The Reformation Chapter 14 Part 1

Causes of the Protestant Reformation The Prestige of the Church was in decline due to the Crises of the 14 th and 15 th centuries: The Prestige of the Church was in decline due to the Crises of the 14 th and 15 th centuries: The Babylonian Captivity The Babylonian Captivity The Great Schism The Great Schism The Conciliar Movement ( sharing power with an assembly and restricting Pope’s power with a Constitution was rejected by several 15 th and 16 th century Popes. The Conciliar Movement ( sharing power with an assembly and restricting Pope’s power with a Constitution was rejected by several 15 th and 16 th century Popes.

Corruption within the Church Simony The sale of Church offices Simony The sale of Church offices In 1487 the pope sold 24 offices In 1487 the pope sold 24 offices Reformers unhappy by unqualified people in Church offices Reformers unhappy by unqualified people in Church offices Pluralism an official holding more than one church office at a time Pluralism an official holding more than one church office at a time Absenteeism a church officials collecting payments and privileges even when not performing a duty Absenteeism a church officials collecting payments and privileges even when not performing a duty

More Corruption in the Church Nepotism: The appointment of Church offices to family members Nepotism: The appointment of Church offices to family members Leo X and Clement VII were both sons of Medici Florentine rulers Leo X and Clement VII were both sons of Medici Florentine rulers Pope Paul III made two of his grandsons cardinals Pope Paul III made two of his grandsons cardinals The Sale of Indulgences: people paying money to the Church to absolve their sins or sins of their loved ones The Sale of Indulgences: people paying money to the Church to absolve their sins or sins of their loved ones

The moral decline of the papacy Pope Alexander VI had numerous affairs and children out of wedlock Pope Alexander VI had numerous affairs and children out of wedlock In the early 16 th century, 1/5 of all priests in Trent kept concubines In the early 16 th century, 1/5 of all priests in Trent kept concubines Clerical Ignorance: Many priests were illiterate Clerical Ignorance: Many priests were illiterate Some abused their power (trading sexual favors for absolution, etc.) Some abused their power (trading sexual favors for absolution, etc.)

Critics of the Church Emphasized a personal relationship with God Emphasized a personal relationship with God Wyclif: (England) The Bible is the sole authority Wyclif: (England) The Bible is the sole authority Diminished the importance of the sacraments Diminished the importance of the sacraments Stressed personal communion with God Stressed personal communion with God Lollards continued his ideas into the 16 th century Lollards continued his ideas into the 16 th century

Critics Jan Hus (Bohemia) Jan Hus (Bohemia) Freedom of debate Freedom of debate Ultraquism Ultraquism Vernacular Vernacular Transubstantiation Transubstantiation Was executed at the Council of Constance Was executed at the Council of Constance

More Critics Thomas a’ Kempis wrote The Imitation of Christ Thomas a’ Kempis wrote The Imitation of Christ Founded The Brethren of the Common Life Founded The Brethren of the Common Life Encouraged Christians to life simply and make religion a personal experience Encouraged Christians to life simply and make religion a personal experience

More Critics Erasmus In Praise of Folly Erasmus In Praise of Folly Criticized the corruption of the Church and the hypocrisy of the clergy Criticized the corruption of the Church and the hypocrisy of the clergy “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched.” “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched.”

Christian Humanists in the North Criticized the Church AND questioned the validity of the Vulgate Criticized the Church AND questioned the validity of the Vulgate New Translations of the Bible undermined Catholic authority New Translations of the Bible undermined Catholic authority In the North: Erasmus, Ximenes (Spain) LeFevre (in France) Valla (in Italy) In the North: Erasmus, Ximenes (Spain) LeFevre (in France) Valla (in Italy)

Italian Renaissance Deemphasized religion Deemphasized religion Secularism and individualism emphasized by Church leaders Secularism and individualism emphasized by Church leaders Many decried the moral decline of the Church Many decried the moral decline of the Church

New Critics opposed to the moral decline of the Church Ulrich Zwingli was a preacher who was trained as a humanist and used Erasmus’ edition of the Greek New Testament Ulrich Zwingli was a preacher who was trained as a humanist and used Erasmus’ edition of the Greek New Testament John Calvin was influenced by humanism; especially the writings of Erasmus John Calvin was influenced by humanism; especially the writings of Erasmus After the Reformation, many monasteries were turned into schools by humanists. After the Reformation, many monasteries were turned into schools by humanists.

Martin Luther Was supposed to be a lawyer Was supposed to be a lawyer Conversion experience Conversion experience Augustinian monk Augustinian monk Taught at the University of Wittenberg in Saxony Taught at the University of Wittenberg in Saxony

At the Same time… Pope Leo X looking for more money to build St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome Pope Leo X looking for more money to build St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome Authorized John Tetzel to sell indulgences Authorized John Tetzel to sell indulgences “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” Tetzel’s selling of indulgences had gotten out of hand Tetzel’s selling of indulgences had gotten out of hand

October 31, 1517 The 95 Thesis Luther went beyond the mere criticism of selling indulgences Luther went beyond the mere criticism of selling indulgences He questioned the authority of the Pope to grant indulgences (Scriptural questions) He questioned the authority of the Pope to grant indulgences (Scriptural questions) The actual nailing of the 95 Thesis may not have happened The actual nailing of the 95 Thesis may not have happened But the printing press spread his ideas rapidly But the printing press spread his ideas rapidly

