THE IMPACT OF THE PROTESTANT

REFORMATION 16th CENTURY EUROPE

RELIGIOUS IMPACT THE UNITY OF EUROPE AS A CHRISTIAN

SOCIETY WAS SHATTERED CHRISTENDOM (the institution of the Church)

WAS NOW DIVIDED IN EUROPE AND THE WEST (Catholic and Protestant- With its many

denominations)

VERNACULAR TRANSLATIONS The authority of the Church and papacy was again

challenged as people now had opportunity to read and interpret the scriptures for themselves.

PROTESTANTISM GAVE PEOPLE A NEW SENSE OF COMING TO GOD WITHOUT THE MEDIATION OF THE CHURCH AND PRIESTS THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVERS (Luther)

INTOLERANCE FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT ADHERE TO ESTABLISHED BELIEFS CONTINUED Persecution of perceived heretics

Both Catholic and Protestant Use of the Inquisition courts by the Catholic Church The banning of books that were perceived to be heretical

or a challenge to the Church Example: Galileo, Luther, Erasmus, etc.

Violent religious wars in France, Germany, and Bohemia

French Wars of Religion Thirty Years’ War

Civil war in England Puritan Revolt against the monarchy

would lead to the execution of the king.

Luther’s Impact Congregational singing and the use of hymns Expanded education for men and women Focus on expository preaching and teaching

people the scriptures Encouragement of marriage and family (even

for members of the clergy) Revision of the sacraments to three

Holy communion, baptism, marriage

POLITICAL IMPACT EUROPE BECAME POLITICALLY FRAGMENTED

ALONG RELIGIOUS LINES NATIONS ALIGNED THEMSELVES AS CATHOLIC OR

PROTESTANT England – Protestant (Anglican) Spain- Catholic France- Catholic ( Protestant minority) Holy Roman Empire

Catholic with some northern kingdoms being Protestant Peace of Augsburg- religious fragmentation in the Holy

Roman Empire

POWERFUL MONARCHS BEGAN TO REJECT THE IDEA OF BEING SUBORDINATE TO RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY

SECULARIZATION OF POLITICAL POWERS Act of Supremacy- England Peace of Augsburg - the Holy Roman Empire Pragmatic Sanctions and the Concordant of Bologna-

France

THE CLERGY (Church officials) BECAME INCREASINGLY SUBORDINATE TO AND DEPENDENT ON THE STATE

MANY PEOPLE BEGAN TO CHALLENGE THE NOTION THAT MONARCHS RULED BY “DIVINE RIGHT” (God appointed)

THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE (HABSBURG RULE) BEGAN TO WEAKEN AS IT STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN POWER IN A RELIGIOUSLY AND POLITICALLY FRAGMENTED EMPIRE

Germany, parts of the Netherlands, and Spain France saw an opportunity to benefit from this weakness (Thirty

Years’ War) THE NEW NATION-STATES GREW IN POWER AND

WEALTH AND WOULD COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER TO EXTEND THEIR POWER AND INFLUENCE IN EUROPE AND THE NEW WORLD

SOCIAL IMPACT RISING SENSE OF INDIVIDUALISM AS

PEOPLE SOUGHT TO CREATE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES Economic, political, and social

RELIGIOUS INDIVIDUALISM COINCIDED WITH THE INTELLECTUAL INDIVIDUALISM OF THE RENAISSANCE

THE MIDDLE CLASS BECAME STRONGER AND CONTINUE TO EXPAND BOTH ECONOMICIALLY AND POLITICALLY

THE LOWER CLASSES STARTED TO EXERT THEMSELVES IN THE QUEST FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE (EXAMPLE: THE PEASANT’S REVOLT IN GERMANY)

THE NEW ECONOMIC MODEL OF CAPITALISM BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE

THE 16TH CENTURY AND THE MODERN AGE GROWING SENSE OF SKEPTISM ABOUT TRADITIONAL

IDEAS AND INSTITUTIONS

RISING SENSE OF INDIVIDUALISM AND THE POWER OF THE INDIVUDUAL

GROWING TREND TOWARD SECULARISM AND THE PURSUIT OF WORLDLY INTERESTS

RATIONALISM (RISE OF MODERN SCIENCE)

RISING TIDE OF NATIONALISM