The Protestant Reformation The Perceived Heresy of Martin Luther and other Scholars of the...

The Protestant The Protestant ReformationReformation

The Perceived Heresy of The Perceived Heresy of Martin Luther and other Martin Luther and other

Scholars of the Scholars of the Renaissance EraRenaissance Era

Prelude to the Prelude to the ReformationReformation Christian HumanismChristian Humanism

• Humanism is the idea of self worth, Humanism is the idea of self worth, and the study of classicsand the study of classics

• Christian Humanism is an extension Christian Humanism is an extension of that, except that their goal was of that, except that their goal was to reform the Catholic Churchto reform the Catholic Church– Religious scholars wanted people to Religious scholars wanted people to

read old Greek and Latin texts to read old Greek and Latin texts to understand the origin of Christianityunderstand the origin of Christianity• This would make them more piousThis would make them more pious

• The most famous Christian The most famous Christian Humanist, Desiderius ErasmusHumanist, Desiderius Erasmus

Prelude to the ReformationPrelude to the Reformation Christian HumanismChristian Humanism

• Erasmus adopted Erasmus adopted what he called, what he called, the “Philosophy of the “Philosophy of Christ”Christ”– He meant that He meant that

people needed to people needed to live a good life live a good life rather than just rather than just preach itpreach it

– He also felt that He also felt that external showings external showings of piety were of piety were unimportant.unimportant.

Prelude to the ReformationPrelude to the Reformation Christian HumanismChristian Humanism

• Erasmus wrote Erasmus wrote The Praise of FollyThe Praise of Folly in 1509 in 1509 – He humorously criticized aspects of He humorously criticized aspects of

the Church and areas that he felt the Church and areas that he felt needed reformneeded reform

• He didn’t want to leave or break He didn’t want to leave or break from the Church, only fix itfrom the Church, only fix it– He did however prepare Europe for the He did however prepare Europe for the

oncoming Reformationoncoming Reformation

Prelude to the ReformationPrelude to the Reformation Need for ReformNeed for Reform

• Why did the Church need reform?Why did the Church need reform?– Corruption was the biggest reasonCorruption was the biggest reason

• The Renaissance Popes had failed The Renaissance Popes had failed to meet the spiritual needs of the to meet the spiritual needs of the peoplepeople– Most Popes were too busy with Most Popes were too busy with

worldly things, and amassing wealthworldly things, and amassing wealth

• Parish Priests were also ignorant Parish Priests were also ignorant of their duties as priestof their duties as priest


• One Pope, Julius One Pope, Julius II chose to wage II chose to wage war with war with enemies rather enemies rather than lead the than lead the ChurchChurch

• This disgusted This disgusted many Christians many Christians throughout throughout EuropeEurope


• Since the Papacy as well as the Since the Papacy as well as the Priests were failing to meet Priests were failing to meet spiritual needs, they sought spiritual needs, they sought salvation elsewheresalvation elsewhere

• Collecting Relics was perceived Collecting Relics was perceived as a sure-fire way into Heavenas a sure-fire way into Heaven– People would amass piles and piles People would amass piles and piles

of Relics, and then sell them back of Relics, and then sell them back to the Churchto the Church


• When a person When a person sold a relic back sold a relic back to the Church, to the Church, the church the church referred to it as referred to it as selling an selling an indulgenceindulgence

• An An IndulgenceIndulgence is is a release from a release from the penalty of a the penalty of a sinsin


• Most people however sought Most people however sought salvation through following the salvation through following the teachings and ways of Jesusteachings and ways of Jesus– This is the movement of Modern This is the movement of Modern

DevotionDevotion

• All of this allowed for Luther’s All of this allowed for Luther’s impact to be that much greaterimpact to be that much greater– It didn’t help that the Priests of the It didn’t help that the Priests of the

time were more concerned with time were more concerned with worldly things and possessionsworldly things and possessions

Martin LutherMartin Luther The Professor of WittenbergThe Professor of Wittenberg

• He was a religious scholar, that He was a religious scholar, that lectured on the Biblelectured on the Bible

