The Formation of Protestant Churches in Europe

The Great Schism

• Papal court moved to Avignon, France

• Stays there 70 years

• 1378 pope moves back to Rome—no one likes him—so new pope elected- now there are 2 popes

• Who do you recognize? Don’t know??

• SO…. Elect a 3rd pope!!

• Finally, 1417, schism is fixed and single pope rules

Gregory XI

Moves papacy back to Rome

Urban VI

Italian pope—seen as bad

Clement VII

Elected as rival pope

Corruption

• Simony—paying for offices or positions in church

• Indulgences—pardon for sins committed during person’s lifetime

Church World:

• Popes and priests worldly, lavish lifestyle

• Many priest illiterate

Martin Luther:

A Monk Gone Bad

95 Theses

• List of arguments against indulgences

• Luther posted list on church doors in Wittenberg, spread with aid of printing press

• Argued Christians

could only be saved

through faith

Putting up the Dukes with Pope

• Church tries to get Luther to recant (give up his views)

• Luther refuses

• Pope excommunicates Luther

(throws him out of Church)

• Luther burns Papal Bull

• Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, summons Luther to diet (court) at Worms

A “bulla”

Putting up the Dukes with the Pope

• Luther must defend his writings – so goes to Diet

• Emperor orders him to recant

Luther refuses

• “I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand.”

Luther Hides but his Ideas Spread

• Luther branded outlaw

• One of his supporters, a Prince, hides Luther at his castle

• Luther is hailed a hero in Germany

• His ideas spread to other parts of Europe

Such as Switzerland…Predestination

• Another reformer believed salvation came through faith …….. JOHN CALVIN

• BUT he argued that God alone decided who would get salvation—this is predestination

John Calvin

Creating a theocracyand model community

• Builds community in Geneva, Switzerland

• Set up theocracy – church run state

• Community stressed hard work, discipline, thrift

• Fines for swearing, laughing in church, and dancing

Meanwhile in England . . .

Henry VIII

Desiring a Son

• Originallly an opponent of Reformation, even called “Defender of the Faith” by Pope

• But when wife, Catherine of Aragon, niece of Holy Roman emperor, cannot give Henry a boy, he wants annulment

No Help from the Pope

• Pope refuses, does not want to alienate Holy Roman emperor

• SO Henry appoints new archbishop who annuls his marriage, and he marries Ann Boleyn

Creating his own Church

• Breaks completely with Rome

• Parliament passes Act of Supremacy, making Henry head of a new Church, the Church of England (or Anglican Church)

• Takes over Catholic land and makes England a Protestant country