1. Reformation and Religious Warfare in the Sixteenth Century
Chapter 13.3
Reformation and Religious
Warfare in the Sixteenth Century

2. Essential/ Focus Question
Analyze the impact of the Protestant Reformation on European politics and society in the 16th century. Be sure to consider Germany, England, France and the Netherlands.

3. TERMS TO KNOW Anabaptists John of Leyden Tragedy at Münster
Mennonites, Quakers, & Unitarians
Ulrich Zwingli, Zurich
Colloquy at Marburg
John Calvin
Institutes of the Christian Religion
predestination
“elect/visible saints”
Geneva
Consistory
Michael Servetus
Protestant work ethic
John Knox
Presbyterianism
Huguenots
Dutch Reformed Church
Puritans English Reformation
William Tyndale
Henry VIII
In Defense of the Seven Sacraments Catherine of Aragon
Anne Boleyn
Thomas Wolsey
Thomas Cranmer
Church of England (Anglican Church)
Act of Supremacy
Pilgrimage of Grace
Statute of the Six Articles
Edward VI
Mary Tudor “Bloody Mary”
Marian Exiles

4. 2 major theological differences
Lords Supper
Infant Baptism-
Luther, Catholics and other protestant groups practiced Infant baptism
Catholic doctrine was that since the Garden of Eden, all babies were born in sin
Baptizing them protected them from the original sin.
The smaller, radical Reformation groups believed that infant baptism had no biblical basis and wrong
They believed in Adult baptism
They also believed that only those who confessed their sins to God and committed to a life of Christianity should be baptized/ not infants (CHOICE)

5. IV. The Spread of Protestantism
A. Anabaptists (formed in 1525)
1. Characteristics
a. Voluntary association of believers with no connection or allegiance to any state.
 Rejected secular agreements, refused to take civil oaths, pay taxes, hold public office, or serve in the military
b. Did not believe in childhood baptism since only adults could make the decision to commit to Christ
c. As millenarians, they believed the end of the world was near.
d. Rejected the idea of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
e. Some historians see the Anabaptists as the “left wing” of the Protestant Reformation

6. IV. Spread of Protestantism
2. In 1532, a radical group of Anabaptists took control of the northwestern German city of Münster.
a. Led by John of Leyden ( )
b. Polygamy was instituted (John had 16 wives)
c. Women also served as leaders of the movement
d. All books except the Bible were burned in the city
e. The Anabaptists began killing some Lutherans and Catholics

7. IV. Spread of Protestantism
f. Tragedy at Münster (1534)
 Combined armies of Protestant and Catholic forces captured the city and executed Anabaptist leaders

8. IV. Spread of Protestantism
3. Long-term impact of Anabaptists
a. Mennonites: founded by Dutch leader Menno Simmons became descendants of Anabaptists
 Emphasized pacifism (perhaps in reaction to what happened in Münster)
b. Quakers in England shared similar beliefs; thousands came to America where they founded and controlled Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware
c. Unitarians (who reject the trinity) also were influenced by the Anabaptists
4. Luther’s views on new sects: did not believe in the legitimacy of any other faith except mainstream Protestantism

9. IV. Spread of Protestantism
B. Ulrich Zwingli ( ) – Swiss Reformation
1. Student of humanism who preached from Erasmus’ edition of the New Greek Testament.
2. Zwingli established what amounted to a theocracy in Zurich.

10. Zwingli.
Ulrich Zwingli began the Reformation in Switzerland through his preaching in Zürich. Zwingli’s theology was accepted in Zürich and soon spread to other Swiss cities. This portrait of Zwingli was done by an unknown artist in the early sixteenth century.
p. 390

11. IV. Spread of Protestantism
3. Like Luther, he believed that the Bible should be the sole authority regarding religious practice
4. In contrast to Luther, he saw the Eucharist as only symbolic, and that Luther’s view of the Real Presence was too Catholic in its foundation
 This became the first dispute among Protestants dealing with issues of doctrine.

