1. Protestant
Reformation

2. Christian Humanism Erasmus Wrote Praise of Folly
Promoted Philosophy of Christ
Christianity should educate people on how to live day by day
Wrote Praise of Folly
Criticized parts of society that needed reform

3. Corruption
Corruption ran rampant in the Christian Church in the middle ages.
Indulgences – certificate issued by the Church that reduced or cancelled punishment for sins.
Some corrupt salesmen said Indulgences would relieve them of guilt for future sins.

4. Martin Luther Born in 1483, in Eisleben, Saxony (Germany)
Middle-class family, Law school

5. Luther Joined monastery after almost hit by lightning
Very troubled monk
guilty feeling
Read St. Paul to the Romans “He who through faith is righteous shall live”
Interpreted this as people are good through faith (in God’s mercy and love)
Known as Justification by Faith
Luther felt “born again” – no more guilt

6. Path to a New Religion Wittenberg, Germany 1517 95 Theses
Criticized the Church for indulgences and other practices
The Theses were quickly published and distributed
Result = Indulgence sales dropped.

7. Reaction 1520 – Pope condemns Luther, banned his works
1521 – Luther is excommunicated
Diet of Worms (council of German Princes that met in Worms Germany) – They asked Luther to take back his teachings, but he refused to recant

8. He was taken into hiding at a castle in Wartburg where he translated the New Testament of the Bible into German.

9. Lutheranism * Salvation by Faith alone
* Bible is the only source of religious truth
* preaching rather than ritual
* Language of the people, not Latin
* Church was not a hierarchy, but a community
* Vocations – callings to serve God and neighbor

10. Calvinism
Following Lutheranism, Switzerland begins to take part in the Reformation via Calvinism.
Founder = John Calvin
Reformer in Swiss city of Geneva
Calvin studied theology, law, and humanism as a youth.
Developed own Protestant theology
1526-publishes Institute of the Christian Religion
Gives him popularity as a leader

11. Calvin’s Beliefs God was all powerful
Controlled every aspect of Past, Present, and Future
Predestination - God determined fate of every person

12. City of God Transformed Geneva into ideal religious theocratic city
Consistory – council of 12 elders that controlled almost every aspect of citizen’s lives

13. Regulations SPread
Required attendance at multiple church services a week
Homes were inspected regularly
Fighting, swearing, drunkenness, gambling etc. were all against the law.
Strict punishments were handed out for rules violations
Missionaries trained in Geneva sent out to spread the word
Strongest followers in the Netherlands and Scotland
By mid 1500s, Calvinism surpasses Lutheranism in importance

14. The Church of England (Anglicanism)
King Henry VIII
Wanted to divorce his 1st wife, Catherine of Aragon because she could not give him a son
The Pope at the time would not let him annul (make invalid) his marriage
Result = Henry went around the Pope and achieves annulment through his own English church courts
1534 Act of Supremacy
States that the King is the head of the Church of England

15. The Church of England (Anglicanism)
Many consider the Anglican church to be “open-minded”
Ex. = women can be ordained as priests
The Queen of England still is considered to be the Supreme Head of the Church

16. Anabaptists Did not like the state’s power over religion
Believed in separation of church and state
Believed that the church was a “voluntary community” in which everyone was equal
Everyone was considered to be priests
Chose their own leader
Ridiculed/ persecuted by other religions