THE REFORMATION

A movement of religious change & new churches; reform Christian religion

Problems in the Catholic Church

Clergy marrying, fathering children, gambling, drinking, abusing power

Misappropriating funds

Illiteracy

*Selling indulgences (pardons for sins)

Martin Luther• became a monk in 1505, b/cm a professor

of theology at Wittenberg U. in 1512

• he was against the selling of indulgences

Luther’s “The 95 Theses” Arguments against the

church and indulgences posted on the church door “pardons” - not part of the

Bible, can’t buy your way into Heaven

Pope can’t guarantee Heaven

95 Theses copied, printed, circulated through Europe

All people of faith were equal & anyone could interpret the Bible

Faith & good works save your soul

LUTHER VS. THE CHURCH-Pope threatens excommunication

-Luther burned the Pope’s letter

-Pope excommunicates Luther

-Diet at Worms- (German princes met in Worms) Holy Roman Emperor told Luther to abandon views, Luther refused

-Luther declared an outlaw

Luther hid for a year, ideas gained popularity, people began to renounce the pope

Peasant Revolt (1524) peasants challenged their lords

to end serfdom, hoping to get Luther’s support

Luther felt for the peasants but did not approve of their violence, 100,000 peasants killed

German princes began to follow Luther

Luther forms the Lutheran Church

John Calvinb. in France, priest and lawyer, 1536

wrote “Institutes of the Christian Religion”

“Predestination”- God already knows who is saved

Calvinists- believed world was divided b/t “sinners” and “saints”

1541 Geneva, Switzerland- a theocracy - *model religious community – fines/punishment for sins (fighting, swearing, dancing, laughing in church)

Calvinism spread through Europe

Other Reformers*John Knox- Calvinist, started

Presbyterian Church in Scotland

 

*The Anabaptists- rejected infant baptism (babies did not understand), only adults baptized, Anabaptists b/cm the Baptists, Quakers, Amish

“Witch” burning b/cm common

The English ReformationKing Henry VIII vs. Catholic Church

1527- Henry wanted to annul his 18 year marriage to Catherine (needed a male heir - the Church didn’t allow divorce), pope refused

1534- The Act of Supremacy- Henry b/cm the head of the churches in England (Church of England)

• protesters were executed, his marriage was annulled

Henry VIII and his Wives

The English ReformationAnne Boleyn married Henry, gave birth

to Elizabeth, was beheaded

Henry married 4 more times, one son Edward

1547- Henry died- Edward took over at age 10, Church of England b/cm more protestant

Edward died in his teens, Mary b/cm queen - tried to turn England back to Catholic- burned 100’s of Protestants at the stake

1558- Mary died, Elizabeth took the throne

Elizabethan AgeQueen Elizabeth ruled 1559-1603

the “Virgin Queen” (never married)

Returned England to Protestantism“Golden Age” of England, the

English RenaissanceElizabeth was highly educated,

athletic, enjoyed horseback riding, hunting, music

Elizabeth made wise decisions regarding England, churches and politics

Defeat of the Spanish Armada- 1588

England defeated the most powerful country in the world- Spain and Philip II

Spain attacked England with 130 ships and 27,000 men.

English ships were quicker w/ longer range cannon (a storm had partly damaged the Armada)

Catholic ReformationCatholics felt need to reform

church*Ignatius of Loyola (Spain) 1522- wrote “Spiritual

Exercises”- a plan of prayer and study

founded the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) est. schools and missionaries to convert people to Catholicism

Council of Trent (1545-1563)

Meetings of bishops and cardinals

• Church’s interpretation of Bible is final

• Salvation thru faith and good works

• Indulgences were allowed

• Bible and Church equally powerful

The InquisitionPope Paul banned and burned books by Luther, Calvin

and other Protestants

The Church est. courts to punish and imprison heretics

Witch hunts- b/t 70,000 – 100,000 burned

as witches (mostly women)