Post on 20-Jan-2016
Martin Luther and
Babylonian Captivity and Great Schism Undermined the power and authority of
the Church Made people question power of the
papacy
John Wycliffe and Jan Hus Wycliffe: Simplification of
doctrine and less power for priests
Hus: Church made up of all faithful, not just priests; rejected authority of the pope’s
Both questioned transubstantiation
Popular Piety and Christian Humanism Yearned for faith more relevant to daily
life Erasmus: charity and good works, not
empty rituals, are marks of a true ChristianPraise of Folly: Criticized pomposity and
wealth of corrupt Church leaders
The Printing Press
New ideas about dissatisfaction with the Church could be spread quickly and easily
People could read the bible for themselves
Martin Luther (1483-1546) Born in Saxony Entered Augustan monastery after
abandoning study of law Did not feel salvation despite adherence
to Church rituals and good works This led to the idea of “Justification by
faith alone”Faith alone saves; not good works and
sacraments
Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction in penance. I did
not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly I was angry with
God…At last, by the mercy of God I gave heed to the context of the words in the Gospel: “The just shall live by faith.” There I began to understand that righteousness of God is that by which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith.
Albrecht of Mainz
Simony – selling of Church positions for money
Borrows money to buy position
Sells indulgences to payloan
Indulgences
Indulgences: Monetary substitution for penanceForgive a person’s time in purgatory and
help to release their soul into heaven
Luther viewed indulgences as corruptBuying forgiveness is meaningless Any penance is useless without faith. Faith
is the key to salvation
95 Theses (1517) Nailed to church door in
Wittenberg Attacks on indulgences
and sale of Church offices
Printed and spread throughout HRE
Luther writes additional pamphlets
Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Denounced corrupt Italians in Rome
who cheated and exploited Christians Called on German princes to defend
their nation and reform the church [reject Pope’s authority]
Priesthood of all believers: bible provides all necessary teachings for Christian living; laypeople aren't less important
On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church Condemned the papacy as the
embodiment of the Antichrist Only 2 sacraments Baptism and communion depend on
faith, not a priest
The Luther Affair
Excommunication by Leo X in 1520 Diet of Worms (1521) before Charles V
Luther refuses to retract statementsSent into exile
Luther protected by Frederick the WiseTranslates bible during exile
Social Revolution
Peasant rebellion 1524 – 1525Stirred by new religious ideas Social and economic aims blended Luther rejects connection with peasants
Example of unrest that pervaded during this period
Political Rebellion
States of the empire view Charles efforts to repress Luther as a threat on their freedom
Conversion to Lutheranism Secularization of Church land
Schmalkaldic League formed by German princes
League goes to war against emperor in 1546
Political Rebellion
Peace of Augsburg (1555)States can chose Lutheranism or
Catholicism
EffectsGerman states become increasingly
separate