1) Which religion has the largest followers? a) Islam or b) Christianity

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2 1) Which religion has the largest followers? a) Islam or b) Christianity

3 2) Which country has most Christians? a) USA or b) Mexico

4 3) Which denomination of Christians is the largest based on followers? a) Catholics or b) Protestants

5 4) According to the Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary, how many Bibles are distributed globally per year? a) 35 million or b) 78 million

6 5) According to a Stats Can survey in 2001, how many Canadians are consider themselves Christians? a) 35 % or b) 77 %

7 The Reformation was an intellectual movement with religion as its focus. It was a revolution as it upended churches, drove states to riot, civil strife and international war. It started in 1517 and it quieted down by 1650 when more of the religious wars ended.

8 What factors led to the eventual challenge to the Papacy in Rome? Martin Luther and the decision made by Pope Leo X to sell indulgences arguably ignited the Reformation movement.

9 Martin Luther was not the sole reason for the Reformation. By 1500, the Catholic Church had become similar to a modern state. Popes had an army, governors, tax men, courts, custom services and grain reserves. Like any king, the Pope had tremendous influence and wealth to use to reward those that followed him.

10 The roots of the Reformation began with the European sentiment of anticlericalism and spiritual experiences. Europeans often blamed the clergy of idleness, wealth, self-indulgence in food and sex, etc. The 15 th century witnessed educated Europeans and clerics stress the importance of spiritual experiences through meditation, understanding and feeling as opposed to ceremonies and practices.

11 Desiderius Erasmus was one of the those that rejected pilgrimages, vows to saints, and said the focus should be on an informed reading of the Bible. Erasmus believed that religion focused on the individual experience and overlooked the collective uses of cult celebration and community. His faith was all salvation and no providence.

12 Without the conditions of the times, Martin Luther would never have broken the Church of Rome. Without Luther, another could easily have sparked the Reformation. Nevertheless, Luther himself was an imposing figure energetic and eloquent and it was he who started the fire.

13 Martin Luther (born Martin Luder) was born on Nov.10, Luther's father, a farmer's son, moved from Eisleben to Mansfeld shortly after Luther's birth in 1484 to better the family's financial situation by mining copper. He was successful and already in 1491 the Luder's were one of the most respected families in Mansfeld. Luther's mother, Margarete, had many children to look after and was a harsh disciplinarian. Martin attended the Latin school (Lateinschule) in Mansfeld where barbaric teaching methods of the Middle Ages still reigned. Luther had been described as a quiet, reserved yet talented student who was intimidated by the strict order..

14 Financially it was possible for the Luther's to send their son Martin to the university in Erfurt in Hans Luther, Martin's father, hoped to help his son by sending him to law school so he could later be a lawyer and have a secure future. During Luther's time, before one could study a specific field (Law, Medicine, Theology), you had to learn the 7 Liberal Arts. Luther did this, received his Baccalaureat (the first level at the university) in 1502 and then received his Master's degree in 1505.

15 Luther, as the legend goes, swore to become a monk on July 2, 1505 while he was caught in a terrible storm. He did not change his mind when his friends and father tried to convince the successful student to continue his law studies. He entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt in 1505 and took his monk's vow in The life of a monk during Luther's time was hard, and consisted of fasting, prayer and work. A monk's day began at 3 am with the first hourly prayers.

16 This time molded Luther, above all he found a close relationship to the Bible which characterized his later life and work. In 1507, Luther was ordained as a priest in Erfurt and started studying Theology at the University of Erfurt. During his studies, he came into contact with the ideas of the Humanists and embraced their slogan 'Ad Fontes!' - Back to the Source! For Luther this meant the study of the Bible in its original Hebrew and Greek (Bible humanism).

17 After receiving his doctorate in Theology in 1512, Luther took a position as Theology Professor at the Wittenberg University. He gave lectures over the Psalms ( ), Letter to the Romans ( ), Letter to the Galatians ( ), and Letter to the Hebrews ( ).

18 His decisive religious enlightenment is said to have come during his intensive study of the Letter to the Romans during which time he realized that people receive justice through the grace of God, not through good works: "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "The one who is righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:17) It was not the outward actions, but the inward spirit that brought salvation.