• Through his studies he concluded Through his studies he concluded salvation was achieved differently salvation was achieved differently than how the Catholic Church stated.than how the Catholic Church stated.– R.C.C. said that good works and faith R.C.C. said that good works and faith

would get you into Heavenwould get you into Heaven– Luther disagreed. Humans could never Luther disagreed. Humans could never

be good enough to earn salvation be good enough to earn salvation through work alonethrough work alone

Martin LutherMartin Luther The Professor of WittenbergThe Professor of Wittenberg

• Luther concluded Luther concluded that faith was the that faith was the only key to salvationonly key to salvation– This idea is called This idea is called

“Justification by “Justification by Faith”Faith”

• The Bible, to Luther, The Bible, to Luther, became the only became the only source for religious source for religious truthtruth– The R.C.C. had The R.C.C. had

allowed itself to be allowed itself to be influenced by other influenced by other religious textsreligious texts

Martin LutherMartin Luther The Ninety Five ThesesThe Ninety Five Theses

• The selling of The selling of Indulgences angered Indulgences angered many, and Luther was many, and Luther was no exceptionno exception

• So, Luther wrote a So, Luther wrote a list of 95 thesis topics list of 95 thesis topics and took them to his and took them to his superiorssuperiors– He said that he would He said that he would

teach and lecture on teach and lecture on these if the sale of these if the sale of Indulgences did not Indulgences did not stopstop

Martin LutherMartin Luther The Ninety Five ThesesThe Ninety Five Theses

• According to According to legend, Luther legend, Luther nailed these to a nailed these to a local Cathedral’s local Cathedral’s doordoor– This is not trueThis is not true

• The local Clergy The local Clergy took this seriously, took this seriously, the Pope, Leo X, the Pope, Leo X, said that he said that he [Martin Luther] [Martin Luther] would change his would change his ways once he ways once he sobered up.sobered up.

Martin LutherMartin Luther The Break With the ChurchThe Break With the Church

• As time progressed, Luther called for a As time progressed, Luther called for a more definitive break from the R.C.C.more definitive break from the R.C.C.– He called for an overthrow of the German He called for an overthrow of the German

clergy, and establish a reformed German clergy, and establish a reformed German churchchurch

• Luther also targeted religious Luther also targeted religious sacramentssacraments– He would keep only two, the Baptism, and He would keep only two, the Baptism, and

the Eucharistthe Eucharist

• He also argued that clergy be allowed to He also argued that clergy be allowed to marrymarry


• Luther continued to emphasize his Luther continued to emphasize his new doctrine supporting only new doctrine supporting only salvationsalvation

• The Church did not allow his heresy The Church did not allow his heresy and excommunicated him in 1521and excommunicated him in 1521– He was then called before the Imperial He was then called before the Imperial

Diet of the Holy Roman EmpireDiet of the Holy Roman Empire– They wanted Luther to change his They wanted Luther to change his

ways, and not preach openlyways, and not preach openly• Luther RefusedLuther Refused


• The Diet of Worms, declared that Luther was The Diet of Worms, declared that Luther was an outlawan outlaw– This is known as the Edict of WormsThis is known as the Edict of Worms

• His works were burned, and Luther was His works were burned, and Luther was captured, and later released in 1522captured, and later released in 1522

Martin LutherMartin Luther The Rise of LutheranismThe Rise of Lutheranism

• Luther’s movement grew into a Luther’s movement grew into a revolutionrevolution

• German rulers in favor of Luther German rulers in favor of Luther overthrew Clergy in their domainsoverthrew Clergy in their domains

• Luther helped to set up new Luther helped to set up new services that would replace the services that would replace the Catholic MassCatholic Mass– Services including reading of scripture, Services including reading of scripture,

preaching on God’s and Jesus' works, preaching on God’s and Jesus' works, and songs of hymnand songs of hymn


• Luther’s doctrine Luther’s doctrine became became LutheranismLutheranism– Churches that Churches that

followed Luther followed Luther became known as became known as Lutheran Lutheran ChurchesChurches

• Thus, the first Thus, the first Protestant Protestant church is bornchurch is born


• Luther was looked upon as a leader Luther was looked upon as a leader even outside of the religious realmeven outside of the religious realm

• When Peasants revolted in 1524, When Peasants revolted in 1524, they looked to Luther for supportthey looked to Luther for support

• Luther said that it was a ruler’s Luther said that it was a ruler’s place to maintain peaceplace to maintain peace

• When the revolt ended, Luther When the revolt ended, Luther became more dependent on the became more dependent on the nobility to allow his religion to nobility to allow his religion to expandexpand


• The religious warfare of The religious warfare of Germany came to an end in Germany came to an end in 1555.1555.

