Unit I – Case Study #3: Reformation
& Counter-Reformation
Challenging Authority and Long-Held Beliefs
MONDAY
1.) Draw a Scenario Slip from the bowl and read it to yourself. Briefly describe the situation /
problem that is presented. Why is this an issue, or why would those it affects protest?:
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2.) Get together with others who have your same scenario! Why do you think the authority in this
Scenario would make this decision or implement this policy? Try to describe their perspective:
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3.) If you were someone that this Scenario would affect, what would you do about it? Develop a
plan of reaction / action, and describe it here:
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TUESDAY:
Values Under The Catholic Church
Essential Question: What were the core beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church, and why might
individuals have started having concerns about these values?
Directions: You will be placed in seven groups, and given one core belief at a time. With your group, you
will read (together) information about each of the major beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church during
the Renaissance time period. Once you’ve read the information, you need to discuss the following in your
groups and fill it in on your chart:
1) A brief summary of each belief
2) What does the Church value based on this belief?
3) What individuals in society might dislike or want to change about this belief
After five minutes, you will pass the belief on to the next group and receive a new one.
Station #
Summary of this belief
Based on this belief, what does the
Catholic Church value?
Why might society or average
citizens have a problem with
this?
Overall, what do you believe individuals in society began to dislike about the rule of the Catholic
Church? What had happened in Europe that made these changes in perspective begin?
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WEDNESDAY:
Martin Luther – A Rebel or A Savior?
Essential Question: What were the core beliefs of Martin Luther, and why did he feel he needed to
challenge the authority of the Catholic Church?
Martin Luther, a German priest, monk, professor, and philosopher during the Renaissance began to, like much
of the European world, recognize problems within the ruling system at the time, namely the Catholic Church.
He wished to begin a dialogue about reforming the Catholic Church and their core beliefs, which we have
already discussed. He started this process using two main methods: arguments against the church, and public
artwork.
We will watch a brief informational video about who Martin Luther was, and why he was a key figure in
the Reformation. After the video, check out some of his 95 Theses, a formal listing of complaints against
the Catholic Church, analyze and respond to them. On the back analyze the political cartoons that
Luther created in protest to the Church.
Arguments Against the Catholic Church
Martin Luther posted 95 arguments against the pope on the door of the Wittenberg Catholic Church in
Germany. Here are some of them:
“If the pope truly has the power to forgive sins, shouldn’t he do it for free out of love instead of for money?”
“All those who are sure of salvation because of indulgences will be doomed to Hell,
together with their teachers.”
“Christians should be taught that one who gives to the poor, or lends to the needy, does
a better action than if he purchases indulgences.”
“The pope’s indulgences cannot remove even the guilt of the smallest sins.”
“Since the pope is the richest man in the world, why doesn’t he use his own
money to build churches instead of poor believers?”
Based on this sampling of arguments, what does Luther feel about indulgences?
How does Luther feel about the pope?
Do you agree with Luther and his methods of protesting activities of The Church? Why or why not?
Artwork as Propaganda
Luther drew cartoons and published them as propaganda to help make his point that The Catholic Church was corrupt and
needing reformation. The first picture is meant to be what the Catholic Church preaches through their religion. The second
picture is meant to be what the Catholic Church does and presents to the public. Analyze both photos.
Analyze the first picture.
Why is this what the Church wants or tries to present as their beliefs? What does this picture tell us about religion, beliefs,
and faith?
Analyze the second picture.
What is Luther trying to say with this picture? What issue does he have with the Church?
Side-by-side Analysis
Why did Luther publish both photos together, side-by-side? What message is he trying to send to both the Church and the
public?
THURSDAY:
Responding to Martin Luther & Reformers
Essential Question: How did the Catholic Church respond to Luther? What were justifications of their
responses, and how were their responses extreme and immoral?
The Catholic Church (naturally) didn’t take kindly to Martin Luther’s criticism of their methods, beliefs,
and treatment of the public. For the Catholics, Luther is seen as the man who destroyed Christian hegemony. He was
accused by the Catholic Church of being a murderer, a humanist, and that his mother Margaret was a bathhouse attendant
who fornicated with the devil. They declared that what he preached was heretical, varied from the scriptures, and moved
the world away from the teachings of the Bible in an attempt to become the master of his own religion. The Catholic
Church fought back, and published propaganda on their own, like below. Look over the artwork carefully, and we will
discuss what the Catholic Church was attempting to say about Luther and his challenges.
The Counter-Reformation
The Catholic Church, Inquisition, and Torture
Why was the Catholic Church angry and worried about the process of the Reformation?
What were three methods of controlling the spread of the Reformation that the Catholic Church
attempted?
From the Catholic Church and its’ followers perspectives, why were those involved in the Reformation
in the wrong or sinners?
What were methods carried out during the Spanish Inquisition to seek out heretics?
Which of these methods do you feel is the most unjustified? Why?