19 Luther himself stated that he came to this decisive realization in the study room of the Wittenberg monastery. When this actually happened is disputed; it is also known as the Tower experience. A circle of theologians began to form around Luther, among them Niklaus von Amsdorf and Karlstadt (Andreas Bodenstein) and in 1514, Luther became priest for Wittenberg's City Church.

20 From 1514, Luther was also responsible for the salvation of his parish. Luther observed that many people in Wittenberg were not coming to him for confession any more. They were going to towns in Brandenburg or Anhalt like Jüterbog or Zerbst to buy Indulgences (primarily the Peter's Indulgence).

21 Indulgences had begun as a donation to underwrite 13 th century crusades. He who could not go with the crusaders, could still find their grace through money. Purchase an indulgence and tap that store for yourself or another beneficiary of your choice. This would help a Christian avoid days and years in purgatory.

22 Pope Leo X launched the sale of indulgences to help fund the new Saint Peter s Cathedral and defray political expenses.

23 After 1507, trade in indulgences took a steep climb because both the Papal Court and Bishop Albrecht von Brandenburg Germany's representative for the sale of indulgence were in great financial trouble.

24 The Dominican monk, Johann Tetzel, sold indulgences in the region around Wittenberg in a very ostentatious manner. Many stories started popping up about him such as, that Tetzel could redeem the sins of the deceased.

25 Further sayings of Tetzel, such as, "When the money clangs in the box, the souls spring up to heaven", also brought protests from Luther.

26 To Luther, indulgences were neither biblical, nor efficacious They were works, not faith. The practice of buying indulgences, which quasi replaced confession and allowed people to buy their salvation, was completely repulsive to Luther. He strongly believed that one lived a life of humility in order to receive God's grace.

27 Luther had preached against the indulgence trade. After reading an instruction manual for indulgence traders, he wrote a letter to his church superiors hoping to get rid of this abuse.

28 In this letter he included 95 Theses which were to be used as the basis for a discussion on the topic. That Luther hammered his theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg is a great legend.

29 Luther sent his 95 Theses to a few bishops and some friends; therefore he did not expect or receive a prompt response. By the end of 1517, however, copies of the 95 Theses had been printed in Leipzig, Nuremberg and Basel. Some humanists and princes passionately approved of the theses, but parts of the Roman Church completely rejected them.

30 At first the bishops reacted mildly, they informed the Pope of the 'rebel within the ranks' and instructed Luther's direct superior to take a moderate roll in calming him. In 1518, Luther himself said that he only wanted to take care of an abuse (indulgence) and was not striving to unhinge the papacy with his theses. The Papal Court reacted drastically to the alleged heretic and in 1518 an inquisition was begun in Rome.

31 By June 1920, the Pope issued a bull (papal order), excommunicating Luther if he would not submit. Luther, who through the church's excommunication, was practically declared a heretic (heresies unorthodox beliefs).

32 In December, surrounded by friends and supporters, Luther burned the bull.

33 Eager to keep the peace, Luther was summoned to the assembly (diet) of the German Empire by the Emperor who had been pressured by a few princes. Both the church and Emperor wanted Luther to recant his teachings while he was there. The princes who supported Luther hoped that through the forthcoming events the political power of Rome over Germany would be weakened.

34 Luther's powerful sovereign, Elector Friedrich the Wise of Saxon demanded that Luther not be outlawed and imprisoned without a hearing. Luther began his trip to Diet of Worms (pronounced Vorms) on April 2, The journey to the Imperial Diet did not embody the repentance the church had hoped for. The journey to Worms was more like a victory march; Luther was welcomed enthusiastically in all of the towns he went through. He preached in Erfurt, Gotha and Eisenach. He arrived in Worms on April 16 and was also cheered and welcomed by the people.

35 He had to appear before the Emperor twice; each time he was clearly told to take back his teachings. Luther didn't see any proof against his theses or views which would move him to recant: "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." The infamous saying "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise." does not come from Luther.

36 After he left the negotiations room, he said "I am finished." And he was for the time finished; Luther was dismissed, and not arrested because he had a letter of safe conduct (Schutzbrief) which guaranteed him 21 days of safe travel through the land. He headed home on April 25. When Luther and the princes who supported him left Worms, the emperor imposed an Imperial Act (Wormser Edikt): Luther is declared an outlaw (he may be killed by anyone without threat of punishment).

