Lutheranism and Protestant Reformation

Spreading universities Printing press to publish bibles Popes possessing significant authority People becoming more religious Highways packed with Pilgrims Vatican amongst the worlds most beautiful sites

Wealth of church Simony Pluralism Clergy immortality

Pilgrimages common Shrines believed to cure illnesses Yet people wanted more… Humanists condemned many practice of the church As suffering rose so did outcry against the church Conflicts between Religion and Politics Erosion of confession and the rise of indulgence

Substitute for confession and penance. Part of the Catholic doctrine of good works “so as soon as the coin in coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs” Came to be viewed as “pardons” Sale had become big business

Needed an agent to sell them to build the St. Peter’s Basilica. Gave the ability to grant your ancestors freedom from their sins and removal from purgatory. “as soon as coin in coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs”.

Relatively obscure German professor. Rose due to his intellectual achievements. Preached and taught. Successful and content on the outside, but internally tormented.

“I was one who terribly feared the last judgment and who nevertheless wished with all my heart to be saved.” He couldn’t erase his belief in his own sins How could he liberate his own soul? “I pondered night and day until I understood the connection between righteousness of God and the sentence “The just shall live by faith”, then I grasped that the justice of God is his righteousness by which through grace and pure mercy, God justifies us through Faith”

Sola Fide: Justification by faith alone Sola Scriptura: all that was needed to understand the mercy of God was contained in the Bible All who believed in Gods righteousness were equal in God’s eyes.

Luther’s scholarly response to Indulgences. Nature of the act? Content? Placed him in direct conflict with the Roman Catholic Church.

Excommunication Books burned A public letter burning “let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God.” Papal v. Bible

How is someone to be saved? No longer both faith and good works. Now salvation from Faith alone.

In the Pope? Now it shall lie in the word of God—the Bible. Each person is capable of their own leadership.

Is it the clergy and the institution? Lutheran view holds it that the church is the entire community of believers.

Previous teachings held the monastic and religious orders. Luther emphasized that all vocations have equal merit and that every person should serve god per their individual calling. The answers to these four questions becomes the basis of Protestantism

Ordered to recant “I cannot and I will not retract anything, since is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise.” Asked Charles V and the Pope to use the Bible to contradict his words…

Encouraged local princes to allow their subjects to practice it. Diminished power of the papacy. Published over 30 works that were huge best sellers. German princes long angry with politics in Europe were the quickest to embrace it

John Calvin Unwilling reformer Geneva was largely under Catholic and prince control. The region had been exposed to Protestantism by the reformer Huldrych Zwingli

Calvin’s World in the 16 c

Luther/Calvin comparison Calvin and Paris under Francis I (at right) An avid defender of French Huegenots (Protestants) Predestination “Many are called but few are chosen” “The Elect” Puritans (congregational elect government) “infants themselves bring their own damnation from the mothers womb” Discounts the good works doctrine

Pastors Doctors Deacons Elders

Protestant Churches in France (Late 16 c )

The Anabaptists Dutch persecution of Anabaptists (Mennonites)

Reformation Europe (Late 16 c )