The Protestant The Protestant ReformationReformation

Note Entry # 41Note Entry # 41

HumanismHumanism a variety of ethical theory and a variety of ethical theory and practice thatpractice that emphasizes reason, scientific emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world world and often rejects the importance of belief in and often rejects the importance of belief in God. God.

SecularismSecularism a system of political or social a system of political or social philosophy that rejects all forms of philosophy that rejects all forms of religious faith and worship. religious faith and worship.

These both led to criticism of the Catholic Church These both led to criticism of the Catholic Church and its practices.and its practices.

By 1500 people were calling for change in the By 1500 people were calling for change in the way the Church taught and practiced Christianity.way the Church taught and practiced Christianity.

The church had become more and more involved in worldly politics.

• Popes competed with Italian princes for political power.

• They fought wars to protect the Papal States.

• They plotted against powerful monarchs who sought to control papal lands.

• They lived in luxury, supported the arts, and hired artists to beautify churches.

To finance their lifestyles, church officials charged fees for services such as baptisms and marriages.

Things are a changin’… As early as the 1300s, John Wycliff had begun protests against the

Church in England.

He believed the church should not be rich and the Bible should be written in the vernacular.

Jan Hus led a similar protest against the Church in what is today the Czech Republic.

He wrote a pamphlet that

stated no pope or bishop had the right to take up the sword in the name of the Church He was executed for heresy in 1415.

The challenges led to a split in the The challenges led to a split in the Church that became known as Church that became known as The The Protestant Reformation.Protestant Reformation.

A monk named A monk named Martin LutherMartin Luther began the Reformation.began the Reformation.

Luther believed that people could be Luther believed that people could be made good by faith alone.made good by faith alone. This became known as This became known as justification by justification by

faith.faith.

CONFLICTCONFLICT Luther’s ideas bring him into direct conflict Luther’s ideas bring him into direct conflict

with the Church.with the Church. The Catholic Church had been selling The Catholic Church had been selling indulgencesindulgences, or , or

passes out of purgatory, to raise money for building passes out of purgatory, to raise money for building projects.projects.

Luther preached against the sale of Luther preached against the sale of indulgences.indulgences.

He did this while he was the priest in the town of He did this while he was the priest in the town of Wittenberg.Wittenberg.

To get the Church to listen to his complaints he To get the Church to listen to his complaints he nailed the nailed the 95 Theses95 Theses to the front door of the Church. to the front door of the Church.

All important notices were placed here and couldn’t All important notices were placed here and couldn’t be removed until they had been addressed.be removed until they had been addressed.

Copies of the 95 Theses were printed Copies of the 95 Theses were printed and spread all over Germany.and spread all over Germany.

This was possible because of the invention This was possible because of the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg.of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg.

The sale of indulgences droppedThe sale of indulgences dropped

and that got the Pope’s attention.and that got the Pope’s attention. The Pope sent representatives to The Pope sent representatives to

ask Luther to withdraw his complaints.ask Luther to withdraw his complaints.

When Luther refused he was When Luther refused he was excommunicatedexcommunicated by Pope Leo X in by Pope Leo X in

1521.1521.

Shortly after the excommunication a Shortly after the excommunication a group of princes (called a group of princes (called a dietdiet) met in ) met in the city of Worms.the city of Worms.

They asked Luther to They asked Luther to recantrecant his Theses. his Theses. He refused and was condemned a He refused and was condemned a hereticheretic..

LutheranismLutheranism After the events at Worms Luther began After the events at Worms Luther began

the first Protestant faith—Lutheranism.the first Protestant faith—Lutheranism.

In Lutheranism there were three In Lutheranism there were three important teachings:important teachings:

Salvation by faith alone: Salvation by faith alone: people can be saved people can be saved by faith alone and no amount of good works can by faith alone and no amount of good works can give them salvation.give them salvation.

Religious truth and authority are only found in Religious truth and authority are only found in the Bible.the Bible.

The Lutheran Church is a community of The Lutheran Church is a community of believers, believers, not a hierarchy like the Catholic not a hierarchy like the Catholic Church.Church.

Some German princes saw Lutheranism as a chance to throw off the rule of both the Church and the Holy Roman emperor.

Some saw an opportunity to seize Church property in their territories.

Others embraced the new church out of nationalistic loyalty.

Many were tired of paying to support clergy in Italy.

Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor)tried Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor)tried to force the German princes to return to force the German princes to return to the Catholic Church.to the Catholic Church. In 1555, after several brief wars, Charles In 1555, after several brief wars, Charles

and the princes signed the Peace of and the princes signed the Peace of Augsburg. Augsburg.

Under this treaty, each prince chose a religion Under this treaty, each prince chose a religion for his realm—either Catholic or Lutheran.for his realm—either Catholic or Lutheran.

Most in the north chose Lutheranism; most in the south chose Catholicism.