The Pope was not worried Luther’s outbursts did not seem unlike theological debates between different orders of monks that were common Luther’s outbursts did not seem unlike theological debates between different orders of monks that were common BUT in 1518 when Luther was told by the pope to stop, he defied the Pope’s authority BUT in 1518 when Luther was told by the pope to stop, he defied the Pope’s authority Luther’s protector was Frederick III (the Wise) of Saxony Luther’s protector was Frederick III (the Wise) of Saxony

In a 1520 debate With Catholic theologian, Johann Eck With Catholic theologian, Johann Eck Luther denied the infallibility of the pope (and a general council) Luther denied the infallibility of the pope (and a general council) Claimed that the Church made a mistake when executing Jan Hus Claimed that the Church made a mistake when executing Jan Hus

Remember what was going on in Italy Renaissance Renaissance The League of Cambrai and invasion The League of Cambrai and invasion

1520 Luther published his theology of reform Salvation through faith alone Salvation through faith alone Bible is the sole authority Bible is the sole authority Rejected most sacraments (baptism, communion and penance still ok) Rejected most sacraments (baptism, communion and penance still ok) The Church = priesthood of all believers The Church = priesthood of all believers Criticized indulgence sales, simony, etc. Criticized indulgence sales, simony, etc. Rejected poverty, chastity, obedience Rejected poverty, chastity, obedience Encouraged German princes to reform the Church in their states (advantages) Encouraged German princes to reform the Church in their states (advantages)

Leo X excommunicated Luther 1520 Luther threw the Papal Bull containing the news into the fire Luther threw the Papal Bull containing the news into the fire

1521 The Diet of Worms Was the tribunal of the HRE which had the power to outlaw and sentence execution through burning at the stake Was the tribunal of the HRE which had the power to outlaw and sentence execution through burning at the stake Charles V had promised before his election to HRE that he would not allow anyone to be executed or outlawed without a fair trial Charles V had promised before his election to HRE that he would not allow anyone to be executed or outlawed without a fair trial

The Diet of Worms Charles V demanded that Luther recant his writings Charles V demanded that Luther recant his writings Luther, “Here I stand, I can do no other” Luther, “Here I stand, I can do no other” Edict of Worms: Luther was outlawed as a heretic by the HRE Edict of Worms: Luther was outlawed as a heretic by the HRE But was saved and protected by agents of Frederick the Wise But was saved and protected by agents of Frederick the Wise

1523 Luther translated the Bible into the Vernacular = the development of the modern German language = the development of the modern German language Since any literate German could have access to Scripture…was a democratizing factor for religion Since any literate German could have access to Scripture…was a democratizing factor for religion

1530 Confessions of Augsburg Written by Luther’s friend…Philip Melanchthon Written by Luther’s friend…Philip Melanchthon He tried to mend the rift between Lutheranism and Catholicism within the German states of the HRE He tried to mend the rift between Lutheranism and Catholicism within the German states of the HRE Didn’t work BUT… Didn’t work BUT… Confessions of Augsburg became the traditional statement of the Lutheran Church Confessions of Augsburg became the traditional statement of the Lutheran Church

Confessions of Augsburg Salvation through Faith alone Salvation through Faith alone Bible is the sole authority Bible is the sole authority The Church is the Priesthood of all believers The Church is the Priesthood of all believers

The early spread of Lutheranism German princes in the North were drawn to Lutheranism: German princes in the North were drawn to Lutheranism: they could escape the authority of the Catholic Church they could escape the authority of the Catholic Church They could confiscate Church lands within their kingdoms They could confiscate Church lands within their kingdoms The Southern part of the HRE remained Catholic The Southern part of the HRE remained Catholic

The spread of Lutheranism Denmark and Sweden also embraced Lutheranism Denmark and Sweden also embraced Lutheranism Calvinism will win much of the rest of Western Europe…later Calvinism will win much of the rest of Western Europe…later

The Political Repercussions of Lutheranism Charles V (too late) tried to stop the spread of Lutheranism Charles V (too late) tried to stop the spread of Lutheranism Remember…Sack of Rome 1527 Remember…Sack of Rome 1527 Was busy fighting Francis I in Italy Was busy fighting Francis I in Italy Also Turks were threatening Hungary Also Turks were threatening Hungary Now HRE and the Pope allied against Lutheranism Now HRE and the Pope allied against Lutheranism

The Swabian Rebellion Aka The Peasants’ War Aka The Peasants’ War Peasants believed that Luther would support a liberal social agenda because he was religiously liberal Peasants believed that Luther would support a liberal social agenda because he was religiously liberal BUT, Although Luther sympathized with the plight of the peasants, he was not interested in social or political reform; only in reforming the Church BUT, Although Luther sympathized with the plight of the peasants, he was not interested in social or political reform; only in reforming the Church

The Swabian Rebellion 1525: TheTwelve Articles (Peasants’ Demands) 1525: TheTwelve Articles (Peasants’ Demands) End of serfdom and tithes End of serfdom and tithes End of Feudal hunting rights and other oppressive practices End of Feudal hunting rights and other oppressive practices 100,000+ peasants involved 100,000+ peasants involved Luther: Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of the Peasants Luther: Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of the Peasants

The Swabian Peasant Uprising Luther was disgusted with the violence Luther was disgusted with the violence Admonished both Lutheran and Catholic princes to crush the revolt Admonished both Lutheran and Catholic princes to crush the revolt They did They did The peasants felt betrayed The peasants felt betrayed REMEMBER: Although Luther was a religious liberal, he was no threat to the existing social or political order. REMEMBER: Although Luther was a religious liberal, he was no threat to the existing social or political order.