The Reformation

The Reformation

• Renaissance Ideals challenged Church authority

• Printing Press spreads secular ideas

• German States difficult for Pope to control.

• Merchants – new, powerful class, resent paying church taxes.

Church Problems

• Many leaders corrupt

• Spend more money on themselves

• Spend huge sums of money as Patrons of the arts

• Popes are raising armies and fighting wars.

• Often do not follow own church doctrine

Martin Luther

• Has issue with the Church sale of INDULGENCES – You don’t have to make up for your sins.

• Writes “95 Theses” and nails them on a church in Wittenburg, Germany – attacks Church’s corruption.

• Theses are copied and spread throughout Germany.

• Ideas gain momentum and provide further challenges to the Church

Luther’s Beliefs

• Personal Interpretation of the Bible

• Religious freedoms for all Christians.

• Independence from Catholic Church.

• You could be saved based on FAITH alone

• The Bible is the final authority, not the church

• Priests should be able to marry

Religious Reaction

• Pope Leo X excommunicates Luther for his ideas in 1520.

Secular Reaction

• Holy Roman Emperor Charles V issues the EDICT OF WORMS which declared Luther an outlaw and a heretic (someone who does something contrary to religious doctrine)

Reaction!• HRE Charles the V

goes to war against Princes who support Luther’s Ideas.

• Charles wins, but cant bring people back to church.

• Peace of Augsburg: Allows each region to determine their own religion

Great Britain

• Henry VIII needs a divorce to seek a new wife to give him an heir – Pope refuses

• “Act of Supremacy” makes Henry official head of English Church (Anglican)

Great Britain Cont

• Henry’s son only rules 5 years – dies.

• Henry’s daughter, Mary – a devout catholic – assumes throne

• Persecutes many Protestants – “Bloody Mary.”

England, cont

• Henry’s daughter Elizabeth assumes throne.

• Continues Protestant reforms.

• Has to deal with a Spanish invasion (Spanish Armada) -- Wins

Catholic Reformation

• Council of Trent:• Church’s interpretation of

Bible Final• Christians need good

works and faith for salvation.

• Bible and church traditions were final authorities.

• Indulgences were valid expressions of faith.