The Protestant Reformation

I. Criticisms of the Church A. pomp & circumstance around Papal Court 1. Many believed church had become too involved in ‘worldly affairs’ B. Financing of wars & art projects 1. increased fees for baptisms, marriages, funerals 2. sale of “indulgences” ---indulgences= reduction of punishment a sinner would suffer in purgatory after death 3. large number of Christian crusades --- extremely violent

Criticisms lead to movement known as the Protestant Reformation

II. Martin Luther A. German monk 1. believed that good works like fasting and prayer did not guarantee salvation 2. a person could not buy nor earn God’s favor B. 95 Theses 1. denounced practice of indulgences 2. a person could not ‘buy off’ his/her sins 3. a person’s conscience and the Bible were more important than the Pope and Church leadership Etc…. C. Tried to reform Church from within 1. excommunicated

III. Luther’s Teachings (Lutheran Church) A. Absolute faith in God’s mercy B. The Bible is only guide for living C. Emphasis on role of individual (read Bible yourself) D. Supported the simplification of religious services

IV. Social Impact A. Many townspeople stopped paying Church taxes B. Many individuals started to read & interpret Bible for themselves

V. Other Reformers A. John Calvin= “Calvinists” 1. belief in predestination= God chooses who would be saved or condemned 2. many feared this would lead to irresponsible behavior B. King Henry VIII= “Church of England/Anglican” 1. Wife Catherine was unable to give him a son to inherit the throne 2. Henry wants to divorce her which is denied by Pope 3. Decides to split from church and start his own

Footnotes A. On deathbed, Martin Luther converted back to Catholic Christianity B. Catholic Church eventually did reform itself from within

The End