Martin Luther & Protestantism

Protestant Reformation

catholicism

• Main religion of Europe

• Stressed that faith and good works were needed to gain personal salvation• Relics• Indulgences• Penitence• Sacraments

Luther’s beliefs

• Monk and professor at University of Wittenberg in Germany, where he lectured on the Bible

• Through close study of Bible, came to different conclusion about salvation• Humans powerless to Almighty God• Humans could never do enough good works to earn

salvation• Justification by faith alone: only faith will save you

• If you have strong faith, God will make you just and worthy of salvation because he is merciful

• Bible is the only source of religious truth

First stages of rebellion

• Upset by widespread selling of indulgences• Especially angered by Monk Johann Tetzel: “As soon as the coin

in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs”• Believed people were harming chances of salvation by buying

indulgences and collecting relics.

• Did not see himself as a “rebel”• Sent 95 theses to church superiors, printed and spread them

throughout all parts of Germany• Verbally attacked abuses in selling of indulgences

• Not taken seriously by Pope Leo X who said Luther was just “some drunken German who will amend his ways when he sobers up”

rebellion

• By 1520, had more definite break with Catholic Church• Called on German

princes to overthrow papacy (pope) in Germany and establish reformed Church

Main Attacks

• Attacked system of sacraments• Said Baptism and Eucharist

(Communion) were only necessary ones and the rest destroyed real meaning of Gospel

• Attacked rule of celibacy for clergy; said they should be able to marry

• Attacked idea of performing good works and purchasing indulgences. Said faith alone would bring salvation

Result• Excommunicated in January 1521

• Summoned to imperial Diet of Worms (legislative assembly) by Charles V

• Unable to convince Luther to change his views, Charles V declared him an outlaw with the Edict of Worms• Works were to be burned• Supposed to be captured and delivered to Emperor,

but Prince Frederick hid and protected him

On April 18, 1521 Martin Luther stood before the emperor & Princes in the city

of worms and declared…

• “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”

• Huh? Translation please....???

But still…

• Luther’s teachings became a revolution

• Gained support of many German rulers and states in the Holy Roman Empire• Took control of Catholic churches in

territory and formed state churches, which were supervised by government

• New services to replace Catholic mass with gospel readings and song

• Luther’s doctrine came to be known as Lutheranism, the first of Protestant faiths

Reformation & politics

• Fate of religious movement closely tied to political affairs

• Holy Roman Emperor Charles V wanted to keep empire under control of Hapsburg dynasty and unified under Catholicism• Rivalry with France led to wars lasting

more than 20 years• Opposition from Pope Clement VII who took

sides with French• Like Italy, Germany had many powerful,

separated states (due to instability of Middle Ages) who supported Luther as a way to rebel against Charles V

Peace of augsburg

• By the time Charles V was able to bring military forces to Germany, Lutheran princes we well-organized, and he had no choice but to seek peace

• Signed Peace of Augsburg in 1555 to end religious warfare• Accepted division of Christianity in

Germany • German states could choose between

Catholicism and Lutheranism• Lutheran states had same legal rights as

Catholic states• *did NOT recognize religious toleration

for individuals (subjects could not choose/practice their own religions)

Ponder this…

1. Think of someone typically considered a “rebel”. How are they similar to Martin Luther? How are they different?

2. How was Martin Luther in a unique position to lead a rebellion?

3. How do you see his form of rebellion play a role in today’s society?