The Protestant Reformation
Origins of the Reformation Began in Germany due to the lack of a strong central government Included 365 independent states Weak emperor COULD NOT control independent ideas about religion within the GR states
Martin Luther German monk Started Reformation Believed in Justification by Faith: A person could be made just, or good, simply by having faith in God’s mercy and love
The Sale of Indulgences Pope Leo X and indulgences Indulgences: Certificates issued by the Church
The Sale of Indulgences Were said to reduce or even cancel punishment for a person’s sins Applied to already dead relatives as well
The Sale of Indulgences “Once you hear the money’s ring, the soul from purgatory is free to spring…” Purgatory: Location in the afterlife where people are made fit for heaven
The Sale of Indulgences John Tetzel: German church agent that sold indulgences Promised peasants that indulgences would relieve them of guilt for future sins
Luther’s Protest 95 Theses: Criticized the sale of indulgences Nailed the 95 Theses to the Wittenberg Church Spread throughout Germany
The Backlash In 1521 the Pope EXCOMMUNICATED Luther Diet of Worms: Tried to get Luther to retract his criticisms of the Church
The Backlash “I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscious. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me. Amen” - - - Martin Luther
The Backlash Luther refused to retract his statements Condemned as a heretic Went into hiding; translated the Bible into German; created a new religion - Lutheranism
The Spread of Protestantism
John Calvin CALVINISM: Argued that God determines the fate of every person before birth; PREDESTINATION Those predestined were called “the elect”
John Knox PRESBYTERIANISM: Leader of Reformation in SCOT Based on Calvin’s teachings Presbytery: a group of decision makers within the church “Priesthood of all believers”
Henry VIII Henry wanted to divorce his wife for not producing a male heir to the throne
Henry VIII Catholic Church forbade divorce Refused to dissolve Henry’s marriage
Henry VIII Henry – MAD! Withdrew GB from the Catholic Church & created a new church with the Act of Supremacy Parliament created the Anglican Church with the king as its head