The Reformation

Minds-On

What are some ideas today about what brings us closer to

“God”? (any religion)

*assuming we believe in that

Did the Reformation have a positive impact on Christian faith?

From Renaissance to Reformation

• People began to question the methods of the church

• Investigate bible for themselves, abandon Dogma

• Christian Humanism

• Printing Press

• = Crisis of Faith

History of Discontent

• 11th Century, Catholic Church split in two, but still compatible

• West-> Roman Catholic Church centred in Rome• East-> Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople

• Similar, different rituals

• Issues: Power of the Papacy, reform to earlier Christianity (Franciscan Order)

John Wycliffe (1320-1384)• Challenged church • Salvation through obedience to Papacy• Performance of rituals

• Belief: Salvation from God only (authentic faith)• Bible- translate to vernacular languages

• Followers:• Those who thought church too worldly• Rulers who would benefit from less

control by church

• Condemned as a heretic

John Hus (1369-1415)

• Movement from Wycliffe’s ideas

• Added:• Introduce lay people to church

ceremony• Contradicted Dogma

• Burned at the Stake as Heretic

Martin Luther (1483-1546)• Monk, Professor of Biblical Studies

• Felt no amount of good works would save his soul (prayer, charity, kindness)

• How do I attain salvation?

Martin Luther

• Revelation: “the Just shall live by his faith” (Paul)

• Sola Fida (by faith alone) Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone)• Read bible, inner peace and PERSONAL

relationship with God

• Person has to BE good, to do good works

• Broke with Catholicism

Martin Luther

• Church not superior to individual believers

• Only 2/7 Sacraments true:• Baptism• Eucharist

• Clergy should be able to marry

Johan Tetzel (1465-1519)• Dominican Friar, sold lots of Indulgences

(release from temporal penalty, absolve sins)

• “As soon as coin in coffer rings, a soul from Purgatory springs”

• Luther- Mocked true faith

• 95 Theses (HAND-OUT):• Luther posted on church door• Distributed (printing press)• ~Sale corrupt, limit power of church and papacy

Why does Luther’s 95 Thesis spark the beginning of the Reformation?

Paradigm Shift

• A radical change in belief or system

• One conceptual world view is replaced by another

• Driven by forces, not instant

• In Reformation- Paradigm shift from belief in power of papacy, indulgences, rituals, poverty, obedience TO personal relationship directly with God, faith alone, Scripture

Martin Luther• Excommunicated January 1521 as a Heretic• Contradict Dogma of the Church

• Diet of Worms: April 1521- Emperor Charles V• Assembly to discuss new ideas• Asked Luther to recant Heretical views

• “Unless I am convinced by scripture and plain reason- I do not accept the authority of 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 my conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me, Amen.”

“Protestant”

• 1529

• Word for new sect of religion created by Luther (Lutheran Church)

• Became word for all groups of non-Catholic Christians in the West

• Faith = Individual• Wealthy can keep their money• Poor have individual dignity and respect

Politics of Reformation• Reformation moved from Religious to Political

issue

• Luther tried to gain support from Secular Princes

• Secular vs. Clergy

• How do people choose between Secular authority and Church Authority when competing views?

• Wealthy and those in Power liked Luther’s ideas• Allowed them to keep wealth and gain more

power

VS.

Peasant Revolt• Social Upheaval from Reformation

• German Peasants saw Lutheran as support against local abusive Nobles• 1523/1524 Crop Failures• Bubonic Plague • Ideology- All equal under God• Luther’s ideas justify acting• Peasant Grievances (DOCUMENT)

• 1524 – Rebellions of Peasants (1/4 Million)• 100 000 died, NO political revolution

• Luther Condemned the Peasants• Didn’t support Political freedom/Social reform• Freedom through inner peace, not political right or social

reconstruction

Document Book “Martin Luther” Page 33-36 (only B and C)

Peasant Revolt

1. Are these articles set out by the Peasants fair?

2. If you were a German Peasant, which 3 articles would you fight for?

3. Create 5 articles of change you would demand in your life today.

4. Why does Martin Luther not support the peasants?

Societal Changes

• Monasteries close

• Clergy can Marry

• Secular power more important

• Literacy increased, schools built (teach bible)

• Local church as centre of community activity

• Reading religious pamphlets and bible encouraged• By 1530, reformation had changed all areas of life

(Northern Europe)

Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)

• Similar movement as Luther in Switzerland

• Scripture as guide

• City made strict laws to match his beliefs

• Main difference: Luther thought Christ’s body and spirit present in Eucharist, Zwingli said just symbolic

Interpretations of Scripture• Ex: Anabaptists• Protestant sect• Adult Baptism• Christian community = volunteer association of believers• Simple life• Female ministers• No allegiance to state (Therefore, persecuted by Secular and

Religious)

PEACE OF AUGSBURG• Fighting between German states ended• Agreed each Sovereignty pick Protestant OR Catholic and ALL

follow (Not Religious freedom)• Lutherism a legal Religion

Calvanism• John Calvin (1509-1564)

