The Protestant Reformation

Causes of the Reformation? Church corruption Anger of Holy Roman Empire towards Church Efforts of reformers, like Martin Luther & John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli Secular leaders’ greed for Church land People used humanist ideas to question a central force in their lives- the Church

Church Corruption Worldly affairs Pope competing for political power Fought long wars to protect Papal states Plotted against powerful monarchs who tried to seize control of the Church within their lands Fought to expand its own interests

Why did the Reformation Start in the Holy Roman Empire? No centralized state (390+ separate entities) Church controlled a lot of land in HRE Church took advantage of HRE lands and rulers Weak, generally small states Church taxed them Most residents of HRE were angry at church abuses

Martin Luther Luther’s background Priest and professor, at U of Wittenberg (HRE) Offended by indulgences and John Tetzel, commissioner of Pope Basis of indulgences: faith + good works = salvation Tetzel: "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs." Wrote 95 Theses (arguments) against indulgences & Tetzel Example: #86 Challenged Tetzel to debate (ignored) Luther used printing press to spread his side of argument

Luther’s Excommunication Luther began pamphlet campaign, spreading his ideas Distance from HRE to Rome a factor 1517: Luther’s letter to Archbishop of Mainz Late 1518 = initial response to Luther’s 95 Theses What was Luther doing during this time? 1521: Diet of Worms Charles V (HRE) summoned Luther, ordered him to give up his views and teachings. Luther refused, becoming an outlaw. Results- many followers, renounced the authority of the pope.

Luther’s Teachings All Christians have equal access to god through faith and the Bible. Like Erasmus, Luther wanted ordinary people to be able to read and understand the bible=translated into German. Wanted every town to have a school. Banned indulgences, confession, pilgrimages, and prayers to saints. Permitted clergy to marry “printing was God’s highest act of Grace”

Other Events Peasants Revolt Peace at Augsburg End to serfdom, hoped to gain Luther’s support for social and economic change Result- Luther denounced the revolt Luther strongly favored social order and political authority Peace at Augsburg 1555, allowed each prince to decide which religion (Catholic or Lutheran) to follow in their lands.

Spread of Lutheranism

John Calvin (1509-1564) John Calvin was a French lawyer Left Catholic Church around 1530 Fled France to Switzerland due to anti- Protestant violence in 1536 Wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion (His statement of belief) Predestination All events have been willed by God Humans have no free will The “Elect” God has chosen a small group of people for salvation, the Elect No one knows who the Elect are Elect naturally live life according to Biblical teachings, demonstrating their fitness for salvation

John Calvin Continued World Divided into two kinds of people Saints & Sinners 1541 City State of Geneva Theocracy- govn’t run by church leaders Society stressed – hard work, discipline, thrift, honesty and morality. Punishment and fines for fighting, swearing, laughing in church or dancing Model Community Took roots in Germany,France, Netherlands etc. Results Set off bloody wars in Europe

Protestant Sects Sects- religious groups that broke away from an established church. Anabaptists- more radical ideals such as rejecting infant baptism Why?- they are too young to understand what it means to accept the Christian faith EX Baptists, Mennonites, and Amish

The Reformation in England Divorced Divorced Henry VIII had a problem….. Wanted a divorce (Catherine of Aragon) Why-wanted a male heir to the throne (Mary Tudor-daughter) Pope refused Henry’s response (1534) Henry confiscated all Church land in England 20%+ of English lands Distributed to loyal noblemen Executed Executed Died

Continued Tomas Cranmer Started his own church = Anglican Church King was head of church Tomas Cranmer Archbishop of the new Church Annulled the King’s marriage was allowed King Henry remarried (Anne Boleyn) and had another daughter, Elizabeth

Continued 1534 Act of Supremacy- Fallout The king is the only supreme head on Earth of the Church of England Fallout Many loyal Catholics refused to accept the AOS, and were executed for treason Among them were Sir Thomas More Canonized- recognized as a saint, by the Catholic Church

Strengthening the Church of England How? Officials investigated Catholic convents and monasteries claiming they were centers of immorality. Confiscated, or seized, their lands and wealth Granted lands to nobles and other high-ranking citizens Gained support for the Anglican Church

England’s Church Anglican Church- Name of the new church of England Beliefs Aside from breaking away from Rome and allowing use of the English Bible, he kept most Catholic forms of worship

Religious Turmoil Henry dies in 1547, having been married 6 times. Edward (his only son) inherits the throne. Took steps to make England a truly Protestant country Died in his teens Mary Tudor becomes queen Determined to turn England to the Catholic faith. Hundreds of protestants burned at the stake for heresy

The Elizabethan Settlement 1558 Mary Tudor Dies Compromise- acceptable middle ground, between Protestant and Catholic Practices Preserved Catholic ritual (hierarchy of bishops and archbishops Accepted moderate Protestant doctrine (book of common prayer)- outline moderate form of Protestant service Allowed English to replace Latin in church services Elizabeth used her skills to restore unity to England. Keeping Catholic traditions, she made England a firmly Protestant nation

Reformation Europe (Late 16c)

Effects of the Reformation Increase in Nationalism – identity to a nation of people vs. “Christendom” Bible translated into vernacular (English, German, etc) Catholic “Counter Reformation” Religious Wars