The Spread of Protestantism: Calvin & Zwingli

The Peace of Augsburg Stated that…. German states could choose between Catholicism and Lutheranism Lutheran states had same legal rights as Catholic states So why was it so important? What did it symbolize? The Peace of Augsburg

Even before the Peace of Augsburg, division already started to appear in Protestantism…

Ulrich Zwingli was a priest in Zurich, Switzerland who introduced religious reforms All relics and images were abolished Paintings & decorations of churches removed Introduced new church service: scripture reading, prayer, and sermons (instead of Catholic mass) Zwingli

Noticed similarity in ideas and need for Protestant unity As movement began to spread throughout Switzerland, Zwingli tried to make alliance with Luther & other German reformers Why??? Zwingli & Luther

Zwingli & Luther (cont’d) Unable to agree on the meaning of the sacrament of communion, so they remained separate. Luther thought it was literal; Zwingli insisted it was figurative What does this tell you? What message does it send about religion? Zwingli & Luther (cont’d)

John Calvin educated in France, but had to flee to Switzerland after conversion to Protestantism Published Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536), which summarized Protestant ideas Gave him reputation as one of new leaders of Protestantism Calvin

Calvin & Luther On most important doctrines, Calvin agreed with Luther Especially stood by principle of justification by faith alone Emphasized all-powerful nature (omnipotence) of God much more than Luther Calvin & Luther

Calvin believed in predestination; he believed that God had already determined who would be saved and who would be damned The elect (saved) The reprobate (damned) He called this “The Eternal Decree” “The Eternal Decree”

Calvin’s followers had firm conviction they were doing God’s work and became determined to spread faith Why might that have been?? Calvinists

Calvinism & Government In 1536, Calvin set up a church government in Geneva, Switzerland using clergy and laity in service of church Set up The Consistory, a section of government responsible for enforcing moral discipline and doctrinal purity Had the right to punish anyone who strayed from church teachings “Crimes”: dancing, singing obscene songs, drunkenness, playing cards, swearing Calvinism & Government

Having made Geneva a powerful center of Calvinism, missionaries were sent across Europe Calvinism soon became established in France, the Netherlands, Scotland, and central and eastern Europe By mid-16th century (1700s), Calvinism replaced Lutheranism as most important, powerful, dynamic form of Protestantism Called “the most perfect school of Christ on Earth” Missionaries

How did the use of missionaries and the government help Calvinism to spread successfully? Think about it…