Chapter 16The Reformation Christian Humanism Christian Humanism began as a movement toreform the Catholic Church. Humanists believed in the ability of human beings toreason and improve themselves. They thought that if all people read the fundamentalteaching of Christianity in the bible, they wouldbecome more sincerely religious. The best known Christian Humanist was Desiderius Erasmus
The best known Christian Humanist was DesideriusErasmus.He believed Christians should show peoplehow to live good lives on a daily basis, not justprovide beliefs that might help them be saved. He also criticized the abuses of the Church. In his satire The Praise of Folly, he humorouslycriticized societys moral and religious state andcalled for a simpler, purer faith. He poked fun at clergy who encouraged people tovisit the shrines of saints. Erasmus sought reformwithin the Church, not tohave people break awayfrom it.People of the daysaid Erasmus laid the eggthat Luther hatched. The Need for reform, 307 People of the era also began to realize that popeswere more concerned about politics than thespiritual needs of the people. People wanted to know how to save their souls butmany found priests unwillingor unable to offer themadvice or instruction.Many priests were using theirjobs simply to increase their wealth. Ordinary people wanted to be assured of theirsalvationacceptance into heaven.
An indulgence was a document sold by the Churchthat releases the bearer from all or part of thepunishment for sin. Making a pilgrimage was a popular way to earnindulgences and, therefore, salvation; or so theythought. Copy of an inexpensive indulgence sold in the 16th Century. Relics Some also believed in collecting relics as a way toearn salvation. The Modern Devotion movement downplayedChurch practices and stressed the need to followthe teachings of Jesus. Holy bones in Saint-Victor Abbey in Marseilles: display containing osseous remains of early Christian saints and martyrs Martin Luther, 308 Martin Luther was a Catholic monk and Biblicalscholar who taught at the University of Wittenberg. His main concern in his studies of the bible wasabout the certainty of salvation. Luthers comments when he was ordered by the pope to take back his teachings and repent. Justification by faith alone
Catholic teaching had stressed that faith and goodworks were need to gain salvation. ***Luther believed people were powerless to doenough good works in the sight of an almighty Godand thus believed people were NOT saved by theirgood works, but through their faith alone. This idea, referred to as justification by faith, becamethe chief teaching of the Protestant Reformation. Ninety-five theses To Luther, the bible, and not the Church, was theonly valid source of religious truth. Luther was greatly upset by the widespread selling ofindulgences, especially people like Johann Tetzel. The Church authorized Tetzel to raise money to buildSt. Peters Basilica in Rome. St. Peters Basilica in Rome at Vatican City Tetzels slogan was As soon as coin in the coffer(money box) rings, the soul from purgatory springs. This enraged Luther who believed this practice onlysoothed the conscience and did NOT forgive sins. Luther, angered by the Churchs practices, wrotethe Ninety-five Theses and posted them on the doorof the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Rebellion! His theses (arguments) were a stunning attack onabuses in the sale of indulgences.Thanks to theprinting press, copies were made and it spread to allof Germany. By 1520, after the Church refused to reform, Lutherbegan a move towards a break with the CatholicChurch. He asked German princes to overthrow the papacyand establish a reformed German church. A break with the church, 308 Luther only kept two sacramentsbaptism and theEucharist (Communion). He also allowed the clergy to marry; the Church hadrequired clergy to be celibate, or unmarried. The pope excommunicated Luther in 1521 and hewas summoned to appear before Charles V, theEmperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Charles V believed he could convince Luther tochange his mind, but Luther refused. The young emperor was outraged and issued theEdict of Worms, Luther was made an outlaw and hisworks were ordered to be burned. Luther was to be captured and brought backbefore Charles V. Many German princes helped to hide Luther and hewas never captured. The rise of Lutheranism, 309
Luthers religious movement will become arevolution. About 300 German princes took control of thechurches and formed state churches supervised bythe governments. Luther set up new services to replace the Catholicmass.These included Bible readings, preaching,and music. Luthers new doctrine will become known asLutheranism and was the first Protestant faith. Politics in the German reformation
