General Background
In Medieval times Catholic Christianity
dominated the lives of people.
Protestant Reformation Since most people were uneducated,
however, their understanding of Christianity
was often distorted with some superstitions
A PROTEST against Church Abuses and imaginary concepts.
and a REFORM movement in the Fear of damnation in an afterlife was of
Christian Church. major concern.
Foundations for Reform Martin Luther
Renaissance education Martin Luther—
which emphasized • Abuses of the Church: professor at
critical thinking. • Pope Leo X’s Wittenberg University.
Availability of printed lifestyle. Criticized Church
books such as the • Sales of practices and the
Bible. Indulgences. leadership of the
Humanist values and • Sales of Relics Church in 95 Theses.
increased focus on this • Sales of Church Religious truth found
life vs. afterlife. Offices. in the Bible.
Sales of Indulgences
“Once you hear the money’s ring, the soul from purgatory is free to spring.”
-- Tetzel
Lutheranism Emerges…
Pope Leo X summons
Fundraiser for the
Catholic Church Luther and asks him to
Pay for the arts and lavish recant.
lifestyles of Church Pope Leo issues a Papal
leaders. Bull to excommunicate
Reduce / Cancel Luther.
punishment for sins or
even future sins.
Luther founds the
Ensure admission to
Lutheran Church based
Heaven. on “Justification of
Faith”
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Zwinglism Calvinism / Presbyterianism
Huldrych Zwingli John Calvin (1509AD)
(1484 – 1531)
Geneva, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland Key Doctrine:
Key Doctrine: Predestination: a belief
Salvation by faith that God alone directs
alone. past, present, future.
No sales of Consistory: Church
body regulated
indulgences
behavior – drinking,
Theocracy in Zurich. gambling, card playing
France & Scotland
The Anabaptists / Mennonites Anglicanism: Church of England
Conrad Grebel (broke King Henry VIII wanted
away from Zwinglism) to divorce Catherine of
Netherlands/Germany Aragon to marry Anne
Key Doctrine: Boelyn.
Only people capable of Pope refused to grant the
making a free, informed divorce.
decision should be baptized Henry with approval of
Denied local authority of Parliament forms Church
governments to direct lives
with similar doctrine to
Radicals seized property
and burned books
Catholic Church.
Catholic Reformation Protestantism’s Success
Goals:
Counter growth of Religious conviction of converts to their
Protestants new faith.
Restore faith of members.
Eliminate Abuses
Princes/Monarchs made them their state
Chief Events:
religion by decree.
Inquisition (1542AD) Towns people saw that it supported their
Council of Trent (1545- business practices and gave them greater
1563AD)
Jesuits—Ignatius of Loyola
opportunity to participate.
spread Catholicism. People were wary of the monetary drain
from the “Sales” to the Catholic Church.
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Protestant Reformation Map