37 On the trip home, Elector (Prince) Friedrich the Wise (of Saxony) allowed Luther to be kidnapped on May 4 (Luther knew about it beforehand).

38 This took place on the one hand to guarantee Luther's safety and on the other hand to let him disappear from the scene for a short while; there were even rumors of Luther's death.

39 This action also helped the Elector not to endanger himself because he could have been held liable for protecting an outlaw and heretic.

40 Luther translated the New Testament from its original Greek into German within eleven weeks. The "September Testament" was tremendously popular in Protestant areas and as a result made a large contribution to the development of a standardized written German-language.

41 In 1522, Luther returned to Wittenberg In the years that followed, Luther concentrated on spreading his beliefs through writings and sermons. In the work Of the Worldly Authorities, and How Much Obedience one owes Them, Luther formulated the basis for his political ethics. From Luther's preaching duties receive priority; he went on preaching trips throughout central Germany. In his work "To the Councilmen of all Cities within German Territories; Christian Schools Ought to be Kept Up" Luther stated that authorities are obligated to guarantee a good education for the youth.

42 Luther s assault on tradition and on ecclesiastical authority inspired rebellion against Lords and heavy feudal obligations. Peasants and their urban allies rioted, looted and murdered Thomas Münzer, priest and former follower of Luther became a leader of peasant uprisings in Central Germany in 1525 which had already flared up in southwest Germany in 1524.

43 The peasants, who called on the power of Luther's teachings, demanded more just (economical) conditions, even if that meant the downfall of the authorities. At Weinsberg, the peasants overwhelmed the castle, and slaughtered the aristocratic landlords.

44 In his sermons, which he also held in the areas of unrest, Luther stood firm against using force; he only received refusals from the peasants who had hoped for his support. Luther nevertheless encouraged them to free themselves from the spiritual despotism of the authorities not from their economic or political influence.

45 The upper classes, both Catholic and Lutheran, gathered forces and defeated the rebel forces and putting their leaders to death. The peasants were defeated on May 15 at the Battle of Frankenhausen. The burning of Little Jack (Jacklein) Rohrbach, a leader of the peasants during the war.

46 Luther's attitude towards the insurgent peasants and his compromises with sovereigns caused him to be accused by all sides. Luther had fought with the Dutch humanist Erasmus von Rotterdamm which caused lots of stress to the reformation and ended in a split among humanists who had previously welcomed Luther's reforms. Luther had disagreements with many over issues like the role of communion in mass, etc..

47 What Luther started was more than anyone else could control. His basic beliefs in sola fide (by faith alone) and sola scriptura (by scripture alone) was the beginning of not a single form of Protestantism but a number of new styles of faith The Lutheran model of Protestantism took hold in Germany and Scandinavia and its churches were protected by local rulers. Princes in Germany did their best to accumulate the riches of the church which tied them even more with this new religious order.

48 In Geneva, Jean Calvin ( ) founded the Calvinist Churches which took hold in Scotland and the Netherlands. They put colonies in Poland, Hungary, South Africa and New England.

49 In Canada, today, Presbyterians and the United Church have Calvinist roots. Calvinist Churches were less hierarchic than Lutheran ones as the congregation ran itself. A council of elders governed it and sitting as a morals court, tried to force the majority to behave as if they were not. Some people referred to Calvinists as Puritans. Calvinist ideology believed that if works were nothing, all is in the hands of God. We are thus predestined, from the moment of God s creation, to heaven or hell. But God s ways are secret; try for faith. If it comes, it is a sign; you are of the elect. And be good, very, very good.

50 Past Geneva, came the gathered churches. This Pentecostal gathering had little hierarchy, few ceremonies, much trust in mutual love, and little care for sacraments except baptism for adults. Since they refuse to baptize ignorant babies, their detractors nicknamed them Anabaptists (rebapitizers). Some of these churches like the Mennonites, Baptists, Quakers, fled to distant regions since they were generally not protected by local rulers. Some of these groups survived like the Hutterites of Canada and Mennonites and Quakers of North America.