Catholic authorities saw the Reformation as a challengeto Church power. Charles V will eventually invade the German states butwas forced to seek peace. The Peace of Augsburg in 1555 ended the war and itrecognized the division of Christianity for the first time. German states were free to choose Lutheranism orCatholicism; subjects were required to follow decisionsof their rulers. Lesson 2the spread of Protestantism, 311
The Peace of Augsburg will officially end Christianunity in Europe. Ulrich Zwingli was leading a reform movement inSwitzerland.He sought an alliance with the Germanstates to show a united front against the CatholicChurch.Differences between them prevented thisand Zwingli was killed by Catholic forces. The leadership of Protestantismpassed to John Calvin who had fledFrance for the safety of Switzerland. In 1536, Calvin published Institutes ofthe Christian Religion with histhoughts on Protestantism. Calvin supported Luthers belief infaith alone being sufficient forsalvation. Calvin also felt God led him to the idea ofpredestinationthe belief that God hasdetermined in advance who will be savedand who will be damned. The belief in predestination gave Calvinistsconfidence they were going Gods workon Earth. Calvinism spread quickly to France, theNetherlands, Scotland, and other parts ofEurope. Reformation in England, 312
The English Reformation was rooted in politics. King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, Catherineof Aragon because she was unable to produce amale heir; their only child together was Mary. The pope refused to divorce or annul the marriageso Henry turned to the courts of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury annulled themarriage and Henry married Anne Boelyn. Henry VIII Ann Boleyn Their first child together was Elizabeth Tudor, thefuture Queen Elizabeth I.
In 1534, the British Parliament passed the SupremacyAct declaring King Henry VIII as the head of the newChurch of England (Anglican Church). Thomas More, a devout Catholic, opposed the Kingand was famously beheaded. Sir Thomas More A faint faith is better than a strong heresy
I do not care very much what men say of me, provided that God approves of me. A Letter to Erasmus, 1532. Sir Thomas More Henry used his new powers to close monasteries.
He sold their lands and possessions to landownersand merchants to gain their support. In doctrine however, Henry stayed close to Catholicteachings. Queen Mary, who was a Catholic, wanted to restoreEngland to Catholicism. Bloody mary She ordered the execution of 300 Protestants,accused of heresy, by burning them at the stake. This earned her the nickname of Bloody Mary. Her efforts had the opposite effect and Englandbecame more Protestant than ever. Mary Tudor Queen of England The Anabaptists were a group who disliked so muchreligious authority going to the state.
They believed government should stay out of religionand have no power over real Christians. Anabaptists refused to hold political office or beararms because they took literally the biblicalcommandment Thou shall not kill. The Amish and Mennonites developed out of theoriginal Anabaptists after escaping to the new worldwhere they were free to worship without fear ofpersecution. The Anabaptists were the first to believe in adultbaptism. Their strange customs caused them to be labeled asdangerous radicals who threatened main streamsociety. Reformation and society, 314
Luther believed that all children should have aneducation provided by the state. Protestant leaders in Germany established publicschools that taught Greek, Latin, and religiousstudies. Anti-Semitismhostility or discrimination towardsJews remained common in Europe after theReformation. Luther expected Jews to convert to Lutheranism.
When they resisted, he suggested that synagoguesand homes of Jews be destroyed. The Catholic Church also persecuted Jews.In Italy,Jews who refused to convert were forced to live insegregated areas called ghettos. A Jewish synagogue (house of prayer)
Synagogue in Florence Italy Catholic reformation, 314 The Catholic Church was able to survive theProtestant Reformation due to three main reasons: The formation of the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) founded by Ignatius of Loyola.They helped tospread Catholicism through missionary work andeducation, starting schools. Counter reformation 315 The reform of the papacyPope Paul III set up aReform Commission to determine the Churchsproblems.They found blame in the popes corruptpolicies of the past. Council of TrentChurch officials met in Trent onand off for 18 years.They issued decrees reaffirmingtraditional Catholic teachings in opposition toProtestant beliefs. Catholic doctrine upheld
Faith AND good works needed for salvation. The seven sacraments were upheld. Clerical celibacy necessary Belief in purgatory and the use of indulgencesconfirmed, although the SALE of indulgences wasbanned.