Reformation

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Reformation
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Reformation

• Major intellectual development at the end of the
  Middle Ages/beginning of early modern period
• began on Oct. 31, 1517
• German monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to
  the church door in Wittenberg, Germany
• Religion united both the intellectual elite and
  the people
• split Europe into two ideological camps
• Catholic Church
• Protestantism

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• Reformation had roots in political, social
  developments as much as in religious disputes
• Heretics had been driven underground or
  suppressed
• German church was especially ready for reform
• Luther especially opposed church sale of
  indulgences
• His Ninety-five Theses objected to indulgences,
  doctrine of papal supremacy

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Causes

• Rise of nation-states brought national monarchs
  into conflict with idea of religious supremacy
• Monarchs were jealous of the great wealth and
  lands of the Church
• Secular rulers wanted to keep wealth in their
  local areas
• Religious rules and restrictions inhibited
  economic growth
• Renaissance values weakened church values
• People wanted a more personal relationship with
  God

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Causes, continued

• Rise of nationalistic ideas
• Papacy had grown worldly and corrupt
• Nepotism, simony, pluralism and absenteeism
  brought criticism
• The sale of Indulgences was criticized by many
• Past attempts at reform within the Church had
  largely failed
• New ideas could now spread rapidly with the
  printing press

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Martin Luther

• 1483- 1546
• German monk
• Concerned about abuses in Catholic Church
• Luther's main concern was with personal salvation
• Did not set out to create a new faith, wanted
  reform only
• Justification through faith by Grace of God
• Rejected idea of salvation through works

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Luthers Beliefs Spread

• He was ordered to cease preaching, was
  excommunicated and declared an outlaw
• Sought protection in Saxony, encouraged to start
  a national church
• Teachings spread rapidly due to his powerful
  message and the invention of the printing press

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John Calvin--1509-64

• Advanced the Reformation in French speaking
  areas.
• Geneva 1536
• Most of his thought is implicit in Luther, but
  Calvin was more rigorous.
• Doctrine of predestination to salvation or
  damnation.
• The saved or the Elect were a major part of his
  thought.

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Calvin and Calvinism

• He saw himself as a servant of an international
  God
• Pope of Geneva he ruled that city
• Believed papal church was hopeless, must be
  destroyed
• Institutes of the Christian Religion
• Most dramatic change was his doctrine of
  predestination

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Calvinism and Lutheranism Compared

• Faith Luther believed faith was the only
  prerequisite to heaven Calvin demanded works as
  well, as sign of being one of the Elect
• Clerical authority - Luther believed in definite
  hierarchy of authority within a state church
  Calvin insisted on moral independence of church
  from state
• Spread Lutheranism in German-speaking
  countries Calvinism became an international
  religion

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Other Early Protestant Faiths

• Anabaptists
• Believed in adult baptism, sharing of worldly
  goods
• Put down violently
• Re-emerged much later as Amish, Mennonites
• Zwingli
• Similar to Lutheranism but couldnt cooperate
  with Lutherans
• Attacked, defeated by Catholics set precedent
  for settling religious strife by bloody force

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Church of England

• Henry VIII (b. 1491, r.1509-1547)
• Edward VI (1547-1553) and Mary (1553-1558)
• Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
• The Settlement of 1559 -- Act of Uniformity
• Book of Common Prayer

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And thus was Protestantism born.............