The Protestant Reformation
Pope Oberholtzer
The Ultimate Authority
K-212
The Protestant Reformation
 The 16th century Protestant Reformation was a logical
outgrowth of the humanism, intellectualism and
empowerment of the individual that came out of the
Renaissance
 Church corruption, arrogance of power by Popes and
inconsistent teachings created a firestorm of anger at
the church that turned the population of Europe against
the institution that dominated the prior Middle Ages.
 There was also a desire for a more perfect communion
with God, a more perfect spirituality that would help
heal Europeans after the wars, famines and plagues of
the calamitous 14th and 15th centuries.
 New technologies, particularly the invention of the
moveable type printing press enlarged the scope of
literacy and spread new ideas to more people than ever
before. The call for change came not only from the
intellectuals, but from the people themselves.
 Humanism was the intellectual schema that provided
the framework for the eventual split in Christanity and
the reformation movements that resulted from the
schism in the faith
Reformation Revolution
 Revolution in Religious
Thought & Practice
 Challenged established
authority & secured triumph of
secular power
 Shaped identities & changed
map of Europe
 Contributed to centuries of
violent conflict
Contributed to ascendancy of
individualism
Led to development of modern
democracy!
Catholic Church in Distress
Papal conflict with kings—who is
superior? Popes claim the right to
crown kings.
Great Schism: Avignon & Rome are
rival papal capitals for 70 years.
Disorder in the church.
Church Practices:
Indulgences—sale of forgiveness of sins.
Simony—sale of church offices
Landholding—church largest landowner
& biggest landlord; ruinous rents!
Fees & taxes crush the people!
Corruption was rampant!
Calls for Reform
 John Wycliffe (1320-1384) English
theologian attacked the interference in
temporal affairs—Popes, Bishops & Cardinals
too worldly; should live like Christ! Clergy
were living like royalty!
 John Huss (1369-1415) Czech theologian
who demanded that the church confine itself
to spiritual matters. Echoed Wycliffe in
criticism of church.
 Both men claimed the Bible as the sole
authority for Christians as the word of God,
using vernacular language in worship
services so people could understand the
proceedings. Wycliffe in particular denied the
validity of transubstantiation
 The followers of Wycliffe and Huss continued
to cause problems for the Church and the
number of Europeans questioning and
challenging the Church continued to grow.
Desiderius Erasmus
 Erasmus (1466-1536) was a Christian
Humanist who tried to blend the faith
and humanist values.
 Erasmus taught that superstition was
bad and that reasoned enlightenment
should prevail along with the tenets of
Christian faith.
 Salvation is based on deeds of love and
imitating Christ.
 Wrote the book “In Praise of Folly”
criticizing the church and church officials
for not understanding the true purpose
of Christian life, the imitation of the
example of Christ.
 Erasmus called for reform, but not a split
with the church.
 Erasmus was one of the great Christian
Humanists of the period and the Father
of Northern European Christian
Humanism.
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
 Martin Luther (1483-1546) was the Father of
the Protestant Reformation.
 well educated, originally in law, later in
scriptural theology at University of Wittenburg.
 Luther sought security and a clear path in life.
He turned to the priesthood after a near death
experience in an electrical storm. He became
obsessed with salvation and how to attain it.
 became a monk in an Augustinian order and
eventually became a professor of scriptural
theology in 1512 at the University of Wittenberg
 Luther was bothered by church practices that
diminished its moral authority (indulgences,
simony, political and civil interference,
corruption). The Church should model Christ!
Ideas of Martin Luther
 Studied letters of Paul to discover the source of
salvation
 Salvation between God and man is through
faith only; there is no need for an intermediary
like the church
 No need for formal church and sacraments
 Believers can pray directly to God and have a
personal relationship with God
 The Bible, as the word of God, is the
ultimate authority, not the church!
 Only God can forgive sins: indulgences are
immoral, illegal and improper!
 Pope is not infallible, nor are clergy morally
superior to lay people. The Church is to serve
man, not man to serve the church!
 Faith is the key to salvation and the religious
life! You are saved through your faith alone!
The Events leading to Split
Johannes Tetzel was a monk
who sold indulgences that were
used to build St. Peter’s
Cathedral in Rome
Tetzel used fear and pressure to
frighten people into buying the
release of their loved ones from
purgatory.
Tetzel came to Wittenburg and
came into contact with Luther.
Luther was disgusted by his
tactics and motivated to act in
order to stop it.
95 Theses—Results in Split!
 October 31, 1517- Luther posted his
95 Theses to the door of the church at
Wittenberg containing his differences
with the Catholic Church
issued a call for debate, not a split; Luther
wanted to reform the church, not destroy
it!
expressed the need for reform of church
practices
attacked the sale of indulgences directly
attacked simony, corruption and
worldliness of the church
 Luther’s words are translated from Latin
to German and spread throughout Europe;
creates a firestorm of protest against the
Church
Results of Luther’s Protest
 Diet of Worms (1521) was a religious council
assemblage that found Luther to be teaching
contrary and heretical ideas—Pope Leo X
demanded Luther recant 41 of his 95 theses
ouotright. The call for dialogue was rejected!
