The Protestant Reformation

Protestants Reformation Martin Luther 95 Theses Indulgences Purgatory Nepotism Johanes Gutenburg Printing Press

Peace of Augsburg Henry VIII Act of Supremacy Anglican Church John Calvin Predestination John Knox Huguenots and

Puritans

Background

The plague cost the Roman Catholic Church many followers for either turning away people in their time of need or for taking financial advantage of those who were dying of the plague.

The issues with the church gave rise to many groups who found ways to worship without the use of the church (i.e. flagellants)

The Renaissance brought about a questioning of the Church and its doctrine and people began to protest the ways of the Church (Protestants).

Background (cont.)

Those who protested were considered heretics, some examples include: John Wycliffe → promoted self-interpretation of the

Bible, was burned at the stake in the early 15th Century

Jan Hus → sought translation of the Bible into Slavic and Germanic languages, was also burned at the stake.

The critics demand for reform was called the Reformation and created a new branch of Christianity known as Protestantism.

Martin Luther and the 95 Theses

In 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk, posted his 95 Theses on the doors of a church in Wittenburg.

95 Theses → collection of complaints/criticisms about Church abuses.

95 Theses

The 95 Theses mentioned many abuses including: The sale of indulgences → indulgences were

promises made by church leaders to reduce one's stay in purgatory, a realm of suffering and waiting between heaven and hell.

Nepotism → the appointment of relatives by church officials into high-ranking church offices.

Luther's Suggestions

Luther had three suggestions as to how to reform the Church. 1. Salvation is gained through faith alone, hence,

indulgences and good works were not a guarantee for entrance to heaven.

2. The Bible is the only guide to salvation. 3. Anyone can interpret the Bible. This is also

known as universal priesthood; anyone who can read can interpret the Bible for themselves.

Johanes Gutenburg

Gutenburg → inventor of movable metal type and the printing press in 1455.

Printing Press → means by which pages could be copied by pressing a stencil onto many pages.

The printing press would be the chief reason why literacy grew and the Protestant Reformation gained ground during the 15th and 16th Centuries.

Reactions to the Reformation The Catholic Church would excommunicate

Luther on the grounds of heresy. Luther would also be deemed an outlaw in

Germany as a result by Charles V. Luther's actions, with the help of the printing

press, produced two competing sides within Christianity.

Luther would be defended by the German princes who sought to become more independent of the Church and the Holy Roman Emperor; many wars would be fought for these causes.

Settling the Conflicts

In 1555, the Peace of Augsburg brought an end to the Peasants' War in Germany that started in 1524.

The Peace of Augsburg stipulated: Each German prince could select which of the two

religions would become the official religion All subjects had to adhere to the official religion that

was selected.

Henry VIII

Henry VIII sought to continue the Tudor lineage in England but his current wife, Catherine of Aragon, was unable to have a male heir.

As a result, Henry sought to get his marriage annulled (canceled). The Pope refused which led to his separation from the Catholic Church.

Political Maneuvering

Henry VIII would have Parliament pass the Act of Supremacy → policy that gave the English king the ability to control state religion.

Henry VIII would create the Anglican Church and remove monasteries and churches held by the Roman Catholic Church in England.

Henry VIII would start what would be known as Protestant England.

John Calvin

Calvin → French lawyer who set up a sect of Protestantism in Switzerland which expanded throughout Europe.

Within Calvin's beliefs, man's fate was already decided before his birth (predestination) and therefore one should be moral and upright to show they had been chosen.

The Protestant Faith Spreads

Calvinists would begin to show in England and France.

In France, they would be known as Huguenots, in England, they would be known as Puritans.

In both societies, they were persecuted by Catholics and other Protestants because of their strict practices.

Calvin's teachings would lead to other sects of Protestantism such as the Presbyterian Faith which was created by a Scottish reformer, John Knox.