Changing'the'Catholic'church'in'the'1500s'
!  The'Catholic'Church'was'the'only'church'in'Europe'
during'the'Middle'Ages.''
!  It'had'its'own'laws,'lands'and'taxes='very'powerful'
institution.''
!  People'knew'of'other'religions'but'nonEChristians'
were'regarded'as'“infidels”'and'treated'as'suspicious'
and'were'persecuted'in'Europe'during'the'14th'
century.''
!  Anyone'who'was'suspected'of'disagreeing'with'the'
Church’s'teachings'was'called'a'heretic'and'burnt'at'
the'stake.''
!  What'do'you'like'to'do'for'fun?'
!  When'you'are'bored,'what'do'you'do?'
!  What'do'you'like'to'watch?'
!  What'amuses'you?'
!  What'would'you'need'to'entertain'yourself'if'
you'had'to'sit'for'three'hours'straight?'
!  What’s'your'favorite'smell?''
!  ENGAGEMENT'AND'ENTERTAINMENT'
!  Auditory'(few'people'could'read)'
!  Visual'(the'movement'of'the'sculpture'and'the'
narratives'in'the'stained'glass'and'paintings)'
!  Sight'(the'effects'of'the'architecture'and'mystery)''
!  Smell'(incense).'
!  It'was'theological'but'also'entertainment'at'a'time'
when'there'were'few'other'opportunities'for'leisure'
and'getting'lost'in'one's'thoughts.'
!  As'the'Renaissance'moved'northward,'so'did'it'ideals.'
!  Christian'Humanism'had'the'goal'to'reform'the'
Catholic'Church.'
!  Reform='make'changes'in'(something,'typically'a'
social,'political,'or'economic'institution'or'practice)'
in'order'to'improve'it.''
!  1400'E'1500s:'People'were'not'happy'with'the'
corruption'in'the'Catholic'church'and'had'problems'
with'the'spiritual'practices'of'the'Catholic'church.''
!  Popes'(who'were'the'heads'of'
the'Catholic'Church)'were'
living'as'secular'rulers,'mainly'
based'on'wealth.'
!  Many'citizens'had'issues'with'
the'way'the'church'was'earning'
and'spending'money.''
!  The'church'offered'the'public'
three'different'ways'to'purchase'
salvation.''
!  These'practices'were'highly'
criticized'for'how'they'turned'
religious'practices'into'wealth,'
primarily'benefiting'the'clergy.'
Pope'Alexander'VI'
!  1.'Dispensations:'exemptions'from'obligations'were'
available'for'sale'to'whomever'could'afford'them.'
!  2.'Indulgences'offered'guaranteed'passage'to'heaven,'
bypassing'purgatory,'and'were'available'for'purchase'
to'whomever'could'afford'them.'
!  3.'Buying/selling'of'church'offices:'individuals'could'
buy'and'sell'offices'of'members'of'the'clergy.'
!  At'this'time,'the'church'was'considered'the'only'
intermediary'between'God'and'His'people.''
!  Catholics'were'required'to'follow'all'church'laws,'
receive'all'sacraments'and'read'and'understand'the'
Bible.''
!  The'church'seemed'to'be'getting'away'from'its'
traditional'practices'and'this'led'to'the'Catholic'
community's'want'for'simplification'of'the'church'
organization'and'practices.'
'
!  Where'does'change'begin?'
!  Who'do'you'think'would?'
!  What'would'they'do?'
!  Prior'to'officially'being'known'as'the'Protestant'
Reformation,'two'men'stepped'forward'to'challenge'the'
church.'''
!  The'first,'John'Wycliff,'was'born'in'England'about'1330.''He'
believed'that'the'church'should'give'up'its'earthly'
possessions.'His'views'proved'unpopular'with'church'
officials,'who'removed'him'from'his'teaching'position.'
!  Another'reformer,'Jan'Hus'was'born'in'southern'Bohemia'
about'1370.''He'became'a'priest'and'was'soon'preaching'
against'the'immorality'and'worldliness'of'the'Catholic'
Church.''In'1412,'Hus'was'excommunicated'by'Pope'Gregory'
XII.''Hus'was'later'arrested,'tried,'and'burned'at'the'stake.'
!  The'views'of'these'two'men,'though'condemned'by'the'
church'and'not'widely'accepted'by'ordinary'people,'began'
a'discussion'that'would'eventually'lead'to'reform.''''''
"Eramus(laid(the(Egg(that(
Luther(hatched."((
!  One'of'the'founders'of'the'
Reformation'was'Desiderius'
Erasmus'''(1466E1536),''
!  Believed'that'Christianity'
should:'
!  Show'people'how'to'live'
good'lives'
!  Not'just'give'a'set'of'beliefs'
to'follow'
!  Focus'inward''
!  Wanted'the'Church'to'not'
only'talk'the'talk'but'also'
walk'the'walk'
Martin"Luther"
• 'A'law'student'in'Germany'
who'entered'law'to'please'his'
father'but'was'dissatisfied''
• Almost'struck'by'lightning''
and'finds'salvation'in'St.'
Anne.'He'becomes'a'monk'
• He'became'conflicted'by'the'
difference'in'Catholic'
teachings/practice'vs.'what'
was'said'in'the'Bible.''
• He'believed'in'Justification'
by'Faith'
• 
A"person"is"just"through"
faith"in"God"
• (vs.'the'Church'who'said'you'
must'have'faith'and'do'good'
works)'
Luther's"Protest"
• October'31,'1517'
• 
• 
95'Theses'that'spelled'out'
the'abuses'of'the'Church'
Nailed'to'the'church'in'
Wittenberg,'Germany'
• Backlash'
• 
• 
• 
Did'not'intend'to'break'
with'ChurchE'just'wanted'
reform'
Church'wants'him'to'
recant'(take'back)'his'
criticism'
Luther'refuses.'
• Result'
• 
'
Luther'is'excommunicated'
&'banned'from'the'church'
in'1521.'