the protestant reformation christian humanism and luther

The Protestant The Protestant ReformationReformation

Christian Humanism and Christian Humanism and LutherLuther

Late Medieval SpiritualityLate Medieval Spirituality

Spiritual “anxiety”—Black Death, Schism, etc.Spiritual “anxiety”—Black Death, Schism, etc. Movement toward lay piety—mysticism and Movement toward lay piety—mysticism and

Brothers/Sisters of Common LifeBrothers/Sisters of Common Life Thomas a Kempis, Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of ChristImitation of Christ Heresy in the Later Middle Ages: Hus and Heresy in the Later Middle Ages: Hus and

Wycliffe (challenged institutional Church)Wycliffe (challenged institutional Church) EffectEffect: desire for meaningful spirituality : desire for meaningful spirituality

present, dissatisfaction with institutional present, dissatisfaction with institutional ChurchChurch

Abuses and CriticismsAbuses and Criticisms

Babylonian Captivity and Great SchismBabylonian Captivity and Great Schism Renaissance Papacy, 1417-1540 Renaissance Papacy, 1417-1540

(Alexander VI and Julius II, e.g.)(Alexander VI and Julius II, e.g.) Efforts to limit papacy authority—Efforts to limit papacy authority—

conciliarism and conciliarism and ExecrabilisExecrabilis Behavior of clergy—nepotism, simony, Behavior of clergy—nepotism, simony,

pluralism, absenteeism, lack of education, pluralism, absenteeism, lack of education, low moralslow morals

Indulgences: fact and fancyIndulgences: fact and fancy

Christian HumanismChristian Humanism

Desiderius Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)(1466-1536)

Praise of FollyPraise of Folly & & Handbook of the Handbook of the Christian KnightChristian Knight

Reform through Reform through education and simple education and simple pietypiety

Patronized by rulersPatronized by rulers

Erasmus IIErasmus II

Translation of the Bible from original Greek Translation of the Bible from original Greek and Hebrewand Hebrew

Questioned scriptural basis for Holy TrinityQuestioned scriptural basis for Holy Trinity EffectEffect: humane movement swallowed up in : humane movement swallowed up in

religious passionsreligious passions ““I cannot risk my life for the truth. All men I cannot risk my life for the truth. All men

have not the strength for martyrdom….I follow have not the strength for martyrdom….I follow the just decrees of popes and emperors the just decrees of popes and emperors because it is right; I endure their evil laws because it is right; I endure their evil laws because it is safe….Christ will look after me.”because it is safe….Christ will look after me.”

Thomas More (1478-1535)Thomas More (1478-1535)

MP and later Lord MP and later Lord ChancellorChancellor

Friend and supporter of Friend and supporter of Henry VIIIHenry VIII

UtopiaUtopia—satire of 16—satire of 16thth centurycentury

Focused on education Focused on education (daughter)(daughter)

Martyrdom (Martyrdom (A Man for A Man for All SeasonsAll Seasons))

““in the world but not in the world but not ofof the world”the world”

Spanish HumanismSpanish Humanism

Cardinal Ximenes de Cardinal Ximenes de Cisneros—reformed Cisneros—reformed Spanish Church Spanish Church before Lutherbefore Luther

Juan Luis Vives—Juan Luis Vives—polyglot Bible at polyglot Bible at University of University of SalamancaSalamanca

EffectEffect: stopped : stopped Protestantism but Protestantism but “Inquisition” mentality“Inquisition” mentality

Cardinal Cisneros

Luther’s LifeLuther’s Life Relationship with father Relationship with father

(Erik Erikson bio)(Erik Erikson bio) Wrestles with question Wrestles with question

of salvation (St. Paul’s of salvation (St. Paul’s Letter to RomansLetter to Romans))

Indulgence controversy Indulgence controversy (Tetzel)(Tetzel)

95 Theses95 Theses Debate with J. Eck & Debate with J. Eck &

excommunicationexcommunication

Luther’s RebellionLuther’s Rebellion

Diet of Worms, 1521

LutheranismLutheranism

Key: Key: sola scriptura, sola fide, sola gratiasola scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia 2 sacraments: Baptism and Lord’s Supper2 sacraments: Baptism and Lord’s Supper Consubstantiation v. transubstantiationConsubstantiation v. transubstantiation ““priesthood of all believers” (NOT social priesthood of all believers” (NOT social

equality)equality) Bans monasticism, relics, indulgences, Bans monasticism, relics, indulgences,

celibacy, Papal authoritycelibacy, Papal authority Predestination?Predestination?

