Reformation Cycle 1 Meeting 4

State of the Church (16th Century)

• Priests displayed extravagance and excessive lifestyles.
• Indulgences were sold at high prices, creating controversy and discontent.

Martin Luther

• German theologian and religious reformer, deeply interested in monastic life from an early age.
• Key principles include Sola fide (faith alone), Sola gratia (grace alone), and Sola scriptura (scripture alone).
• Authored the 95 Theses, criticizing the Church's practices, particularly aimed at Johann Tetzel’s indulgences.
• Thesis 86 questioned the Pope's wealth compared to the poor believers' contributions for building St. Peter's Basilica.

Spread of Protestant Ideas

• Lutheranism emerged as the first Protestant religion and continues to exist today.
• Luther emphasized that "faith alone" brings salvation; other Protestant denominations differ in beliefs.
• Spread of ideas facilitated by Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press.

Effects on Politics

• The Counter-Reformation sought to reform the Roman Catholic Church and restore its authority.
• Luther’s teachings influenced governance, straining relations between Church and State.
• Social revolts by peasants were inspired by Luther’s ideology.

Effects on Economy

• Tax noncompliance arose due to revolts; churches faced pillaging.
• Economic instability increased as a result of social upheaval.

Effects on Society

• Laid foundational intellectual concepts for modernism, aided by the printing press.
• Translations of the Bible produced in German, French, and English made religious texts accessible.
• Protestant worship services conducted in local languages instead of Latin.
• Numerous Protestant churches, groups, and movements emerged.

Response of the Catholic Church

• Anticipated response to the Reformation involved initiating the Counter-Reformation for reform and revival.

John Calvin

• Introduced concept of Predestination, asserting that God chooses who will be saved.
• Calvinism includes doctrines such as total depravity, unconditional election, and perseverance of the saints.
• Theocracies were established in regions like France, the Netherlands, and Scotland.

English Reformation

• King Henry VIII's quest for a male heir prompted a major religious shift in England.
• Resulted in his divorcing two wives leading to the formation of the Church of England.
• The Act of Supremacy (1534) declared the King as the Supreme Head of the Church of England.
• Notably, Mary I, daughter of Catherine of Aragon, became a significant figure in English history due to this religious turmoil.
• The emergence of various ideologies led to the Catholic Church's own Counter-Reformation in response.