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Unit #1 – Renaissance and Reformation

Lesson #6German Reformation(Early Reformation)

Essential Questions

1. Why did Luther challenge the Church?2. What changes did Luther suggest?3. What level of success did Luther have?

1. Europeans remained religious and pious

2. Many started questioning the Church leadership

• ANTI-CLERICALISM• PLURALISM• ABSENTEEISM• clerical immorality and

ignorance

3. Some called for a reform of the Church doctrine

The Church (1500s)

Clerical Immorality

• Bishops were way too involved with politics• Priests were drunkards, womanizers, gamblers

and solicited prostitutes• Paid no taxes• Paid no duties for land• Some were illiterate in Latin• PLURALISM – holding (paid for) two jobs• ABSENTEEISM – paid, but not there• SIMONY – collecting for false relics

Questions to Ponder

• What should the Church do?• What sort of leader could make the change?• How did Luther fit in?

1. Started as a law student – caught in a storm

2. Swore his life to service to God – a Monk3. Read the Bible and Church teachings4. Studied – got a Doctorate in

Scholasticism and Divinity5. Discovered inconsistencies6. Was unable to find the

immoral/uneducated Church leaders to be of any help

7. Finally, found Bible verses that taught him to surrender directly to God – not to an immoral Church leader

Martin Luther

Click - basics

Reaction:

• Some called for change• Some called for a major overhaul• Some called for a new type of Christianity

based on NOT following the corrupt leadership• Gave birth to the PROTESTANT movement• Started the REFORMation era

Justification by Faith Alone• Luther found that writings outside

scripture were contradictory• He found scripture taught that you are

“saved” by simply choosing to believe that Jesus died to take your sin for you

• He said you needed nothing more to be “saved”

• He called that JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE

• Became and instructor and preacher

Click – teaching

Ninety Five Theses

• Pope encouraged more selling of indulgences

• Johanne Tetzel – expert• Luther wrote to Albert of Mainz (1517)• Indulgences undermined the

seriousness of penance and piety• Oct (1517) – lore – • Door of Wittenberg Cathedral

Click

Location and Technology

• Era of Printing Press• Luther became and overnight sensation• Debated with Dr. Johanne Eck (1519)• Charles V had (Charles I of Spain) had just

become HRE• Electors resented his power• Electors saw Luther as their key to challenging

authority

Diet of Worms• Young (new) Charles V – schemed to shut up

Luther• Frederick of Saxony swore to protect Luther• Luther wrote books on new ideas

– Disputed Papal Infallibility– Clergy not having special powers– Clergy need not be celibate

• Summoned to Worms to recant• “I cannot and will not recant. Here I stand. I

can do no other”

Click – Diet of Worms

1. Edict of Worms – capture Luther2. The “church” is now… Priesthood of all

believers3. CONSTUBSTANCIATION4. ANABAPTISM ( a fringe idea)5. Free Will (Calvinism)

Protestant Thought

1. Appeals to Humanists2. Appeals to politicians3. FREDERICK OF SAXONY4. Appeals to rebels -

Peasants Rebellion

The Appeal of Protestant Ideas

Click - Luther rap

Slow Break1517 – Ninety Five Theses

1519 – Public debate with John Eck

1520 – faith alone, priesthood of all believers

Luther’s teachings are banned

1521 - Diet of WormsFrederick the Wise (Elector of Saxony) – captured LutherLuther translates the Bible into “vernacular”

1522 – 1523 – Knight’s War (anti-Catholic poor barons) – look this one up…

1524 – 1525 – Peasant’s Rebellion (significance!)

1526 – 2nd Diet of Speyer “Protestantism” – look this up to see significance

1531 – Schmalkalden League & wars with Habsburgs

1555 – Peace of Augsburg –

Why was Luther successful?• Preoccupation of Charles V with foreign wars• Support of folks like Frederick of Saxony• Perceived corruption in the Church• Influence of the Fuggers• Distant and “cold” relationship of common

man and Church• Disgust with the Church officials and laws• Impact of new technology, and of new ideas• Impact of previous new ideas

Why Was Luther Successful?

Political/Military

German Princes(Frederick of Saxony)Anti-Italian feelings(invasion of Italy)Wars of Charles VSchmalkalden League

Economic/Socialchurch land & Church taxespeasant unrestindulgences

Cultural/Intellectual

printing pressuse of vernacularChurch scandalsChristian Humanists

Luther the man: courage & conviction