Reformation and Martin Luther's Ideas

The Protestant Reformation

• The Protestant Reformation was a significant religious movement in 16th-century Europe
• It led to the splintering of the Catholic Church and the emergence of Protestantism
• Key figures include Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Henry VIII
• The Reformation was a period of significant religious and social change in Europe
• A series of events led to the Reformation
• The people who revolted felt that the Catholic Church needed changes

Causes of the Reformation

• The 100 Years War and the Black Death weakened the Church's authority
• The clergy was often uneducated and focused on worldly affairs rather than spiritual ones
• Scientific advancements challenged Church doctrines
• Indulgences, the sale of forgiveness for sins, were a source of corruption and resentment
• Merchants resented paying Church taxes

Church Hierarchy Before the Reformation

• The Pope was the head of the Catholic Church, seen as the sole connection to God
• Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Monks followed in the hierarchy
• Laity (those not in the Church) were at the bottom of the pyramid structure

Renaissance Ideas and the Reformation

• During the Renaissance, secularism (worldly rather than religious focus), individualism, and Christian Humanism emerged.
• These ideals likely influenced reforms

Early Calls for Reform

• Pierre Valdo translated the Bible into French and opposed Catholic authority.
• John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English, a significant challenge to Church control over religious texts
• Jan Huss preached services in the vernacular (common language), opposing the Church's Latin services

What Were the 95 Theses?

• The 95 Theses were a list of propositions for debate created by Martin Luther
• They challenged practices of the Catholic Church, notably the sale of indulgences
• Luther posted them on the doors of the Wittenberg Church in Germany

Martin Luther

• Martin Luther was a German monk dissatisfied with the Catholic Church
• He believed salvation was achieved through faith, not good works, in opposition to the Church
• He believed the Bible held the ultimate authority for Christians
• No one is more important before God; all humans are equal

Luther's Issues With the Church

• Tetzel, a friar, was selling indulgences for financial gain
• Many Merchants wanted to charge interest on loans to profit, but the Church disapproved of usury (which was lending $ and charging interest)
• The wealth and power within the Church caused resentment. Domination by Italians angered Germans and English

Impact of the Printing Press

• Gutenberg's printing press enabled the rapid spread of the 95 Theses
• This facilitated the dissemination of Luther's ideas and support

John Calvin

• John Calvin's teachings were significant in shaping Protestantism
• Calvin believed in predestination, where God pre-determines who should go to heaven or hell, opposed to Luther
• Good works were disregarded in determining salvation compared to Luther's views
• Calvin believed government should be a theocracy (run by religious leaders)
• Calvinism stressed a strong work ethic and living a godly life

Anabaptists

• Anabaptists were another group that split from the Catholic Church
• They believed only people who could decide for themselves to be baptized should be baptized
• They were persecuted significantly across Europe

King Henry VIII

• King Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church due to his desire for a divorce
• The Church refused

Queen Elizabeth I

• Queen Elizabeth combined Catholic and Protestant elements within the Church
• She established the Anglican Church, forming the official Church of Great Britain

The Thirty Years War

• The Thirty Years War was a major European conflict that followed the Augsburg Peace
• This war involved various religious groups, showing the profound and ongoing impacts of the Reformation