The Protestant Reformation1517-1648

The Protestant Reformation Caused by a questioning (protest) of the Church in

Northern Europe

i. The selling of indulgences

a. $$$ for pardoning of sins

Purgatory

during the crusades,

Pope Urban

promised

indulgences for

people who took the

cross to fight

Martin Luther Credited with beginning the

Reformation

German monk upset with the

selling of indulgences

Came up with a list of 95

arguments against indulgences –

known as 95 Theses

95 Theses Nailed them to a church door in

Wittenberg, Germany on October 31,

1517 (legend says so anyhow…)

Spark of The Reformation

They argued against Church abuses,

but focused on the indulgences

95 Theses Main ideas of the 95 Theses:

1. Faith alone will get you to

Heaven

2. No indulgences

3. People can read and interpret

the Bible themselves

4. Only two true sacraments

a. Baptism

b. Marriage

95 Theses Pope Leo X excommunicated

Luther from the Roman

Catholic Church for his writings

Followers of Luther became

known as Lutherans

First Protestant sect (branch)

Luther continued to criticize the

Church until his death in 1546

Versus

Division of Christianity

John Calvin

A priest from France who used

Luther’s example to question

the Church

Forced to flee France and set up

a theocracy in Geneva,

Switzerland

Followers became known as

Calvinists

John Calvin

Calvinism was rooted in the

belief of predestination

i. People are divided into Sinners

and Saints at birth

a. Saints = Heaven

b. Sinners = Hell

ii. How you live your life

determined which one you were

destined for

Calvinism vs Lutheranism

Calvinism Lutheranism

Salvation is granted to only chosen ones Anyone can receive Salvation if they have Faith

The only religious authority is the Bible There are “representatives” that have the authority

The blood and the body of Jesus Christ have only

spiritual presence in Eucharist (bread and wine)

The blood and the body of Jesus Christ have actual

physical presence in Eucharist (bread and wine)

Sovereignty of God is important Sovereignty of God is not of utmost importance

Concept of Predestination is important Predestination is not important

The Printing Press

First used by Johann Gutenburg

in 1456 – Germany

First book was a Bible

Used moveable type

The Printing Press

Resulted in:

1. More books available (cheaper)

2. Increase in literacy

3. Ideas and education to spread

rapidly

a. Luther’s 95 Theses

The Counter (Catholic) Reformation

An attempt by the Roman Catholic Church to

stop the spread of Protestantism

Needed to stop the loss of the tithe ($$$)

The Council of Trent – 1545

1. Reaffirmed traditional Catholicism

a. Seven sacraments, Latin, Church interpreting Bible

2. Forbid sale of indulgences

The Peace of Westphalia The Reformation led to

over 100 years of war between Protestants and Catholics

Thirty Years’ War in Germany was worst of these (1618-1648)

War ended with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648

Traditionally viewed as the end of the Reformation

Effects of the Reformation

1. Formation of Protestant Churches

2. Religious and Political Divisions in Europe

a. Leads people to seek new lands for their religions

3. Religious Conflicts: Catholics vs. Protestants

The English ReformationA Tale of Family Drama and Intrigue

King Henry VIII

I. King Henry VIII wants an annulment (divorce) from

wife Catherine

a. He needed a male heir and she only had Mary

Tudor

b. Fell in love with Anne Boleyn

c. Pope refused to give him an annulment

King Henry VIII

II. Henry breaks with the Roman Catholic Church

a. He starts his own Church of England (Anglican

Church

b. Gets his annulment and marries Anne Boleyn

i. Their daughter is Elizabeth

1. Anne Boleyn is beheaded for not

having a son

King Henry VIII

c. 1534 – Parliament passes the Acts of Supremacy

i. Makes English ruler the head of English

(Anglican) Church

1. Blend of Catholic and Protestant

Edward VI

III.Edward VI takes over when Henry VIII dies

a. Only nine years old

i. He makes the Anglican Church completely

Protestant

Uncle Edward had the real power over Edward VI’s reign

Mary Tudor

IV. Mary Tudor takes over when Edward dies (in his

teens) – he was her half-brother

a. She moves the Anglican Church back to Catholic

b. Known as “Bloody Mary” for killing Protestants

c. Dies without having children

Elizabeth I

V. Elizabeth I inherits the throne from Mary (25 yrs old)

a. She is Protestant and moves England back that

way

b. Forms the Elizabethan Settlement

i. A compromise between Catholic and Protestant

1. Leads to unity and stability

The Tudor Family

Henry VIII – (1st Wife) Catherine

(2nd Wife) (child)Mary Tudor

Anne Boleyn (Catholic)

(child) Elizabeth I Only Son (with 3rd wife)

Protestant Edward VI – Protestant

=Elizabethan Settlement