 Edict of Worms (1521) Luther is declared an
outlaw and heretic by Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V. Luther could be killed by anyone
without legal penalty. Luther was under the
protection of Frederick the Elector of Saxony.
 Peace of Augsberg (1555), an agreement
that allowed the German states to decide
who they wanted to follow
 Protestantism dominates Northern Europe
with help from German nobility and the
printing press
 Lutheran church is founded, the first
protestant denomination
 Luther is excommunicated!
Martin Luther’s Achievements
 Martin Luther and his calls for reform
ultimately split the Christian church, a split
which has lasted until today.
 Luther did not support the Peasant’s Revolt
(1524-25) and supported the nobles against
them. He was not a revolutionary, nor did
he favor social unrest.
 Luther wrote hymns and devotional pieces,
many of which were published.
 Luther translated the Bible into German.
 Luther also espoused anti-Semitic views that
form the intellectual basis for modern antiSemitism.
 Luther helped to transform Europe and
changed the course of human history:
secularism and democracy flourished!
Martin Luther’s Achievements 2
 Luther taught Clergy were not
superior to lay people
 Luther Denied existence of
purgatory
 Reduced 7 sacraments to 2:
baptism and communion
 Called for the closure of
monasteries
 Bible is the sole authority, not the
pope, church or religious dogma.
 A personal relationship with God is
possible; empowers the individual
and emasculates the church!
Martin Luther’s Movement is a Political as
well as Religious Movement!
 There was no united Germany. There were hundreds of small
German states.
 Local German Princes were autonomous. They backed Luther in order to
free themselves from obligations to Rome and the Catholic Church, to
assert their own autonomy!
 Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, protected Luther and became one of the
early supporters of Lutheranism.
 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, wanted to keep his lands
Catholic. He faced considerable problems:

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Turks invading to the east
Rivalry with the King of France, Francis I
Ongoing argument with the Pope
Religious wars lasting 20 years
 Peace of Augsberg (1555) allowed the German states to
choose who they would follow. Northern German (and
northern Europe) went Protestant. Southern Germany (and
southern Europe) remained Catholic, a split that has endured
to the present.
Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)
 The Zwinglian Reformation
Ulrich Zwingli was an influential priest in Zurich
Enacted in Swiss city of Zurich
All idols, paintings, decorations were removed
Scripture reading, prayer and sermon replaced the
Roman Ritual (Catholic Mass)
Relics and images were abolished and forbidden.
 Death of Ulrich Zwingli (1531)
War broke out between Catholic and Protestant states
in Switzerland.
Zwingli was wounded, executed by his enemies and
his body was rendered and burned.
Leadership of Protestantism in Switzerland went to
John Calvin
John Calvin will have a major impact on the evolution
of Protestantism.
Religious Wars: Split in Christianity!
John Calvin (1509-1564)
 Predestination--all humanity is too sinful to be
worthy, yet God saves a select few while damning
the rest. People who are saved are called The
Elect of God.
 Purpose in life was to honor God, not to seek
salvation for self! Work hard, pray and be devout.
 Salvation comes from God alone. Honoring God by
living a virtuous life. That means work, religious
devotion and seriousness of purpose. No
gambling, prostitution, dancing, frivolous
behavior, licentiousness
 Calvinism formed the basis of Puritanism
and the inspiration for Protestant sects
known for asceticism like the Amish,
Mennonites and Shakers
Anabaptists
Made up of poor, urban people
distrustful of the church
Follow the Bible literally
Baptism for adults, not children
Took no oaths, fought in no
wars, were pacifists, refused to
perform public services,
antisocial behavior
Were widely persecuted! Many
emigrated to the New World.
Henry VIII and English
Protestantism: Rise of Anglicanism
 Henry VIII had 6 wives, all in the quest
for a male heir.
 The Pope refused to grant him a divorce
from his first wife so he could marry
Anne Boleyn. Thomas More, his
councilor, lost his head over his support
of the Pope on this issue.
 Henry decided to break with the Church
and simply take over church property in
England.
 Act of Supremacy (1534) made Henry
the head of the Church of England.
 The King of England is the head of the
Church of England (Anglican Church)
and the Archbishop of Canterbury is the
administrative leader of the Church.
 Settles the dispute; kings are more
powerful and above the Popes! Church
will lose authority permanently as a
result of this precedent!
Counter Reformation
Promoted by Erasmus as a way to stop the split
in Christianity. He wanted to heal the church.
Reforms by the Catholic Church included many
that Luther had called for!
Council of Trent (1545-1563) called by Pope
Paul III led to reforms:
ended Simony and indulgences; cleaned up
corruption in the church.
created the Jesuits to guard the faith
allowed for further reforms to compete with the
Protestants! But it was all too late!
Effects of the Reformation
 Spread of Democratic Ideas, especially in Northern
Europe and North America
 Spread of Representative government and a
secular society as a consequence!
 Spread of education, humanist ideals and
individualism, even in religious practice!
 Magnified importance of lay people in the church
and championed the power of the individual in
society
 Importance of work, thrift and profits led to a
strong, vital middle class; basis of strong economic
habits that built the prosperity of the early United
States of America! Protestant Work Ethic!