The Protestant Reformation Part A

1.What was the Protestant Reformation? A religious revolution that divided Western Christianity into Catholic and Protestant Camps At its core, the Protestant Reformation was a series of splits away from the Catholic Church Also, some Protestants split away from other Protestants

2. In many ways, the Reformation was a shattering of what? Catholic unity in central and western Europe, a unity (and dominance) that had existed for around 1000 years.

3. The Protestant Reformation turned central and western Europe into what? A “patch-quilt” of religious loyalties and creeds by the end of the 1600s 4. To where was this “patch-quilt” transported? To North America, particularly the colonial areas that would become, in time, the United States of America

5. When did the Protestant Reformation begin? Supposedly on October 31, 1517, in Wittenburg Saxony (Present-day Germany) 6. Why “evidently” did it begin in 1517? When Martin Luther died in 1546, Philip Melancthon claimed Luther had posted his 95 Theses (a series of religious objections to certain Catholic practices) on Hallows Eve in Some scholars are skeptical of this claim, however

Luther and the 95 Theses

7. When did the Reformation end? One might say in 1648 at the end of the Thirty Years’ War, a war which ended with Lutherans and Calvinists having legalized status within the Holy Roman Empire One might also say in 1688 when, during the so-called Glorious Revolution, a Catholic English king was deposed in favor of new Protestant king

8. Regarding the “end” of the Reformation, what other argument might one make? One could say that the Reformation continues to this day The Christian world remains divided into hundreds of sects and denominations, and more are created every year.

9. Who were Erasmus and the Christian Humanists? The Christian Humanists used Renaissance scholarship in the study and practice of Catholic Christianity Erasmus was a Dutch scholar who attacked Christian corruption and called for a simple Christian piety

Erasmus (c )

10. Did Erasmus ever leave the Catholic Church? No In fact, Erasmus ultimately opposed the Reformation 11. What analogy has been used to describe the historical relationship between Erasmus and Martin Luther? Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched

12. On the eve of the Reformation (1517), what was one of the problems in the Catholic Church that led to Luther’s split? Renaissance Popes such as Alexander VI (The Borgia Pope), Julius II (The Warrior Pope), and Leo X (a Medici Pope) were worldly and corrupt In fact, the Catholic Church today acknowledges that these Renaissance Popes of the late 1400s and early 1500s were morally bad and corrupt

Pope Alexander VI, The Borgia Pope In office:

Pope Julius II, The Warrior Pope In office:

Pope Leo X, The Medici Pope In office:

13. What was another problem within the Catholic Church that helped lead to the Reformation? Church offices (Bishoprics, etc.) were sold (simony) to the highest bidder 14. During this period, what were some problems with Catholic priests in general? Many were poorly trained and preached many ideas that were out of sync with official Catholic teachings

15. What were indulgences? Indulgences were (and are) special grants made by the Catholic Church to reduce certain here- and-know penalties related to certain sins 16. By 1517, what problem was associated with Indulgences? Indulgences were being sold, and in doing so, became a corrupt fund-raising tool for various church officials, including Pope Leo X

17. Who was Martin Luther ( )? A Catholic monk who earnestly sought spiritual salvation within the Catholic system 18. What was Martin Luther’s deepest personal problem? He consistently felt that his efforts as a monk were insufficient to make himself righteous (right) before God

Martin Luther,

19. How did Luther view God? Luther viewed God as a righteous judge who demanded perfect obedience from sinners This view nearly drove Luther to despair 20. What was the solution for Luther? He came to believe that he could not achieve righteousness through his own efforts, or even his efforts in conjunction with assistance from the Churh He came to believe that righteousness could come only from Jesus Christ as a gift, received by Faith

21. For Martin Luther, what was the central truth about salvation? The salvation of a sinner comes from Christ alone through faith alone This idea became known as “justification by grace through faith” 22. In time, Luther claimed what to be the doctrine upon which the Church rose or fell? The doctrine of justification by faith

23. To understand how Martin Luther’s protests shattered Catholic unity in central and western Europe, what does one need to understand about the Catholic Church? One needs to understand the Catholic Church’s doctrines about its own authority One needs to understand the Catholic Church’s doctrines about the office of the Pope One needs to understand a little bit about the Catholic sacramental system And it is to those matters that we will turn to next