The Protestant Reformation

Breakdown of Denominations

Early Reformers

John Wycliffe (1324-1384)– Interested in authority of

clergy– People should be able to

interpret and read the Bible on their own

– Lived during Western Schism (more than one pope)

• This caused questioning about Papal Authority

Early Reformers Cont…

Jan Hus (1369-1415)– He wanted Bishops

elected and not appointed by Pope

– At the Council of Constance, he made his case but he was burned at the stake for his beliefs

– Spiritual leader of the Moravian Church

Fun Facts

Lived in Bohemia (Modern Day Czech Republic)

The last words of John Hus were that, “in 100 years, God will raise up a man whose calls for reform cannot be suppressed” – Almost exactly 100 years later, in 1517, Martin

Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses

Early Reformers Cont…

Erasmus (1466-1536)– “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther

hatched.”– Erasmus remained committed to

reforming the Church from within

– He also held to Catholic doctrines such as that of free will

• Which some Protestant Reformers rejected in favor of the doctrine of predestination

Important Developments that aid the process to Reformation!

The Printing Press!!!!– Books are now available to

the masses not just the rich! (Faster production=cheaper books)

– People have access to books whenever they want them

• How does this relate to the Reformation? Explain your answer?Printing Press = 3,600 pages per workday

Hand Printing = 40 pages per workday

What is the Protestant Reformation?

Protestant Reformation- a religious movement in the 1500’s that split the Christian church in western Europe and led to the establishment of a number of new churches

– People grew displeased with the churches…• Financial Corruption• Abuse of Power• Immorality

What happens to spark the Reformation?

Pope Leo X needs money to build St. Peter’s Basilica…so he sells indulgences!– Indulgences- were pardons

issued by the pope that people could buy to reduce a soul’s time in purgatory = (People could buy forgiveness)

– Martin Luther’s Ninety Five Theses

Language Barriers

Most uneducated people didn’t understand Latin, but knew the local common language or “vernacular”– Almost all Bibles were written in LATIN

before the Reformation

It was the job of the church clergy to translate the Bible to lay people

Martin LutherLuther was a German monk and professor of theology (religion) at the University of Wittenberg One of the many leaders of the Protestant Reformation

– Luther objected to a saying attributed to Johann Tetzel that "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs."

Luther’s 95 Theses

In 1517, the 95 Theses were nailed to a church door - They were written in Latin– Luther’s intention: NOT TO BREAK WITH

CHURCH, BUT REFORM IT!– Criticized:

1.Indulgences2.Power of Pope3.Wealth of Church

God’s Grace won by FAITH ALONE! – Catholic View: Good Works

Excommunication

In 1520 Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther– Excommunication- expelled him from the

church– Holy Roman Emperor Charles V passed

measures to suppress Luther’s writings– Lutheran princes in Germany issued a

protestatio or protest• Hence the term Protestant!

Other Reformers

Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland– Believed in the union of church and state (a theocracy)

• Wanted a system that required all citizens to attend church and regulated aspects of personal life

• This model would influence John Calvin

– Wanted a simpler church stripped churches of decoration and scorned ritual

– Switzerland was divided in to cantons split on religion

• Each canton were either Protestant or Catholic

Other Reformers: Calvinism

John Calvin in Switzerland (Geneva)– Believed in Predestination

• Foreknowledge - God knows who will be saved, even before people are born, and therefore guides the lives of those destined fore salvation

– Purified approach to life:• No drinking, swearing, card playing, gambling etc..

Other Reformers: Calvinism

John Calvin in Switzerland (Geneva)– Also wanted a simpler church

– Believed in Predestination• God knows who will be saved, even before people are born,

and therefore guides the lives of those destined for salvation

– Calvin’s followers became the most militant and uncompromising of Protestants Geneva was home to many rejected Calvinists

Other Reformers: Calvinism

John Knox in Scotland – A Calvinist

– Laid grounds for a later Presbyterian Church

– Other Places that Accepted Calvinism:• United Providences of the Netherlands

• Puritans in England

• New England

Other Reformers: Calvinism

• Started in Switzerland – Calvinists

• England = Puritans

• Scotland = Presbyterians

• Holland = Dutch Reform

• France = Huguenots

• Germany = Reform Church

Other Reformers Anabaptists– Believed in adult baptism– Wanted voluntary association of believers with no

connection to the state– Believed in social and economic equality

– Later adopted pacifism and avoided involvement with the state whenever possible

• Mennonites and Amish are descendants of the Anabaptists

Other Reformers: Anglican

Occurred in England– Many reformers wanted to “purify” the church

of Catholic practices

– Result: Protestant in doctrine and practice• Retained most of the physical possessions as the

medieval church

Breakdown of Denominations

In England, the Reformation began with the King!

Reformation in England was dictated by personal and political decisions

Started with King Henry VIII– The king who had six wives…

• He wants a SON!

The Reformation Parliament

Was a gathering that led to the decision that England was no longer under the authority of the pope

Act of Supremacy – Subjects were required to take an oath declaring

Henry VIII to be “Supreme Head of the Church of England”

– Not the Pope!

Longstanding Effects of Henry VIII

His legitimate children: Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward

Edward VI becomes king at nine • England was ruled by the Regency Council

• The English Church adopted Calvinism

• Died at age 15

Longstanding Effects of Henry VIII

Queen Mary I or “Bloody Mary” – Raised Catholic like her mother Catherine of

Aragon (Henry’s 1st wife)– She reestablished the Catholic Church in

England– She killed many Protestants and had

approximately 300 heretics burned at the stake– She died after ruling for five years

Longstanding Effects of Henry VIII

Queen Elizabeth I the “Virgin Queen”– Raised Protestant and ruled England for 44

years, never married– Required outward conformity to the Protestant

Church rarely inquired about inward beliefs• Some church practices resembled the Catholic

Church

• Led to the rise of “Puritans” who wanted to rid the church of all Catholic aspects resulting church was Anglican

Counter-Reformation

A Historical Debate: An internal Catholic reform or a result of Protestant criticism?

Council of Trent (1545-1563)– Called by Pope Paul III, met three times– Discussed the abuses of the Catholic Church– Discussed other debates in the Catholic Church

REVIEW: Protestants Around Europe

Germany

France

England

Spain

Holy Roman Empire

Italy

Netherlands