Protestant Revolution

The Reformation Begins

• In 1517, the 95 Theses were nailed to a church door. They were written in Latin.
• Luther’s intention: NOT TO BREAK WITH CHURCH, BUT REFORM IT!
• Criticized:
1. Indulgences
2. Power of Pope
3. Wealth of Church
• God’s Grace won by FAITH ALONE!

Excommunication

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• In 1520 Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther.
• Excommunication- expelled him from the church.
• Holy Roman Emperor Charles V passed measures to suppress Luther’s writings.
• Lutheran princes in Germany issued a protestatio or protest.
• Hence the term Protestant!

Spreading Luther’s Ideas

• Martin Luther’s ideas quickly spread due to the printing press.
• Luther’s supporters quickly printed many copies of the Theses, and they were distributed throughout Europe.
• The Church called on Luther to recant, but he refused- instead he urged Christians to reject the tyranny of Rome and wrote that the Church could only be reformed by secular authorities

Luther Beliefs

• Translated parts of Bible, so everyone could read it
• All towns should have a school
• Banned indulgences
• Simplified mass.
• Clergy could marry

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The Pope Strikes Back

• Pope Leo X (the Medici) excommunicated Luther in 1521
• Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor,�held a religious council called the Diet of Worms
• From this council/trial Luther’s teachings were found to be false
• Luther still refused to give up his �ideas, and Charles V declared him an �outlaw, making it a crime for anyone in the empire to help him
• However, Luther’s strong defense of his faith and ideas won many Europeans to his cause

Lutheranism

• Luther’s ideas gained a following due to the printing
• Followers called themselves Lutherans, and adopted many of the changes Luther suggested, including:
• Led services and used a Bible �translated into the vernacular
• Rejected 5 of the 7 sacraments �because they weren’t �mentioned in the Bible (and the �Bible is the sole source of �religious truth)
• Simplified the elaborate ritual of the mass
• Banned indulgences, pilgrimages, and prayers to saints
• Allowed the clergy to marry

Protestants vs. Catholics

• Protestants believed that people should be able to practice Christianity any way they like
• Only listen to the Bible and not the Catholic Church
• The Bible should be translated into all languages

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Lutheranism = Protestantism

• By 1530, Lutherans were using a new name, Protestant, for those who protested Papal authority and the Roman Catholic Church
• Protestantism developed a large following in Northern Germany and Scandinavia among peasants who hoped that Luther would also support their plight for social and economic change
• Protestants were persecuted by Roman Catholics, leading to a large revolt that was suppressed with great brutality, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives

Spread of Protestantism

• Reformation thinking spread quickly within and beyond Germany thanks to the invention of the printing press
• Luther’s 95 Theses, many pamphlets, and his German translation of the New Testament were soon widely available
• As the movement spread to the rest of Europe, it splintered, creating a variety of different Protestant churches

Protestantism Spreads - Zwingli

• Ulrich Zwingli – priest in Zurich, Switzerland
• Convinces the city council to reform churches in Zurich
• Zwinglian Reformation
• Banned all religious relics & images
• Paintings removed, replaces with all white walls
• No music in church services
• Does not merge w/Luther b/c can’t agree with the meaning of communion

John Calvin

• Most important was John Calvin, a Protestant from France who was trained as a priest and a lawyer
• Calvin agreed with many of Luther’s ideas, but felt he had not gone far enough.
• Agreed that salvation could only be achieved through faith and that the Bible was the only source of religious truth

Predestination

• Calvin taught that God was all-powerful and that humans were sinful by nature
• Put forth the idea of predestination- that God had chosen long ago who would achieve Salvation
• No one can know if they’re meant to be saved or not, so you must live a devout and religious life just in case.
• If you are predetermined to go to Heaven but are not devout, you may be denied.

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Calvin’s Geneva

• Protestants in Geneva, Switzerland appreciated Calvin's views and asked him to lead their government. Calvin set up a theocracy and punished anyone who was not devout.
• Geneva’s citizens created a truly Christian society and stressed hard work, discipline, thrift, honesty and morality.
• Citizens faced fines or other punishment for offenses like fighting, swearing, laughing in church, or dancing. Theaters were closed and elaborate dress was prohibited

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Theocracy- government run by religious leaders

The Anabaptists

• Anabaptists: faith should be by adults who choose a spiritual rebirth, and are baptized
• Adult baptism was a new idea, different than those held by Catholics and Protestants
• Separation of church and state=important
• Ministers elected by people, from the community since all Christians are equal (but not women)
• Did not believe in war or holding political office

The English Reformation

• King Henry VIII of England wants an annulment, so he can marry another woman
• First wife, Catherine of Aragon, births a girl
• Henry wants to marry Anne B., wants a son
• 1534: Parliament splits from Catholic Church with “Act of Supremacy”

Causes and Effects of the �Protestant Reformation

• Immediate Effects

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• Peasants Revolt
• Founding of Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican, Presbyterian and other Protestant churches
• Weakening of Holy Roman Empire
• Luther calls for Jews to be expelled from Christian lands

• Long – Term Effects

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• Religious wars in Europe
• Catholic Reformation
• Strengthening of the Inquisition
• Jewish migration to Eastern Europe
• Increased anti-Semitism