HI266: Deviance and Nonconformity
Naomi Pullin 02/14
The Reformations and Deviance
1. Understanding the Reformation
 ‘Ecclesia semper reformanda est’: The church is always reforming
 Comparisons can be made with Church of Middle Ages > Innocent III’s reforms from 1198;
and Fourth Lateran Council (1214), which lead to the persecution of ‘heretics’ like Cathars,
Waldensians, Jews, Muslims.
 Reformation not a specific event that can be given a precise date: long and complex process.
 Reformation has roots in Christian Humanist tradition: thinkers like Erasmus and Thomas
More want to restore original, classic texts, and to study Bible to better understand God.
 Martin Luther: nails Ninety-Five Theses to door of Wittenberg Cathedral on 31 October 1517.
Key ideas:
-
soladfidianism – salvation by faith alone
rejection of papal power
reduces number of sacraments from seven to two (Baptism and the Eucharist)
redefines Eucharist and rejects notion of ‘transubstantiation’ (transformation of
bread and wine)
rejects purgatory
rejects clerical celibacy and advocates abolition of monasteries.
2. Consequences of the Reformation
 A divided Europe: Thirty Years War (1618-1648): fought across Europe in Holy
Roman Empire, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Poland. Catholic-Protestant antagonism
between the states remained the basic determinant in the conflict.
 England: Henry VIII declares himself ‘Supreme Head’ of Church in 1529; Mary I
restores Catholicism to England in 1553; Elizabeth I restores Protestantism in 1558.
- Foxes, Actes and Monuments / Book of Martyrs (1563) – describes punishments
and sufferings of Protestant martyrs during Mary I’s and Henry VIII’s reigns;
Anne Askew burnt at stake in 1546.
- Margaret Clitherow – Catholic martyr – crushed to death in 1586.
 France: French Wars of Religion (1562-1598) between Catholics and French
Protestants/Calvinists (Huguenots’).
- Huguenots murdered during St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre 23-24 August
1572.
- Edict of Nantes 1598 creates civil unity and grants Huguenots rights.
3. The Radical Reformers
 Theology of Reformation facilitates ‘multi-confessional society’ – gives rise to new
reformers with own views on key to salvation.
 Münster Rebellion (1534-6): group of Anabaptists take over town council in German
town of Münster to established New Jerusalem on Earth
- Initially led by Jan Matisse, a charismatic preacher believes world will end in
April 1534
- Jan of Lieden takes over late 1534 – tyrant that introduces polygamy
- Catholics and Protestants unite to restore power to city
 English radicals emerge during 1640s/1650s: includes Levellers, Seekers, Ranters,
Diggers, Adamites, Quakers, Brownists, Muggletonians, Fifth Monarchists.
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HI266: Deviance and Nonconformity
Naomi Pullin 02/14
 Thomas Edwards, Gangraena (1646): uses Münster as a warning against permitting
religious toleration; uncovers ‘Errors, Heresies and Blasphemies’ of the sects.
 Ranters: a radical Protestant sect led by Abiezer Coppe and Lawrence Clarkson; emerges
1649-1651:
- Christ within more important than historical Christ
- didn’t need outward help to assist salvation
- believed that all actions – good or sinful– determined by God’s will
- The Ranters Monster (1652): tells story of deformed child of Mary Adams, who claims
that she was to give birth to the true Messiah.
 Quakers: a radical Protestant sect led by George Fox; emerges early 1650s:
- doctrine of the ‘Light Within’ open to all
- reject social hierarchy and paid ‘hireling’ preaching
- James Nayler enters Bristol on a donkey in 1656; arrested for blasphemy, whipped, and
branded.
- Joseph Besse’s A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers (1753) lists the
names of over 12,000 Quaker sufferers.
- Permit women to preach and minister – first group to allow this.
4. Atheism and Deism
 Lucien Febvre’s The Problem of Unbelief in the Sixteenth Century: The Religion of Rabelais
(1942) – key text for initiating this debate.
 Francois Rabelais (1494-1553): regarded as an atheist and criticised as an unbeliever; part of
Christian humanist school.
 Etienne Dolet (1509-1546): printer accused of atheism and tried and burned at stake.
 Articulate irreligion and intellectually sophisticated reasoning against existence of God
emerged with Enlightenment in the late-17th century.
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