Luther’s Major WorksLuther’s Major Works On the Babylonian Captivity of the ChurchOn the Babylonian Captivity of the Church (in (in

Latin for theologians, attacks sacramental Latin for theologians, attacks sacramental nature of Catholicism)nature of Catholicism)

Address to the Nobility of the German NationAddress to the Nobility of the German Nation (patriotic appeal to German princes)(patriotic appeal to German princes)

On the Freedom of the Christian ManOn the Freedom of the Christian Man (short (short pamphlet on doctrine of “free will”—he rejected pamphlet on doctrine of “free will”—he rejected it)it)

Translated Bible into GermanTranslated Bible into German Numerous hymns & pamphlets in “earthy style” Numerous hymns & pamphlets in “earthy style”

(1/3 of all books published in 20-year period)(1/3 of all books published in 20-year period)

Social and Political ViewsSocial and Political Views

Church is “invisible,” man is too corrupt to Church is “invisible,” man is too corrupt to achieve perfection on earthachieve perfection on earth

Need for princes’ support and basic Need for princes’ support and basic conservatism yield “passive” churchconservatism yield “passive” church

Opposed Peasants’ Revolt and radicals Opposed Peasants’ Revolt and radicals such as Carlstadt, Muntzer, Anabaptistssuch as Carlstadt, Muntzer, Anabaptists

Not a puritan: enjoyed drink, songs, jokes, Not a puritan: enjoyed drink, songs, jokes, late-night friendslate-night friends

Married a former nun and accepted Married a former nun and accepted traditional female roletraditional female role

Various anti-Semitic writingsVarious anti-Semitic writings

Style and SupportStyle and Support

Conservative, dignified, simple liturgyConservative, dignified, simple liturgy Maintained music and some church Maintained music and some church

decoration, saints mentioned in Bibledecoration, saints mentioned in Bible Strong support among upper and Strong support among upper and

middle classes, lost among peasantsmiddle classes, lost among peasants Germany, Scandinavia and affected Germany, Scandinavia and affected

Reformation everywhereReformation everywhere

AssessmentAssessment

AssessmentAssessment: a : a theological theological revolutionary but a revolutionary but a social/political social/political conservativeconservative

QuestionQuestion: Did he : Did he save Christianity or save Christianity or destroy its unity and destroy its unity and create endless create endless process of division?process of division?

Catholic ReformationCatholic Reformation Reform efforts began Reform efforts began

before 1517 (but Papacy before 1517 (but Papacy lacked initiative and often lacked initiative and often blocked reform)blocked reform)

Savonarola and FlorenceSavonarola and Florence—”Bonfire of the Vanities” —”Bonfire of the Vanities” (reaction to secularism of (reaction to secularism of Renaissance)Renaissance)

Christian humanistsChristian humanists Cardinal Ximenes in SpainCardinal Ximenes in Spain

Council of Trent, 1545-64Council of Trent, 1545-64 Dominated by Spanish and Dominated by Spanish and

Italian bishopsItalian bishops Reformed abuses relating to Reformed abuses relating to

absenteeism, preparation of absenteeism, preparation of clergy, indulgences, nepotismclergy, indulgences, nepotism

Reaffirmed distinctive Catholic Reaffirmed distinctive Catholic ideas—transubstantiation, ideas—transubstantiation, clerical celibacy, efficacy of clerical celibacy, efficacy of good works, purgatory, etc.good works, purgatory, etc.

Refused to compromise with Refused to compromise with Protestants (Reform Protestants (Reform Commission and Regensburg Commission and Regensburg Colloquy, 1541)Colloquy, 1541)

New Religious OrdersNew Religious Orders Goal: restore pastoral mission of clergyGoal: restore pastoral mission of clergy Teresa of Avila—discalced Carmelites, Teresa of Avila—discalced Carmelites,

Spanish mystic, “doctor of Church”Spanish mystic, “doctor of Church” Theatines, Ursulines (Angela Merici), Theatines, Ursulines (Angela Merici),

Capuchins (Matteo Bascio)Capuchins (Matteo Bascio) Oratory of Divine Love (lay group)—Oratory of Divine Love (lay group)—

Cardinal ContariniCardinal Contarini Reforming bishops—St. Charles Reforming bishops—St. Charles

Borromeo and Matteo Giberti (Verona), Borromeo and Matteo Giberti (Verona), austere committed clergyaustere committed clergy

Loyola and JesuitsLoyola and Jesuits Like a military orderLike a military order ““soldiers of the Pope”—military soldiers of the Pope”—military

training (training (Spiritual ExercisesSpiritual Exercises)) Educators of Europe, missionariesEducators of Europe, missionaries

Papal ReformPapal Reform Papal bureaucracy Papal bureaucracy

centralizedcentralized Reform bishops and Reform bishops and

cardinals appointedcardinals appointed Paul III—first Counter-Paul III—first Counter-

Reformation Pope Reformation Pope (called C. of Trent)(called C. of Trent)

Roman Inquisition Roman Inquisition (1542) (1542)

Index of Prohibited Index of Prohibited BooksBooks

Results and AssessmentResults and Assessment

Did Catholic efforts Did Catholic efforts stem the tide of stem the tide of Protestantism?Protestantism?

Was the Church Was the Church stronger or weaker in stronger or weaker in 1560 than it had been 1560 than it had been in 1500?in 1500?

Was the Church’s Was the Church’s pastoral mission pastoral mission reaffirmed?reaffirmed?