The Protestant Reformation Of the 16 th Century

Transcription

1 The Protestant Reformation Of the 16 th Century

2 Background Before the Protestant Reformation there was considered to only be one Church, the Catholic Church 1515 Pope Leo X gave indulgence for those who funded the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome Indulgence: an act of kindness or favor that in return one receives a pardon from temporal punishments of sin (less suffering in Purgatory) Problem: Only the rich could afford this indulgence

3 Martin Luther Born in Germany to Catholic Parents in 1483 He became a monk and also a professor at the University of Wittenburg in Saxony October 31, 1517 : 95 Theses

4 Martin Luther 95 Theses Nailed to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg Listed 95 arguments up for debate about Church practices, most importantly the sale of indulgences Luther believed nothing could be done to save us on our own accord

5 Ideas of Luther Martin Luther Purgatory was a false doctrine Salvation was through faith alone The Bible alone should be the final authority for truth The only two Sacraments that were valid were Baptism and the Last Supper because they were the only two with Scriptural support The Eucharist wasn't a transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, rather it is just Christ who is present through it Such Ideas were published into books on printing presses by Luther to get his ideas circling faster

6 Diet of Worms (1521) As ideas of Luther began to circulate Europe in his newly published books and pamphlets, European leaders loyal to the Church and the pope and clergy called together a council to try Luther on the grounds of heresy The pope ordered Luther to renounce his heretical statements, but Luther refused to comply saying to do so would go against his better conscience Luther was forced into hiding by the help of Fredrick the wise

7 John Calvin Born in France to Catholic Parents in 1509 French theologian and pastor Calvin began to doubt his Catholic faith as he began to read the writings of Aristotle, Luther, and Plato

8 John Calvin Calvin began to write down his own ideas Calvin believed Purgatory was a lie created by the Catholic Church to instill fear on the Church during the Middle Ages Calvin believed the Old Testament laws still applied to Christians Calvin believed the Catholic Church was a destructive path and that a reformed Christianity would be the surest path to heaven

9 John Calvin 1533 Calvin is forced to flee Paris, He was threatened by many rulers of Europe and Church leaders to be executed on account of his radical ideas St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre Royal Wedding between Protestant and Catholic Huguenot (Calvinist Frenchmen) attempt the assassinate French King Three Days Later: French King attacks the Huguenots responsible for the attempt but the killing spreads on, killing over 100,000 French men

10 Henry XIII Born in UK as a Catholic in 1492 King of England Asked for an annulment from his wife from the pope due to the fact that his wife couldn't produce an heir to the throne The pope denied his request Henry broke away from the Church

11 Church of England Henry XIII put it into English law that the King was the final authority, not the Pope Edward VI took over Henry's throne after his death in 1547 Edward was a liberal protestant that kept extreme measures to keep Catholicism out of England Banned Catholic practices and rituals Priests were forced to hide out in Catholic homes in secret compartments

12 Conclusion The Protestant Reformation did not do what it was intended to do, to have a single Church reform. Rather, the Reformation caused a schism, a division in the Church. Today, there are over 30,000 denominations of Christianity. We are left with one big problem: Which one is the one Church of Jesus Christ? The One Catholic Church thats held strong to its beliefs for about 2000 years Or any of the other thousand denominations that determine doctrine by personal interpretation