2. The Reformation Begins
Renaissance thought emphasized people to think and
reason for themselves.
Along with this came the questioning of traditional
authority from the Roman Catholic Church that had
been losing power for decades.
Economic reasons also fueled a reformation as many
people were tired of the wealth the Catholic Church
held.
People also disliked the heavy taxes and large amounts
of land the church possessed as well as its involvement
in political matters.
Church practices were also called into question by
western.
Some knew that the church were selling indulgences –
telling people their sins would be forgiven if they paid
the church or its members to forgive them.
3. The Reformation Begins
(cont’d) The church said that faith
alone could not justify man and
send him to heaven. They said
charity and good work could.
Simony was another issue. This is
the buying and selling of church
positions.
Pope Leo X approved of this
practice because he could use the
money to make St. Peter’s Basilica.
Desiderius Erasmus as we have
learned was another precursor.
Some people would later say “he
laid the egg that Luther hatched”
4. Martin Luther
Born in November of 1483 in Germany.
He dropped out of law school and devoted himself to a
monastic life.
He even earned a Doctorate of Theology at the University
of Wittenberg in 1512.
Luther protested against the materialistic life of church
officials and the ultimate power of the Pope.
He believed the bible was the final authority on religious
matters, not the Pope.
He also wanted to have the bible printed in German so he
could let people read it and interpret it freely instead of
having to read Latin.
He felt faith was a free gift to man from God and was the
only way to salvation.
5. Martin Luther
He is the author of the famous 95 Theses written in 1517.
*Remember Gutenberg’s press! This wasn’t the first time
someone wrote against the church but it was the first time
it was done effectively since it could be produced so easily.
Accepted date of nailing to Wittenberg Church: October 31,
1517.
After his ideas were translated and printed in German,
Luther and his followers established the first Protestant
religion known as Lutheranism.
F: Faith saves people, not working off sins in hell
U: Ultimate authority of the church is God, not the Pope
N: Nobody is more important in God’s eyes. Everyone is
equal
6. The Reformation
Other men such as Ulrich Zwingili
from Switzerland, John Knox in
Scotland, and John Calvin in
France, were also declaring their
unhappiness with the Catholic
Church.
Calvinism:
P: Predestination. God already has
chosen who would go to heaven.
O: Our moral lives reveal if we are
chosen.
W: Work ethic honors God.
Calvinism is another sect of
Protestant Religions.
7. Counter Reformation
In 1545 the Council of Trent was called to order in
reaction to the growing Protestant influence in Europe.
Martin Luther had been excommunicated from the
church 24 years ago and had continued his leadership
and founding of Lutheranism.
To maintain its power, Catholics launched a spiritual
mission to appease the complaints of church members.
The Council wanted to stop the spread of Protestant
churches.
Catholic leaders decided to uphold the belief of supreme
power by the Pope.
They did however stop the practice of selling
indulgences and ended the practice of simony.
8. Counter Reformation
The church also created The Index of
Forbidden Books, a list of books Catholics
were not allowed to read.
The Inquisition was also established (church
courts) which took very harsh methods against
heretics, especially in Spain.
Lastly the Jesuit order was founded which
became known as the Society of Jesus.
This was a devout group of followers who
helped defend and preserve Catholic
teachings.
9. The Legacy
The importance of the Reformation is
simple:
It broke down the power of the Catholic
Church
Paves the way for powerful monarchies
(discussed later)
Paves the way for religious tolerance
Gives rise to Protestant Church
10. Cause/Effect Chart
Humanist values led people to question
church authority
Some clergy were corrupt, worldly, or poorly
educated
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
The Printing Press helped spread ideas
Many Protestant sects developed
Church leaders reformed the Catholic Church
Religious intolerance and anti-Semitism
increased
Religious conflicts spread across Europe
