Ch. 1.3 Notes

1
Ch. 1.3 Notes

• Instead of saving the souls of the dead and
  sending them to heaven, they gorge themselves at
  banquets after funerals.

2
The Protestant Reformation First Took Place in
Germany

• During the Renaissance, the Christian church came
  under fire for corruption
  
• In the late middle ages, the church became
  increasingly involved in worldly affair
  
• The Pope competed for political power with
  Italian Princes
  
• Also maintained a lavish lifestyle
• Were also patrons of the arts
• Paid people to beautify the churches
• To pay for projects, they increased fees for
  weddings and baptisms, and sold indulgences
  
• Lessening of the time a soul would spend in
  purgatory
  
• Fought wars to protect the papal states
• Many Christians rejected the worldliness of the
  church, and urged a return to the simple ways of
  the early Christian church
  

3
Luthers Protest

• In 1517 protests turned into full scale revolt
• These were triggered by Martin Luther, who hated
  church corruption and worldliness

4
The Incident

• A priest stood on a pulpit in Wittenberg and
  offered indulgences to anyone who would donate
  money for the rebuilding of St. Peters cathedral
  in Rome. This would ensure entry into heaven for
  you and your dead relatives. Cant you hear the
  voices of your dead parents and other relatives
  crying out?

5

• This prompted Luther to write the 95 theses
• This was a list of why indulgences were wrong.
• No basis in Bible for indulgences
• Pope had no authority to release souls from
  purgatory
  
• Christians could be saved only through faith
• He posted these on the door of the Wittenberg
  church

6

• The Theses were circulated quickly around Europe
• The Church wanted Luther to recant, but he would
  not
  
• Luther urged Christians to reject authority of
  Rome
  
• Church excommunicated Luther

7
After a meeting with Charles V, Holy Roman
Emperor

• Luther was declared an outlaw
• Anyone who helped Luther would be punished
• Many still hailed Luther as a hero
• Supported his beliefs
• Renounced the authority of the Pope.

8
Luthers Teachings

• Rejected that good deeds were necessary for
  salvation (salvation through faith)
  
• Upheld the Bible as the sole source of religious
  truth
  
• Rejected idea that Popes or Priests had more
  power to communicate with God than the common
  man
  
• Banned 5/7 sacraments of the Catholic Church
• Banned indulgences
• Confession
• Pilgrimages
• Prayers to saints
• Simplified mass and emphasized sermons
• Permitted clergy to marry
• Supporters were called Lutherans, but by 1530
  began to be called Protestants because they
  protested papal authority

9
Why did They Support?

• Because the clergy saw Lutheranism as an answer
  to corruption
  
• Princes saw it as an opportunity to reduce the
  power of the Emperor and the Pope
  
• Germans were tired of sending money to Italy to
  support the Church

10

• Peasants revolted in hopes Luther would support
  their cause
  
• Luther favored social order, and denounced their
  revolt
  
• Tens of thousands were killed.
• Luther likened them to mad dogs (quote, pg. 46

11
Peace of Augsburg Treaty

• Charles V agreed to let each prince decide which
  religion would be practiced in his land
  
• Most in North were Lutheran, The South was
  Catholic

12
John Calvin

• Wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion
• Told of his religious beliefs
• Bible
• Salvation through faith
• Predestination
• Reformers from all over visited Geneva and then
  returned home to spread Calvinism
  
• Set off religious wars all over Europe between
  Calvinists, Lutherans, and Catholics.
  
• Was asked to lead the city of Geneva in
  Switzerland
  
• City saw themselves as the chosen people