REVOLUTION IN RELIGION:
THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
The Protestant Revolution
Mock Trial Theme:
Did Martin Luther’s Reforms Improve the Lives of
European Christians?
State of the Church - 16th C
Is Reform New to the Catholic Church?
12-13th C monastic reforms & lay piety
13th-14th C Conciliar Movement
Defender of the Peace (1324)
14th-15th C certain Catholic individuals
“Jan of the Chalice”
- Florence
16th C Northern European Humanists
Christian Humanists
(1516)
Handbook of the Militant
Christian (1503)
The Praise of Folly (1509) -- satire
“philosophy of Christ” = modesty,
humility and poverty
Luther’s Break with Rome
Luther as a monk/professor
Magdeburg
Archbishop Albert of Magdeburg
wants 3 dioceses:
permission
Albert borrows $ from
Gives $ to Pope for St. Peter’s
Papal permission to sell
to pay the Fuggers
Doctrine of Indulgences
God = merciful, but also just
Church tradition = authority
Result?
belief in swift entry to
heaven
advertising blitz
“As soon as coin in coffer rings, the
soul from purgatory springs”
Luther’s Break with Rome
Were Luther’s 95 Theses
revolutionary?
Was he intentionally
breaking with Rome at this
stage?
How should Rome react?
Ind. undermined
seriousness of sacrament
of penance
Ind. competed with the
preaching of the Gospel
Ind. downplayed
importance of charity in
Christian life
Salvation cannot be
attained through good
works
Some theses challenged
papal power/wealth
Ind. = no biblical basis
Location, Location...
Luther’s Break with Rome
Denied authority of pope and
infallibility of general council
Council of Constance in err
Luther’s Break with Rome
Jan 3, 1521
Under normal conditions, what would a Papal Bull of
Excommunication accomplish?
What was Luther’s “new and powerful weapon”? How did he
use it?
What challenges did Luther offer against Catholic authority?
Why were Luther’s messages appealing?
“All Germany is in revolution. Nine-tenths shout ‘Luther’ as
their war cry; and the other tenth cares nothing about Luther,
and cries ‘Death to the court of Rome.’”
Luther’s Break with Rome
-- “the last medieval emperor”
“I cannot, and I will not recant.”
Luther declared an outlaw
Luther’s Break with Rome
On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church (Oct 1520)
Church has been corrupted and taken captive
= dependence on an army of clergy as
intermediaries to God
Theological Questions
How is a person to be saved?
C - faith/grace + good works
LReligious authority?
C - Bible + tradition
LWhat is the Church?
C&L - Christian community
Highest form of Christian life?
C - clergy/monastic
LSacraments?
C - Big 7
LEucharist
- molecular change
- spiritual change
Melanchthon & Luther define Lutheran
Protestantism
Social Impact of Luther’s Beliefs
Aids to spread of Luther’s ideas:
City govts resentment of clerical privileges -Address to the Nobility of the German Nation (1520)
Peasants + Luther’s words
On Christian Liberty (1520) - “A Christian man is
the most free lord of all and subject to none.”
An Admonition to Peace (1525) Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of the
Peasants Holy Roman Empire -as
protector
Luther himself = Shakespeare
One Man’s Rebellion...
Luther’s translation of
=
national pride
“Rebellion” at
Worms, 1521
Effects in HRE
Political disunity allows spread
Weak emperor allows for
heavier exploitation of people
($) by the Church
Princes will revolt for
economic/political reasons
= “cease fire”
“freeze” of princes on the faith -- Prince
will be tolerated if Lutheran
NOT religious freedom - People must
accept faith/Prince
Catholic minority could quietly practice
their faith
No Catholic prince can switch after 1555
Econ take church land, no
church taxes
Pol can ignore obligations
to Charles V