The Spread of Protestantism (Late 1300s-Mid 1500s)
Corruption in the Medieval Church Excommunication used to make kings obey the Church Illiterate priests Unchaste priests & nuns Lived lives of luxury Charged a fee to see holy relics Simony: sold Church positions to highest bidder Sold indulgences to forgive sins What forms of corruption existed within the Church during the Late Middle Ages?
1. “Babylonian Captivity”: ( ) French king argued with Pope regarding taxing clergy Pope Boniface kidnapped & replaced with a French pope who led from Avignon, France instead of Rome New Pope thought to be controlled by the king How was the power of the papacy weakened?
2. The Great Schism: ( ) Papacy moved back to Rome French cardinals elected Clement VII as “anti-”pope, other cardinals elected Urban VI as pope 2 popes = people didn’t know WHO to listen to
Martin Luther & the Beginning of the Reformation Early calls for reform = charged with heresy & persecuted…until Martin Luther came along came from middle-class German parents studied law Catholic monk What was his early life like?
Why did Luther question Church practices & teachings? Salvation by good works was WRONG…believed salvation was attained by faith alone Indulgences sold for forgiveness of sins was WRONG… believed one is only forgiven through God’s mercy
How did his criticisms expand into an effort to form a new Church? 95 Theses = posted on door of church in Württemberg; got people talking about abuses Published books & pamphlets questioning Church teachings (printing press invented in 1440s by Gutenberg allowed for mass production of written works) New Church formed (Lutherans): Congregations chose their own minister (not appointed by pope/bishop) Worship of saints forbidden Mass in German, not Latin Clergy allowed to marry
Why did his reforms create widespread revolt in Germany? Peasants believed everyone was equal in the eyes of God = revolt against lords Princes wanted freedom from the pope, seized Church lands Peace of Augsburg: Prince in each state could choose to be Catholic or Lutheran…subjects could move to state of their choice based on religious preference
Reformation Spreads throughout Europe Political leaders looked to escape power of Catholic Church People tired of Church abuses Charismatic individuals questioned Church teachings & provided leadership Rising literacy rate & printing press allowed for rapid spread of ideas Why did Protestantism spread beyond Germany?
What other groups separated from the Catholic Church & formed new religions? Anabaptists (1525): Ulrich Zwingli Shouldn’t be baptized until adulthood True Christians should form a separate community Anglicans (1534): Henry VIII Wanted a divorce (not allowed in Catholic Church) Made king the supreme religious authority of England Calvinists (1546): John Calvin Predestination (God pre-decided who would obtain salvation) Disciplined life would prove who had been chosen