in

service of church Set up The Consistory,

a section of government

responsible for enforcing moral discipline and doctrinal

purity Had the right to punish

anyone who strayed from

church teachings “Crimes”: dancing,

singing obscene songs,

drunkenness, playing

cards, swearing

Mis

sionari

es

Having made Geneva a

powerful center of Calvinism,

missionaries were sent across

Europe Calvinism soon became

established in France, the

Netherlands, Scotland, and

central and eastern Europe

By mid-16 th century (1700s),

Calvinism replaced Lutheranism as most

important, powerful, dynamic

form of Protestantism Called “the most perfect school

of Christ on Earth”

Thin

k about

it… How did the use of

missionaries and the

government help Calvinism to spread successfully?