Protestant Reformation

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Protestant Reformation
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Causes

• Political
• People feel Papacy has too much power
  (corruption, spending too much)
• Social
• Humanism-spread through Printing Press
• Economic
• Indulgences
• People tired of paying Church Tax

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Problem with the Papacy

• Corruption
• Popes spend extravagantly on personal life and
  the arts
• Popes admit to having children

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Early Calls to Reform

• John Wycliffe (England) and John Hus (Bohemia)
• Denied Pope had right to worldly power
• Girolamo Savonarola
• Extremely devout Friar
• Fiery sermons
• Led burning of worldly goods.
• Florentines eventually turned against him
  executed.

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Martin Luther

• Born 1483, German state of Saxony.
• Son of a Miner
• Became a Monk
• Taught scripture at University of Wittenberg.

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95 Theses

• October 31, 1517-Posts 95 Theses on Church door
  to open debate.
• Someone copies them and distributes.

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Summary of Luthers Critique

• People could win salvation only by faith in Gods
  gift of forgiveness. The Church taught that faith
  and good works were needed for salvation.
• All Church teachings should be clearly based on
  the words of the Bible. The pope and Church
  traditions were false authority.
• All people with faith were equal. Therefore,
  people did not need priests to interpret the
  Bible for them.