Section 2.9

The Protestant Reformation (Early 1500s to Mid 1600s)

Major Factors Contributing to Religious Conflict in 1500s

• Religious– Corruption– Babylonian Captivity– Great Schism

• Political– Resentment of Church

interference in state affairs• Economic

– Tithe, usury laws• Intellectual

– Renaissance thought encouraged many to question Church’s teachings

• Technological– Guttenberg's printing press

Martin Luther (1483-1546)• German monk and professor or

religion at Wittenberg– Feared eternal damnation

Searched for salvation via St. Paul’s letters

– Faith Alone

• Johann Tetzel (1465-1519)– Dominican Friar/High pressure

Indulgence Salesman– “As soon as gold in the basin

rings, the souls in purgatory spring”

• 95 Theses (10/31/1517)– Criticized sale of

indulgences/papal wealth/papal authority

Luther’s Theology (1517-1520)

• Faith Alone• Bible ultimate authority• Church is comprised of

entire community Secular life can be just a holy as monastic

• Rejects celibacy• Baptism and communion

only sacraments• No purgatory• Transubstantiation by

presence• Secular rulers are supreme

authority in all matters except theological

Diet of Worms• Pope Leo X

excommunicates him in 1521

• Placed on trial at Diet of Worms

• HRE Charles V ordered Luther to recant his beliefs

• “to go against conscience is neither right nor safe”

Protestantism• Luther hides under

protection of Frederick of Saxony

• Diet of Speyer (1529) Charles V orders Luther and his followers arrested

• Princes issue defiant protest – Hence the term

Protestant

Social Impact of Lutheranism• Peasant Revolts

– Demands for social and economic equality

– Luther supports Princes• “Against the Murdering

Thieving Hordes of Peasants”– Revolts brutally put down in

1525• Inspires other reformers

– Zwingli• Democratized religion

– Encouraged literacy• Women

– Dignified domestic work, marriage, education for women

Impact on Germany• Habsburg’s power (via marriage) were

weakened by Reformation• Stirred nationalistic feelings in

Germany• Germany princes used religion as a

means to gain political independence• League of Schmalkaden 1531

– Alliance of Protestant rulers (and Catholic France) formed against Charles V (HRE)

– Pope refuses to help Charles (resents Hapsburg power)

• Peace of Augsburg 1555– Established permanent division of

Germany into Lutheran and Catholic areas

– Cius regio eius religio (whose region his religion) adopted

Charles V

John Calvin• Priest and lawyer• Institutes of Christian Religion (1536)• Bible as final authority and faith alone

affirmed• Viewed man as sinful, corrupted• Predestination

– God has already determined who will be saved

– Fatalist, no free will– Elect show this by moral lifestyle,

economic prosperity• Geneva Consistory ruled city as a

theocracy– Michael Servetus burned at stake for

denying Trinity and Baptism• Women• Obedient to husbands• Impact

– Spreads in form of Huguenots, Presbyterianism, Puritanism, Congregationalism

Anglican Reformation• Henry VIII• Devout Catholic- “Defender of the Faith”• Lacked male heir to throne

– Mary• Asked Pope to annul marriage to Catherine of

Aragon (Charles V’s aunt)– Based on Bible passage which had “cursed” him

• Pope Clement VII (1523-1534) remained silent– Charles V’s soldiers are stationed in Rome

• Henry separates from Catholic Church• Takes Anne Boleyn as wife• Act of Supremacy 1534

– Parliament says monarchy is head of Church of England

– Closed monasteries, seized church lands (gives to nobles)

• Represented 25% of country’s wealth– Otherwise maintains Catholic ritual (mass,

sacraments)

Henry VIII

Catherine of Aragon

Anne Boleyn

Edward VI and Bloody Mary• Edward VI

– Administered by devout protestants

– Dies shortly after taking throne

• Mary– Attempts to re-Catholicize

England– Marries Philip of Spain– Burns 300 Protestants at

the state– Dies (of cancer) in 1558

Elizabethan Settlement• Elizabeth can’t be

Catholic

• Made concessions to both Catholics and Protestants– Priests allowed to marry– Catholic ritual (golden

crucifix, robes, etc.) retained

Protestant Beliefs consolidated• Reject papal authority• Reject special character of

priesthood• Accept clerical marriage• Reject monastic life• Vernacular over Latin• Sacraments reduced (2 or 3)• Deny transubstantiation• Deny priestly absolution of sin• Deny purgatory• Reject cult of saints and Virgin• Emphasize Bible as supreme

authority• Allow for private judgment• Parenthood praised