The Spread of Protestantism
• Protestant - Originally the term for
Luther’s supporters who “protested”
against Catholic loyalists in Germany
• Reformation - A movement begun in the
1500s to make corrective changes
(reforms) to the Catholic Church.
What forms of corruption existed within
the Church during the Late Middle Ages?
• Popes used excommunication to force monarchs to obey
the Church.
• Many priest were illiterate
• Many clergy broke their vows of chastity
• Some officials lead lives of luxury and leisure
• Some clergy:
– Charged repentant Christians to see holy remains and
objects
– Sold church offices to the highest bidder (simony)
– Sold indulgences
How was the power of the papacy
weakened?
1.) Babylonian Captivity (1305-1375)
• Philip IV (France) quarreled with pope over his
power to tax the clergy
• Pope Boniface kidnapped in 1296 and replaced
with French pope, Clement V
• Seven popes ruled the Church from Avignon,
France
• Many Christians thought these popes were only
puppets of the French king
How was the power of the papacy
weakened?
2.)The Great Schism (1378-1417)
• Papacy moved back to Rome in 1376
• French cardinals elected a new pope, Clement VII
• Both Urban VI and Clement VII claimed to be the
rightful pope
• Many Christians questioned the authority of the
papacy
Who were some of the first people to speak
out against Church corruption and
teachings?
John Wycliffe of England
• Thought Christians didn’t need Church or
sacraments to achieve salvation
• Regarded Bible as most important source
of religious authority
• Completed first translation of Bible to
English
• Outcome: the Church persecuted his
followers, the Lollards, as heretics
Who were some of the first people to speak
out against Church corruption and
teachings?
•
•
•
•
Jan Huss of Bohemia
Criticized wealth of Church
Wanted religious services
conducted in the language of the
worshippers
Opposed the sale of indulgences
Outcome: was burned at stake for
refusing to accept importance of
church rituals
In what other ways did people call for
reform?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Catherine of Siena
Popularized mysticism
Believed people could experience
God through intense prayer
Outcome: maintained that Christians
didn’t need priests, rituals, or
sacraments.
Girolamo Savonarola of Florence
Launched crusade against immoral
society
Encouraged book burning
Claimed Vatican was filled with sin
and corruption
Outcome: was burned at stake by
angry citizens of Florence.
Why did Luther question Church practices
and teaching?
• Troubled by idea that
salvation was attainable
through good works
• Interpreted St. Paul to
mean that path to
salvation was by faith
alone
• Believed forgiveness for
sins could come only from
God’s mercy
• Angered by Tezel’s sale
of indulgence
What was his early life like?
• Son of middle-class
German parents
• Studied law
• Became a Catholic
monk
How did his criticisms expand into an
effort to form a new church?
• Wrote 95 Theses to start debate
on Church abuses
• Published books and pamphlets
questioning Church teachings
• Ideas for reform led to a new
church:
– Congregations choose their own
ministers
– Worship of saints and holy days
was considered sinful
– Mass conducted in German instead
of Latin
– Clergy allowed to marry
Why did his reforms create widespread
revolt in Germany?
• Peasants, believing
everyone was equal under
God, revolted against
lords
• Princes, who wanted
freedom from the pope,
seized Church land
• Peace of Augsburg forced
many to move in order to
worship freely
• How did Luther’s ideas reflect Humanism?
• Why did the Catholic Church see Luther as
a threat?
What other groups separated from the
Catholic Church and formed new
religions?
Anabaptists (1525):
• Thought Christians should not be baptized until
adulthood
• Believed true Christians should form a separate
community
• separation of Church and State; were pacifists
(refused to fight in wars).
What other groups separated from the
Catholic Church and formed new
religions?
Anglicans (1534): founded by King Henry VIII of
England
• King Henry enraged by pope’s decision not to
grant him divorce
• Believed the monarch, not the pope, was supreme
religious authority of England
• Broke away, but beliefs were almost the same as
the Catholic Church
What other groups separated from the
Catholic Church and formed new
religions?
Calvinists (1546): founded by John Calvin
• John Calvin was born in France and was only 12
years old when Martin Luther was standing trial and
refusing to recant at the Council of Worms.
• But Calvin heard about the controversy and, even at
12, was intrigued by the excommunicated monk
Luther’s bold defense of himself and his belief in the
Scriptures.
• To stand in a courtroom and defend oneself against
the powerful Church was an enticing scenario to
young Calvin who decides to study law at the
University of Paris
John Calvin
• Believed in predestination (God had
predetermined who would obtain salvation)
• Thought a disciplined, austere life would
prove who had been chosen
• Government should be in the hands of
religious leaders (a theocracy) and society
should be governed by strict laws of
morality.
Why did Protestantism spread beyond
Germany?
• Political leaders look for ways to escape power of
Catholic Church
• People were tired of Church abuses and corruption
• Charismatic individuals questioned Church
teachings and provided leadership
• Rising literacy rate allowed for rapid spread of
new ideas