Comparative Theology of the Protestant Reformation

Lutheranism Lutheranism was the first of the Reformation movements He became an Augustine monk in 1505 In 1508, he became a teacher of theology at the University of Wittenberg

Luther concluded that the only path to salvation was through faith in the goodness and mercy of Jesus There was nothing a believer could do to earn salvation Only Jesus could grant the gift of salvation Theology based on “salvation by faith alone”

In 1517, Johann Tetzel began to sell indulgences in the area around Wittenberg By gaining indulgences, Christians could reduce the amount of time they or their deceased loved ones would remain in purgatory before entering into heaven $ being raised was being used to build St. Peters in Rome

Luther began to question the doctrine of indulgences October 31, 1517, he posted the 95 Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg Intended to be a challenge to debate the issue of indulgences Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X in 1520

In 1521, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V ordered Luther to appear before the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire at its meeting in Worms They called on him to recant, which he did not Luther was declared an outlaw, but Frederick the Wise of Saxony provided him refuge

In 1522, Luther returned to Wittenberg and began to reform the local church Taught the only valid source of Christian doctrine was the Bible Only 2 sacraments – baptism and communion Priesthood for all believers

Luther prepared German translation of the New Testament Also abolished monasteries and ended the requirement for celibacy of the clergy Services were less elaborate than Catholic worship

In 1524, revolt against the landowners began among the peasants in southwestern Germany The peasants sought to abolish serfdom and the manorial system The peasants hoped for Luther’s support, but the he was a conservative on social and economic issues He supported the princes suppressing the revolt

In 1530, Luther appeared before Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg He presented his statement of faith, which the Diet found unacceptable A number of German Lutheran princes and cities established the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance against the Catholic Hapsburgs

From 1546 to 1555, Germany was torn by a religious civil war In 1555, the Peace of Augsburg was reached German princes had the right to determine the religion of his state Did not provide for recognition of other groups

Lutheranism became the predominant religion in much of Germany Spread to Scandinavia, becoming predominant in Denmark and Norway

Zwingli Ulrich Zwingli began the Swiss Reformation He was a humanist and Catholic priest, and had hoped that the Church would reform itself Broke from the Church in 1519

Believed in the supremacy of the Bible Believed that baptism and communion were ceremonies were symbols, not true sacraments Rejected the celibacy of the church Emphasized simplicity in worship

John Calvin Born in France Studied theology and law Began to develop his own views on the Christian religion Was forced into exile and settled in Geneva, where he became the leader of that cities Reformation

Set forth his theology in The Institutes of the Christian Religion Bible was the only source of Christian doctrine Only 2 sacraments, baptism and holy communion

Emphasized the doctrine of predestination At the beginning of creation, the all powerful and all knowing God had planned the whole universe to the end of time God determined those individuals who would be saved

Those destined for salvation were called the Elect God had given the Elect a faith in Jesus Christ and a desire to live in accordance with Christian moral values

Calvin ended both monasticism and the celibacy of the clergy Worship emphasized simplicity Worship consisted of prayers, the singing of psalms, scripture readings, and a sermon Governed by laymen called elders, who were elected by the congregation

Emphasized a puritanical approach to life Required church attendance Banned card playing, gambling, dancing, theatergoing, the consumption of alcohol and swearing Calvin established a strict theocracy in Geneva

The Calvinist Reformed Church became dominant in much of Switzerland Those who practiced Calvinism in France were called Huguenots John Knox spread Calvinism to Scotland (Presbyterianism) English Calvinists are Puritans Also won favor in the Dutch Netherlands

Anglicanism Henry VIII wished to secure an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon The king requested Pope Clement VIII to grant him the annulment on the claim that the marriage was invalid Italy was being dominated at the time by Charles V, Catherine of Aragon’s nephew

In 1529, Henry VIII dismissed his lord chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey and replaced him with Thomas More The new archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, granted the annulment in 1533 Henry married Anne Boleyn

1534, Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy Declared the king, rather than the pope, to be the head of the English church The English church under Henry VIII remained fundamentally Catholic

In 1539, Parliament approved the Six Articles, defining the doctrine of the Catholic Church On all major points, except papal supremacy, the Six Articles reaffirmed Catholic teaching and rejected Protestant beliefs

Henry VIII acted against the English monasteries, which were regarded as strongholds of support for the papacy The king needed money, sold most of the monastic lands to wealthy Englishmen

Henry VIII encountered some opposition to his break with Rome Thomas More refused to support the Act of Supremacy, and was executed 1536 – Pilgrimage of Grace – conservative Northern part of England revolted against Henry

King Edward VI Son of Henry VIII During Edward’s reign, the English Church became more Protestant Six Articles were replaced with Forty-two articles, which reflected more Calvinist ideas

Queen Mary Followed Edward to the throne Attempted to restore Roman Catholicism in England Persecuted England’s Protestants

Queen Elizabeth I Ruled after Mary Tried to create a religious settlement that would satisfy the great majority of her subjects 1559 – new Act of Supremacy 1559 – Act of Uniformity 1563 – Parliament defined the teachings of the Anglican Church with its Thirty-nine Articles

Anabaptism Radicals of the Protestant Reformation Rejected infant baptism Insisted the only true Christians had undergone a conversion experience and had then been baptized

Anabaptists opposed the taking of oaths and the bearing of arms Believed that the church should be entirely separate from the state Thomas Munzer – wanted religious reform but also wanted to overthrow the existing political and social order

John of Leyden – headed a theocratic government in the city of Munster Claimed to be directly inspired by God, he endorsed polygamy and took four wives

Menno Simons was more moderate in his views Became Anabaptist in 1536, preaching simplicity in religions practice and in life Teaching resulted in the establishment of the Mennonite movement