• The Peace of Augsburg was The Peace of Augsburg was given, and it accepted the given, and it accepted the division of Christianity in division of Christianity in GermanyGermany– Lutheranism had the same legal Lutheranism had the same legal

rights as Catholicismrights as Catholicism

Zwinglian ReformationZwinglian Reformation

• Ulrich Zwingli was a priest in Zurich, Ulrich Zwingli was a priest in Zurich, Switzerland that had a lot of influence Switzerland that had a lot of influence within his citywithin his city

• The city of Zurich began to change and The city of Zurich began to change and adaptadapt

• The old Catholic Mass was replaced The old Catholic Mass was replaced with semi-Lutheran serviceswith semi-Lutheran services

• He lead an army of protestants against He lead an army of protestants against the Catholics, only to losethe Catholics, only to lose– He was killed, and now John Calvin would He was killed, and now John Calvin would

take control of Protestantism in Switzerlandtake control of Protestantism in Switzerland

CalvinismCalvinism• John Calvin was born John Calvin was born

and educated in and educated in FranceFrance

• He became a He became a Protestant and had to Protestant and had to flee to safety in flee to safety in SwitzerlandSwitzerland

• He published a book He published a book known as known as Institutes of Institutes of Christian ReligionChristian Religion, and , and it made him a it made him a prominent leader prominent leader amongst the amongst the ProtestantsProtestants

CalvinismCalvinism

• Calvin also preached one the idea of and Calvin also preached one the idea of and emphasized the all-powerful nature of emphasized the all-powerful nature of God.God.– Calvin called this the “power, grace and glory Calvin called this the “power, grace and glory

of God”of God”

• Another thing Calvin emphasized was the Another thing Calvin emphasized was the idea of Predestinationidea of Predestination– This said that before someone was born, that This said that before someone was born, that

God had already said if they were going to God had already said if they were going to heaven or hellheaven or hell

– This led to many different problems in EuropeThis led to many different problems in Europe

CalvinismCalvinism

• Calvinism slowly spread across Calvinism slowly spread across Europe. Europe.

• But in practice Calvinism was a very But in practice Calvinism was a very strict interpretation of the Biblestrict interpretation of the Bible– In Calvinistic cities, crimes expanded to In Calvinistic cities, crimes expanded to

include dancing, singing obscene songs, include dancing, singing obscene songs, swearing, and gamblingswearing, and gambling

• By the mid-sixteenth century, By the mid-sixteenth century, Calvinism was the largest form of Calvinism was the largest form of ProtestantismProtestantism

Church of EnglandChurch of England

• The Anglican The Anglican Church’s roots came Church’s roots came from politics, not from politics, not religionreligion

• King Henry VIII King Henry VIII wanted to divorce wanted to divorce his wife and the his wife and the Pope said noPope said no

• King Henry had the King Henry had the English Archbishop English Archbishop declare his marriage declare his marriage void, and thus broke void, and thus broke from the Church of from the Church of RomeRome

Church of EnglandChurch of England

• By 1534, the Anglican Church was By 1534, the Anglican Church was completely separate from the R.C.C. completely separate from the R.C.C.

• The Act of Supremacy stated that the The Act of Supremacy stated that the King was the only supreme head on King was the only supreme head on earth over the Anglican Churchearth over the Anglican Church

• The king now controlled all religious The king now controlled all religious mattersmatters

• Following Henry’s death, Protestant Following Henry’s death, Protestant leaders moved to England to influence leaders moved to England to influence the direction of the Churchthe direction of the Church

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