12. IV. Spread of Protestantism
5. Colloquy of Marburg (1529): Zwingli officially split with Luther over issue of Eucharist (see excerpt from textbook)
6. The Augsburg Confession (1530) excluded non-Lutheran reformers such as Zwingli
The Augsburg Confession was written in both German and Latin and was presented by a number of German rulers and free-cities at the Diet of Augsburg on June 25, The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V had called on the Princes and Free Territories in Germany to explain their religious convictions in an attempt to restore religious and political unity in the Holy Roman Empire and rally support against the Turkish invasion. It is the fourth document contained in the Lutheran Book of Concord.
(Wikipedia)

13. The Swiss Cantons.
p. 389

14. IV. Spread of Protestantism
C. Calvinism (most significant of the new Protestant sects)
1. John Calvin ( )
a. Frenchman; studied to be a priest and later trained as a lawyer.
b. Influenced by humanism, especially Erasmus
c. Exiled to Switzerland due to his reform ideas

15. Who was John Calvin? He was a Frenchman
He was trained as a priest and a lawyer
Influenced by humanism, especially Erasmus
Calvin fled France when his brother was executed to Switzerland
Lived a generation after Luther and was influenced by Luther’s teachings while studying in Paris
Similar to Luther in that he too studied law and theology
Different in that he was very private and did not like to debate
According to Calvin on page 382, God came to him in a religious experience and made His ideas known
Calvin fled France (Francis I would persecute) to live in Switzerland

16. IV. Spread of Protestantism
2. Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536)
a. Calvin’s foundational work for Calvinism
b. Predestination: Since God is all-knowing, he already knows who is going to Heaven and who is destined for Hell.
 Thus, “good works” is not sufficient for salvation and there is no free will since God has already made His decision.
 However, good works are a sign that one has been chosen for salvation.
 God reveals if one has been chosen for salvation by a conversion experience.

17. IV. Spread of Protestantism
c. The “elect” are church members who have had their conversion experience. They should become model Christians: “visible saints”
Calvinists behaved as if they were pre-destined

18. Calvinists believed they were less subject to state authority than Lutherans
This significant difference propelled the belief in separation of Church and State

19. John Calvin.
After a conversion experience, John Calvin abandoned his life as a humanist and became a reformer. In 1536, Calvin began working to reform the city of Geneva, where he remained until his death in This sixteenth-century portrait of Calvin pictures him near the end of his life.
p. 395

20. IV. Spread of Protestantism
3. Calvin established a theocracy in Geneva by 1540
a. Geneva became the new center of the Reformation in Europe.
 Geneva became home to Protestant exiles from England, Scotland, and France, who later returned to their countries with Calvinist ideas.
b. Like Zwingli in Zurich, Calvin believed church and city should combine to enforce Christian behavior
c. Only those who committed to following Calvinism were allowed to live in the city.

22. IV. Spread of Protestantism
4. Calvinism was the most militant and uncompromising of all Protestants
a. Consistory: A judiciary made up of lay elders (presbyters) had the power to impose harsh penalties for those who did not follow God’s law
 Activities such as drinking, singing (secular music), dancing, usury (lending money at more than 5%), and gambling were expressly prohibited.
b. Michael Servetus, a Unitarian humanist from Spain, was burned at the stake in 1553 for his denial of the Trinity.

23. Calvinism disapproved of Saints, elaborate churches and anything light and frivolous
The elements of Catholicism: Color, incense, saints, images were suppressed

24. John Calvin “May little chickens dig out your eyes 100,000 times.”
- Calvin speaking to another reformer whose ideas he disagreed with

25. IV. Spread of Protestantism
5. Protestant Work Ethic: Calvinists later emphasized the importance of hard work and accompanying financial success as a sign that God was pleased

26. IV. Spread of Protestantism
6. Spread of Calvinism: far greater impact on future generations than Lutheranism
a. Presbyterianism established Scotland by John Knox ( ) in 1560.
 Presbyters governed the church
 Became the dominant religion in Scotland

27. IV. Spread of Protestantism
b. Huguenots – French Calvinists; brutally suppressed in France
 Especially strong among the nobility although Calvinism saw converts from every social class.
Especially Henry of Navarre, future French King Henry IV

28. IV. Spread of Protestantism
c. Dutch Reformed Church – United Provinces of the Netherlands.
 The rise of Calvinism in the Netherlands as the dominant religion set the stage for a revolt against the Inquisition of King Philip II of Spain.
 The Netherlands declared its independence in 1581 (although it would not be officially recognized by all European powers until 1648).

29. IV. Spread of Protestantism
d. Puritans in England
 Pressured Elizabeth I for more reforms but were largely kept at bay.
 Later established colonies in America in a region that came to be known as New England: e.g. Massachusetts, Connecticut
 Victorious in the English Civil War ( )
e. Countries where Calvinism did not spread: Ireland, Spain & Italy – heavily Catholic

30. In the Dutch Netherlands, Scotland and early colonial America (New England) forms of Calvinism dominated

31. Chronology, p. 395

32. Discussion Questions
What was John Calvin’s ideas of “Predestination”?