1. The Protestant Reformation

2. Complaints about the Church
Priests didn’t know basic church teachings
Pope too involved in politics
Church too rich (one of richest institutions in Europe)

4. (Complaints, cont.) Indulgences
people paid $ to buy forgiveness for sins so they’ll spend less time in purgatory paying for their sins

5. Desiderius Erasmus
Dutch priest and writer that called for reform from within church
Church’s problems caused by lazy clergy

6. Martin Luther German priest Called for religious reform
95 Theses – Oct. 31, 1517
nailed to church door
list of criticisms of church
- indulgences bad
- people didn’t need to give $ or do
charity work to get to heaven.
Belief & living by Bible enough.

7. (cont) Bishops, Pope, & Holy Roman Emperor outraged
labeled heretic & excommunicated
called to appear for hearing; declared outlaw & banished
One noble agreed with Luther, helped him escape, & hid him

8. (Luther, cont.)
Caused split in church – those who agreed with Luther called Protestants (because they protest). (Luther didn’t intend for split, but it happened)
Protestants who followed Luther known as Lutherans

9. Luther’s teachings
“Priesthood of all believers” – everyone could have a direct relationship w/God – didn’t have to go through priest
- belief should be based on Bible, not tradition
Translated New Testament into German; commoners could read for themselves
Wrote pamphlets, essays & songs about his ideas

10. Teachings (cont.)
Did not think church should be involved in politics. German nobles liked this idea & allowed people to become Lutherans, newly dominant church in Germany