Early Reform Tendencies

Monastic Reforms sought to remind the Church of spiritual functions and responsibilities

Cluny, France 910 (Restoration of Benedictine Rule)

Citeaux, France 1098 (Cistercians) Development of mendicant or “begging”

orders

Monastic Reform

Francis (1181-1226) – Order of the Friars Minor devoted to ideals of simplicity

Francis expresses ideal of monk in Middle Ages (devotion to natural realm)

Dominic (1170-1221): Dominican Friars devoted to defending “Orthodoxy”

Corruption: e.g. case of “rival popes” established in 1378 (one Roman and one French). Papal dispute settled in 1415 by Council of Constance.

Renaissance

Literary and artistic revival in 14th and 15th century (cradle: Italy)

Willingness to examine human achievement critically- confidence in achievement

Humanism (classical antiquity is model of eloquence). Vulgate translation questioned (Erasmus of Rotterdam : 1516, celebrated edition of the Greek NT with translation into classical Latin)

Background: Reformation

Feudalism gives way to nationalism Advances in navigation and printing Early reformers: John Wycliff (1330-1384):

English clergyman: Bible should be read in language of the people

John Huss (1372/3-1415): Bohemian picks up on Wycliff’s teaching and leads popular revolt

Luther (1483-1546)

1505- Becomes Augustinian Monk 1512-1515: Conversion Experience (Paul) October 31, 1517: 95 theses tacked to

Church door at Wittenberg against Indulgences (justification by faith alone)

Breach with Church finalized by 1520: end of 16th century, 2/3 of Germany Lutheran

Luther and Church Authority

Questions concerning the power of the Pope and his representatives to grant indulgences raise fundamental questions about the relationship between God and humanity

Shifts locus of authority from Church to individual’s faith based on his or her own interpretation of Scripture

Luther and the Bible

Bible as Primary Source of Contact with God’s truth

Scripture becomes preeminent over Tradition Roman Catholic perspective: fearful of

individual interpretation of the Bible The Vatican II perspective in Roman

Catholicism

The Priesthood of All Believers

God speaking directly to individuals does not require the mediation of priests

An appeal to NT patterns of authority (1 Peter 2:9-10)

All vocations are of equal value Monasticism rejected Clerics encouraged to marry

Consequences of Reformation Luther’s concepts contributed significantly to the

modern western attitude: religion is essentially a matter of personal commitment

By the end of 16th century, the Protestant Reformation had effectively shattered the patterns of Medieval Christendom

Most reformers nevertheless insisted that preaching and sacraments are a God-ordained means of grace within the communal life of Christians