1. Western Schism
From 1378 to 1417, three different people claimed to be the true Pope. This is called the Western Schism.
This has complicated political ramifications, but more significant, was the subsequent loss of respect for the office of Pope.
People still believed in God, but His servants were obviously fallible.

2. Black Death
The Black death was a type of plague, called bubonic, that appeared in the mid-14th century.
It was likely carried from the Iberian Peninsula by rat fleas.
It caused painful boils and sores, followed quickly by death.
It killed an estimated 30% to 60% of Europe.

3. Black Death
Though many priests continued to serve sick people faithfully, they often became ill and died along with their parishioners.
This, along with the heartbreak and pain caused by so much death, caused some people to become doubtful of religion and Christianity in general.
At the very least, God seemed to be punishing priests as much as anyone else.

4. John Wycliffe
An English priest of the 14th century named John Wycliffe became upset with what he believed were abuses in the church.
He saw church offices being sold or given as political favors.
He was an avid student of the Bible, and thought the church had departed from Biblical commands in several ways.

5. John Wycliffe
After he began teaching against some of the practices of the church, he was banished from his teaching position at Oxford.
In his new time off, he translated the Bible into English, which is called a vulgar translation.
He was eventually condemned by the church, but died of a stroke before he could be officially punished.

6. John Wycliffe
Thirty years after his death, at the Council of Constance, John was condemned again, and orders were given for his bones to exhumed, burned, and thrown in the river.
His influence on the church was so significant that he is now called the Morning Star of the Reformation.

7. Renaissance The Renaissance also had a dramatic effect on the church.
It lead to an increase in humanism, including at least a slight increase in respect for the common man.
Pope Leo X, wanting to be a good Renaissance man, remodeled Rome according to Renaissance art and architecture.

8. Renaissance
Unfortunately, this was very expensive, so to raise money, he began selling what are known as indulgences.
Indulgences are fees to reduce the amount of time someone must be punished for sins, such as in Purgatory.
The Catholic church now condemns this kind of indulgence.

9. Martin Luther Martin Luther 1483-1546, German
Catholic priest, professor of theology
Disagreed with sale of indulgences
Said one could not buy God’s forgiveness
Argued that one could not even work for God’s forgiveness, but that God forgives based on faith

10. Martin Luther Posted 95 “Theses” (arguments)
On the door of the church in Wittenburg
Tried by a court of the Holy Roman Empire
He said “Here I Stand”
The Pope excommunicated him
The Holy Roman Emperor declared him an outlaw
A German prince named Frederick of Saxony hid him in his castle, where he translated the New Testament into German
Started a revolution among Catholics, and many left the church to start their own churches

11. John Calvin John Calvin 1509-1564, born in France
Trained as a humanist lawyer, broke with the Catholic Church in 1530
Became well-respected pastor, founder of Calvinism
Reformed, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches follow Calvinism
Violence against Protestants in France forced him to flee to Geneva, Switzerland

12. Henry VIII 1509-1547, English king Founder of English Reformation
He was crowned king at 18
He soon married Catherine of Aragon
He was extremely strong-willed and stubborn
He was a hunter and a horseman, and was known to do whatever he pleased

13. Henry VIII
First wife, Catherine, did not have children, so Henry wanted to divorce her
Catholic Church would not let him
Henry declared the English Church free of the Pope, and himself as the head of the English Church
The Anglican Church (Church of England) still acted very Catholic, but simply had a different leader
Ended up having six wives
Two executed, two died, one divorced, one widowed

14. Thomas More 1478-1535, advisor to Henry VIII Renaissance Humanist
Opposed the ideas of Luther and other Reformers

15. Thomas More
Wrote Utopia, which means “good place” or “no place,” a book that made fun of an idea that was becoming popular during the Age of Discovery, that humans could live together without government happily and healthily
Told Henry VIII not to divorce or split with the Church
Henry later had him executed
Now a saint to Catholics and Anglicans, and honored by the Soviet Union

16. William Tyndale He was an English scholar from Oxford
Famous for his English translation of the Bible
However, he opposed Henry VIII’s marriage annulment as being contrary to Scripture
He fled to the Holy Roman Empire, but was eventually turned over to Henry VIII
Henry executed him by having him strangled while tied to a stake, then his body was burned