The Protestant Reformation (1450-1565)
Key Concepts End of Religious Unity and Universality in the West Attack on the medieval church its institutions, doctrine, practices and personnel Not the first attempt at reform, but very unique Word Protestant is first used for dissenting German princes who met at the Diet of Speyer in 1529 A convergence of unique circumstances
The Church s Problems Simony = Sale of Church offices (1487 Pope sold 24 offices) Unqualified bishops Pluralism = officials hold more than one office Absenteeism = officials paid even though they don t participate in their parishes Indulgences = paying money to absolve sins John Tetzel (agent of Leo X attempting to build St. Peters)
The Church s Problems The corruption of the Renaissance Papacy Neopotism = favoring family members in the appointment of Church offices Rodrigo Borgia (Alexander VI) Corruption of clergy Sexual activity Clerical ignorance = many priests were illiterate
Cultural Causes Better educated, urban populace was more critical of the Church than rural peasantry Renaissance monarchs were growing impatient with the power of the Church Society was more humanistic and secular Growing individualism --John Wyclif
Cultural Causes Printing Press Invention of movable type was invented in 1450 by Johann Gutenberg Manufacture of paper becomes easier and cheaper Helped spread ideas before Catholics could squash them Intensified intellectual criticism of the Church Protestant ideals appealed to the urban and the literate
Political Causes Holy Roman Empire Decentralized politics Pope successfully challenged the monarch here New HRE, Charles V, is young, politically insecure and attempting to govern a huge realm during the critical years of Luther s protest Charles V faced outside attacks from France and the Turks Circumstances favor Luther
Spiritual Causes Growing piety, mysticism and religious zeal among European masses Dutch Christian humanist Erasmus inadvertently undermines the Church from within --In Praise of Folly (1510) Call for a translation of the New Testament into Greek Call for a return to the simplicity of the early Church Millenarian fever
Protestantism in Germany (Northern) Luther troubled by the sale of indulgences Dominican friar Tetzel was selling indulgences in Wittenberg in 1517 Luther posts his 95 theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517 Luther defies the Pope by refusing to stop his crusade against indulgences
Protestantism in Germany (Northern) Leipzig Debate (1520) Vs. Johann Eck (Catholic theologian) Denies papal & counciliar infallibility Defends John Hus Publishes ideas (1520) Salvation can be achieved through faith alone Bible as Sole Authority Baptism and Communion are the only sacraments Luther excommunicated (1520)
Prostestanism in Germany (Northern) Diet of Worms (1521) Tribunal of HRE Charles V had promised no excommunications without a fair trial Luther refuses to recant and is outlawed at a heretic Luther kidnapped by Frederick III and kept safe Confessions of Augsburg (1530)
Protestantism in Germany (Munster) Anabaptists (1525) John Leyden Voluntary association of believers with no association to state Adult baptism Millenarians Polygamy Women were allowed leadership roles Tragedy of Munster (1534) All books except Bible burned Combined Protestant & Catholic armies capture the city Leaders executed Impact Mennonites = Dutch pacificsts Quakers Unitarians (rejection of Trinity)
Protestantism in Switzerland (Zurich) Ulrich Zwingli Student of Erasmus Eucharist as symbolic First doctrinal dispute among Protestants Zwingli also opposed purgatory, clerical celibacy, intercession of the saints, and salvation by works Colloquy of Marburg (1529) Official split with Lutheranism over state of Eucharist The death of Zwingli
Protestantism in Switzerland (Geneva) John Calvin s theocracy in Geneva (1541-1564) Geneva became the model Protestant training center Consistory = judiciary body punishing those who don t follow God s law Drinking; secular singing; dancing; usury; gambling Michael Servetus (Spanish unitarian) burned at the stake for denying the Trinity Institutes on the Christian Religion (1536) Predestination = Good works don t buy salvation but are a sign you have been chosen for salvation Conversion experiences = elect Hard work & financial success = God s favor
Spread of Calvinism Greater impact on future generations than Lutheranism Presbyterianism (Scotland) Huguenots (France) Dutch Reformed Church (Netherlands) Set the stage for revolt against the Inquisition of Philip II of Span Puritans (England) Established New England colonies in America Victorious in the English Civil War (1642-9)
Protestantism in England Recent War of the Roses created a sense of political instability for the Tudor dynasty Henry VIII needs a male heir Henry VIII seeks an annulment from Catherine of Aragon Refused by Pope Henry creates the Church of England and establishes his own supremacy over it
Protestantism in England Cardinal Wolsey = failed to get a papal annulment for Henry Thomas Cranmer = replaced Wolsey Convinced Henry to break from Rome Act of Supremacy Catholic lands seized (25% of English land) Monasteries shut down Act of Succession (1534) Thomas More executed Pilgrimage of Grace (1536) Multi-class rebellion against Henry VIII
Protestantism in England At first a Political Reformation Henry very conservative Statue of the Six Articles = Anglican church maintains most Catholic doctrines and sacraments Henry goes through 6 wives in his search for an heir
Counter-Reformation Pope Paul III (1534-49) Improve the existing church through discipline Council of Trent (1545-1563) Equal validity of Scripture, Church traditions, & writings of Church fathers Salvation by good works AND faith Reaffirms all 7 sacraments Monasticism; celibacy of clergy; purgatory Index of Forbidden Books Anything that supports Protestantism or was overly critical of the Church banned from Catholic countries New discipline over controversial practices Indulgences; simony; education of clergy
Counter-Reformation The Society of Jesus (1540) (Jesuits) Ignatius Loyola, Spiritual Exercises Goals: Reform Church through education Spread Gospel to pagans Fight Protestantism The Inquisition (Spain & Italy) Spain = persecution of Christian Moors and Jews suspected of practicing their original faith Italy = Pope Paul IV accuses Jews of killing Christ & has them confined to ghettos Enforces Index of Forbidden Books Ursuline order of Nuns (1544) Christian educators
Results of the Reformation Germany was politically weakened and fragmented Christian Church was splintered in the West 100 Years of Religious Warfare Right of Rebellion introduced by both Jesuits and Calvinists Furthered societal individualism and secularism Growing doubt and religious skepticism in many places Pope s power increased Abuses in Catholic Church remedied Religious enthusiasm rekindled
Social Impact of Revolution Women Luther = women should be in the home Calvin = subjugation of women to preserve moral order Catholic = religious orders provide opportunity Angela Merici (Ursuline Order) impacts education of girls throughout Europe & the New World Teresa of Avila (Spanish) promoted direct conversation with God (no need for priests) Marriage Protestants = more control over marriage Suppressed Common Law marriages sanctioned by Catholic Church Love companiounate relationships; sex for enjoyment not just procreation Literacy = use of vernacular improves literacy rates for men & women