Causes of the Protestant Reformation
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Transcript Causes of the Protestant Reformation
Causes of the
Protestant Reformation
Declining Prestige of the Papacy
Babylonian Captivity
Great Schism
Pope Alexander VI & Cesare Borgia
Pope Leo X (Medici)
Corruption in the Church
Simony
Pluralism
Absenteeism
Clerical Ignorance
Immoral Conduct
Early Critics
John Wycliffe
Jan Hus
Christian Humanists (Erasmus)
Secular Factors
Political
Beginnings of nationalism
Dynastic claims use religion to gain support
Desire for princely independence
Social
Protestant teachings on equality
Economic
Rulers desire to divest church of land and wealth
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
German, Catholic Monk, Professor
“Father of the Reformation”
95 Theses (1517)
Luther’s objections to the sale of Indulgences
Posted on church door in Wittenberg
Luther’s Theology
“Sola Fide”
“Sola Gratia”
“Sola Scriptura”
“Solo Cristo”
“Soli Deo Gloria”
Church’s Reaction
Luther debates Johann Eck 1519 at Leipzeg
Luther ordered to retract ideas & refuses
Luther’s books are burned
Pope Leo X excommunicates Luther
Diet of Worms 1521
Luther ordered by Emperor Charles V before imperial
assembly
Luther again refuses to recant
Made an outlaw in the H.R.E.
Bans Luther’s works
Cannot be given shelter
Can be killed
Luther After the Diet of Worms
Protected by Frederick the Wise of Saxony at Wartburg
Castle
Luther writes from within castle
German edition of Bible (1523)
Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation
Spread of Lutheranism
Many German Princes become Lutheran
Confiscate church lands, assert independence
Denmark & Sweden too
HRE Charles V too busy with Turks and French to stop them
Peasants War/Revolt (1524-1525)
Uprising seeking end of serfdom, tithes, and other feudal
duties
Opposed by Luther
Against the Murderous,Thieving Hordes of the Peasants (1525)
Put down by both Catholics and Lutherans
Augsburg Confessions 1530
Moderate statement of faith hoping to reconcile with
Emperor and Pope
Written by Luther’s friend Philip Melanchthon
Faith Alone, Biblical Authority, Priesthood of all believers
Rejected by Charles V
League of Schmalkalden (1531)
Alliance of Protestant German Princes to defend themselves
from Charles V
Ally with French King (Catholic)
Francis I wants to weaken Charles V
Habsburg-Valois Wars 1521-1555
5 wars between France and Habsburgs (HRE & Spain)
Charles wins, but Lutheranism had taken hold by 1550s
Almost exclusively in the North
Peace of Augsburg (1555)
“Cuius regio, eius religio”
Allows princes to choose their region’s religion
Lutheran or Catholic only
Causes long term divisions in Germany
Won’t be united until 1871
Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1564)
Swiss Humanist, Reformer
Saw communion as only symbolic
Favored stripped down church service
The Anabaptists (formed 1525)
Rejected secular agreements
Rejected infant baptism
Tragedy at Munster (1534)
Extreme element take over city, institute
primitive communism and polygamy ,
crushed by combined Catholic
and Lutheran army
Other Anabaptist groups are not so radical
ie. Mennonites, Amish, Quaker, Baptist
John Calvin (1509-1564)
French Lawyer
Institutes of Christian Religion (1536)
Outlines Calvinist Theology
Exiled to Switzerland
Establishes theocracy in Geneva
Gov. run by church
Strict moral codes
Calvin’s Theology
Sovereignty of God
Predestination
T-Total Depravity
U-Unconditional Election
L-Limited Atonement
I-Irresistible Grace
P-Perseverance of the Saints
Good works and earthly success a sign of election
Other Calvinist Groups
Presbyterians
John Knox, Scotland
Huguenots
French Calvinists, brutally suppressed
Dutch Reformed Church
Calvinist church in the Netherlands
Leads to revolt against Philip II of Spain
Puritans
Will try to cleanse English church from Catholicism