Download The Reformation

The Reformation
A Movement to Reform
the Church
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Protestant Reformation 15171650
• To protest = To object
• To reform = To change for the better
• The Protestant Reformation:
– Protested practices of the Catholic
Church.
– It began as an attempt to reform the
Catholic Church.
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Underlying causes of the
Reformation
• Humanism: The movement for the individual
to take control of their lives.
• The Renaissance, led people to question the
authority of the church and place greater
faith in human reason.
• The rise of nation-states led monarchs to
resent the power of the pope (by appointing
bishops who controlled vast amounts of land)
in their countries.
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Underlying Causes of the
Reformation
• Economic restrictions such as the ban on
usury, or the lending of money at
interest, created opposition among
members of the new middle class.
• People resented the mandatory tithe
(10% tax).
• Corruption within the Catholic Church
caused a crisis of faith among believers.
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The Sparks
• Oddly enough, the start of the
Reformation belongs to Renaissance
art.
• Michelangelo designed the new St.
Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
• Because of the expense of the project
the Roman Catholic Church began to
increase the sell of “Indulgences”
(forgiveness from sin) to raise funds
across Europe.
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Martin Luther
• German born
• Quiet youth, yet talented student who was
intimidated by the strict orders of the Church.
• Attends University of Erfurt
– Sent to study law.
• July 2, 1505- Luther is nearly struck by lightning.
– Survives and swears to St. Anne, “I will become a
monk!”
• Luther becomes a monk and studied theology at the
University of Wittenberg, earning a Ph.D in Bible
Studies.
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Martin Luther
• In 1517, the papal
indulgences seller came
to Wittenberg, Germany
• On October 31, 1517,
Martin Luther posted a
list of complaints against
the Catholic Church
called The Ninety-Five
Thesis, or questions for
debate.
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Aftermath (1)
• Taken as an attack on the church, Luther is
called to recant his beliefs by the Pope, and
later, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
• “Here I Stand” was Luther’s reply, meaning
to stay true to his conscience.
• The Diet (assembly) of Worms
acknowledges Luther as a heretic and calls
for his execution.
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Aftermath (2)
• Luther’s ideas received support from
the Christian Humanist and the
German Princes, who see this as a
means of getting more power.
• Luther, under the protection of a
German prince, further develops his
new theology.
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Luther’s New Theology
Catholic
1) Salvation through
Faith and Works
2) Theology is based on
the Bible and other
canonized writings
3) One reaches God
through the Priests of
the Church
Protestant
1) Salvation through
Faith alone
2) Theology is based on
the Sole Authority of
the Bible
3) One reaches God by
serving as their own
priest, placing the
importance on the
individual.
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John Calvin
• Lawyer from Geneva,
Switzerland.
• Dedicated to humanist
reform of the Church.
• Leads a protestant revolt in
1520.
– Geneva does not follow.
– Spread of Protestantism
throughout Switzerland and
Geneva.
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Beliefs of Calvinism
• Predestination
– Since God knew the future, humans had no
real choice in salvation; God has already
preordained who is to obtain salvation.
• Moral Behavior / Protestant Work Ethic
– Calvinists were noted for their hard work
with a good attitude.
– Calvinists would not gamble, dance,
swear, dress elegantly, etc. (Think
Pilgrims)
• The Church should govern the State.
– With a strong church there no need for
separate civil government.
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