GROUP 7 PRESENTATIONYJ Lee, Jenny Kohler, Jenny Choi, Jenny Mytton

Humanism, Literature and the Protestant Reformation

THE ENGLISH REFORMATION

When did it begin? In the 16th century England, the Church

of England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church (and from the Pope too)

Several important factors that caused the Reformation were…

1. European Protestant Reformation was spreading widely (it started in 1517)

2. Decline of Feudalism3. The invention of the printing press

helped the Bible to circulate throughout the country

4. And King Henry VIII…

HUMANISM

Educational reform movement Focuses on the human experience on

its own terms Return to antiquity

Revival of classical learning and thought. Latin and Greek

ERASMUS

Dutch Renaissance Humanist Also a Catholic Classic Scholar “Prince of the Humanists” Wrote Criticisms of the Catholic Church

WORKS

The Enchiridion The Praise of Folly Latin and Greek editions of The New Testament

ERASMUS AND LUTHER

Luther’s movement began the year after the publication of the New Testament

Martin Luther used the 2nd edition to help him with his own New Testament writings in German

Erasmus led the Humanists in condemning the forms of corruption within the Church

He thought that true religion was a matter of inward devotion as opposed to ceremony and ritual

Luther borrowed this Humanistic principle.

RISING TENSIONS

Erasmus became pressured to side with the Church or the reformers

Although he had critiqued the Church, he always argued that he was not attacking the institution itself

Luther asked him to join the Lutheran party and he said….(any guesses?)

ERASMUS’ OVERLY OBVIOUS RESPONSE

Thanks, but no thanks

THE BATTLE OF FREE WILL

Luther’s view came from the fallen state of man

One can only be redeemed through the grace of God

This separated Lutheranism from Humanism and Erasmus

JOHN CALVIN French protestant theologian

Calvinism -is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes the rule of God over all things. Focuses also on predestination, total depravity, unconditional election, irresistible grace, perservance of the saints. Strong emphasis on the original creation which doesn’t credit human achievement. Humanism

-Dignity and worth of all people. Truth and morality is sought through human investigation and rejects dependence on a belief without reason. Sorry God.

-Sir Thomas More

“EVERYMAN”15th century English morality play-Dignity and worth of all people. Truth and morality is sought through human investigation.

GodOpening of play- God is upset that humans are too absorbed in material wealth and riches which loses focus on Him. He summons Death to go to “everyman” and hear their accounts for their empty lives which leads to finding others to speak on their behalf.

Christopher Marlowe John Calvin

ROLES OF LITERATURE IN THE REFORMATION

RELIGIOUS EFFECT

Printing press allows Martin Luther to spread material quickly (1517)

A century later, follows the Western Schism; a time of disarray in the church

Without ability to transmit material quickly, history might have been quite different

MARTIN LUTHER

95 Theses Manuscript

form Prints Pamphleteering

BRINGING THE BIBLE TO THE PEOPLE Translation of the Bible into many

languages (from Latin) Self-interpretation of the Bible Less reliance upon the priest figure Questioning of religious authority (ie

repentance via a father)

EDUCATION

“How-To” books bring education to general public without apprenticeship-oriented training

Books become cheaper, accessible

RISE OF THE MODERN UNIVERSITY

University becomes prominent, takes new shape

Accessibility to information through literature

University as a place for research, scholarly journals

SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

Unified scientists Allows scientists to share material with

ease, compared to the past Copernicus (1543) “On the Revolutions

of the Heavenly Spheres” Biology, Physics, Astronomy