Reform Attempts Prior to the Reformation
Attempts at Reform John Wycliffe (1320-1384) Clerical Poverty Personal Merit Scripture Alone Condemned Posthumously Lollards
Attempts at Reform Jan Hus (1369-1415) Bohemian Reformer Ideas similar to Wycliffe Religious Reform linked to Bohemian nationalism Burned at the Stake Council of Constance (1414)
Church Response Conciliar Movement No lasting reform Church councils called to reunify and clean up the Church Examples: Council of Pisa (1409); Council of Constance (1414) No lasting reform Popes resisted change – why? Reform will move outside Church Structure
Mysticism Personal Relationship with Christ Active in the World Devotion outside of church structure Active in the World Life of Service to the Community - No formal vows Thomas a Kempis - “Imitation of Christ” Brethren of the Common Life Oratories of the Divine (Italy) - Priests serving in active ministry Cardinal Jimenez (Spain) Remove abuses/Renewed spiritual vigor/High standards for the clergy
Millenarianism “Last Days of the World” Society in which religion ensures justice for poor and oppressed Justified attacking established institutions and church corruption Anti-christ = Corruption of the Church
Christian Humanism Desire to bring Church back to its original state Use Humanistic Scholarship Study and Interpret Scripture in the original language Retain church doctrine/teachings - Reform abuses “Prince of Christian Humanists” - Erasmus
Eve of Reformation 2 Areas of Church Criticism Church Problems Role of Church in Society
Church Abuses Church Perception: Babylonian Captivity (1305-1376) French king forced popes to settle in Avignon, France Luxurious lifestyle Great Schism (1378-1417) 2 Popes: Rome and Avignon - Church leadership questioned
Church Abuses Nepotism - Giving friend/family position Pluralism - more than one office Simony - sale of church position Clerical Immorality/Illiteracy
Role of the Church Role of the Church in Society Reaction to wealth/power of Church Main emphasis of criticism Rise of national churches - control by monarchy