The Protestant Reformation Origins of the Reformation Began
The Protestant Reformation
Origins of the Reformation • Began in Germany due to the lack of a strong central government • Included 365 independent states • Weak emperor COULD NOT control independent ideas about religion within the GR states
Martin Luther • German monk • Started Reformation • Believed in Justification by Faith: • A person could be made just, or good, simply by having faith in God’s mercy and love
The Sale of Indulgences • Pope Leo X and indulgences • Indulgences: • Certificates issued by the Church
The Sale of Indulgences • Were said to reduce or even cancel punishment for a person’s sins • Applied to already dead relatives as well
The Sale of Indulgences • “Once you hear the money’s ring, the soul from purgatory is free to spring…” • Purgatory: • Location in the afterlife where people are made fit for heaven
The Sale of Indulgences • John Tetzel: • German church agent that sold indulgences • Promised peasants that indulgences would relieve them of guilt for future sins
Luther’s Protest • 95 Theses: • Criticized the sale of indulgences • Nailed the 95 Theses to the Wittenberg Church • Spread throughout Germany
The Backlash • In 1521 the Pope EXCOMMUNICATED Luther • Diet of Worms: • Tried to get Luther to retract his criticisms of the Church
The Backlash • “I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscious. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me. Amen” - - - Martin Luther
The Backlash • Luther refused to retract his statements • Condemned as a heretic • Went into hiding; translated the Bible into German; created a new religion - Lutheranism
The Spread of Protestantism
John Calvin • CALVINISM: • Argued that God determines the fate of every person before birth; PREDESTINATION • Those predestined were called “the elect”
John Knox • PRESBYTERIANISM: • Leader of Reformation in SCOT • Based on Calvin’s teachings • Presbytery: a group of decision makers within the church • “Priesthood of all believers”
Henry VIII • Henry wanted to divorce his wife for not producing male heir to the a throne
Henry VIII • Catholic Church forbade divorce • Refused to dissolve Henry’s marriage
Henry VIII • Henry – MAD! • Withdrew GB from the Catholic Church & created a new church with the Act of Supremacy • Parliament created the Anglican Church with the king as its head
- Slides: 19