• Second Generation Reformation

• Ideas spread more widespread than Luther’s

• God told him to reform Christianity

• Wrote “Institutes of the Christian Religion”• Most important document of Reformation• Describes new Protestantism• God’s sovereignty over corrupt humanity

Calvanism• Humans humble and obedient to God’s Will

• Pre-Destination• who will be saved and who will be damned already decided by

God• Still, all should live good life

• Declare faith openly

• Rigid moral code

• Baptism and Communion

• State and church separate (state act religiously)

Geneva, 1541• New church structure – Calvin’s ideas• Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons, Clergy no special powers• “Consistory” – 12 Laymen, 5 Pastors (watch, punish immoral)

• Religious dissent not tolerated• Men burned at stake – deny trinity and early baptism

• Genevan Academy (1559) – vigorous and militant

• *Calvanism big in France, but still a Catholic state

Reformation in England• Roman Catholic church: Papacy had

too much power, Donations going to Rome

• King Henry VIII• Developed state church• Roman Catholic wouldn’t let him annul

marriage• King the head of Church

• Institutionalized Protestantism

Protestantism Summary1. Salvation by Faith alone2. Authority from Scriptures alone

• Social change• Family more important – pray, read bible together• Education more widespread• Church push to communicate with Common Man

• Calvanist idea of “Callings”• Dignity of all labour

• Wealth of church kept local

• Protest and action (Individual Conscience)

• Reformation last time people identify in Religious terms

Counter Reformation• Roman Catholic church forced to change in 16th Century

• Started by:• People want change• Papacy and Clergy realized need for Revitalization• Crisis: Spread of Protestantism

• Increase Monastic religious life

Ursulines • Est. 1535 by Angela Merici

• Order of Women

• Care for sick and poor

• Educate young women• Prep for life as wife, mother

• Italy, France, North America

Jesuit Order• “The Soldiers of God”

• Reform Catholic Church

• Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)• Crisis of faith• Abandoned military life to study Jesus and religion

• “Spiritual Exercises” (1548)• Guide for self, regulation of life (service of God)• Shape behaviour through severe discipline• Regulate spiritual practices

Jesuits• Follow church NO MATTER WHAT

• “…We must hold fast to the following principle: What seems to me white, I will believe black if hierarchical church so defines…”

• 1548: Pope legitimizes Jesuits

• “The army of the Church” - self image

• Catholic education important (sent missionaries to Far East, America’s and Protestant European states)

• Stabilized Catholicism

• Criticisms: Too HARSH, Put Ends before the Means

Council of Trent, 1545-1563• Pope Paul III, Northern Italy

• Current issues in Catholicism addressed, Pope NOT challenged

• Confirmed 7 sacraments• Use of scripture and tradition• Ended sale of indulgences

• Clergy more disciplined• Celibate• Seminaries to train priests

• Didn’t try to match Protestantism

Sacred Congregation of The Holy Office

• 1542: Pope Paul III

• Jurisdiction over the Inquisition • tribunal of Catholic Church to seek out and punish

Heresy

• Enforce church authority and doctrine

• Index of Prohibited Books • Banned books because Heretical

Impact of the Reformations• Battle for people’s MINDS and SOULS

• Reformation = Religious unity in West• Plurality of belief

• Individualism• Decreased spiritual powers of Clergy• Greater equality among humans• Personal salvation• Independent churches

• Church and State tied together• Authority of state increased by mid 16th Century• Religious pluralism in West (Choice, NOT tolerance)

Map of Religious divide, 1650**By 1600, more than half of Europe still Roman Catholic**

30 Years War (1618-1648)• Peace of Augsburg (1555)

• Mix of Religion and politics

• Sweden, France, Denmark, Spain, German civil wars

• Centered in Germany• Started as Protestant vs. Roman Catholic• Holy Roman Empire (Habsburg Domination)

• Involved Dynastic, secular and religious elements• Ideological differences • willingness amongst the troops to endure more

30 Years War1618-1648

• Impact

• Changed ways that wars would be fought

• Demonstrated the power of economics in war. (Holland, France, etc.)

• Demonstrated decline of Spain and rise of France

• Creation of Prussian-German Militarism (need for a standing army)

• Peace of Westphalia outline role of state. (sovereign nation states)

• Last major religious war in Europe

• Separation of Church and State

Peace of Westphalia 1648• The Treaty of Westphalia

• Sovereignty of states

• Fundamental right of political self determination

• Legal equality between states

• Internationally binding treaties between states

• Non-intervention of one state in the internal affairs of another

state

• These form the basis of our current ideas about “nation-states”

Westphalia changes the Nation State

• Fixed territorial boundaries

• Ended allegiance to political AND religious, Now nation state ruler top authority (laws)

• Last major religious war in Europe• New: Well disciplined national armies

Did the Reformation have a positive impact on Christian

faith?