Contextualization
The Protestant Reformation was the biggest revolution in European history. The Catholic Church had dominated European culture, religion, trade, art, and architecture for well over a thousand years. However, a few radical freethinkers on the northern edge of the continent protested and squirmed free of its grasp.
The Protestant Reformation was the biggest revolution in European history. The Catholic Church had dominated European culture, religion, trade, art, and architecture for well over a thousand years. However, a few radical freethinkers on the northern edge of the continent protested and squirmed free of its grasp.
Key Contextual Ideas
- Anticlericalism - deep opposition to Catholic priests for their political and social power (Bad Popes)
- Gutenberg's printing press - allowed for the wide spread and rapid transmission of ideas.
- Pietism - the personal study of the bible and living a morally upright life.
- Indulgences - the selling of indulgences sparked Luther's reformation.
Question: Why did Martin Luther break from the teachings of the Catholic Church?
- Luther wrote the 95 Theses in response to the sell of indulgence by Johann Tetzel.
- Luther disagreed with the selling of salvation and believed that salvation was a gift given freely by God.
- Justification by faith alone
- Luther later argued for the following reforms
- Highest authority was the Bible,
- "Priesthood of all believers",
- Only two sacraments,
- Bible translated into local languages,
- Rejection of transubstantiation
- Highest authority was the Bible,
- Diet of Worms - Luther was called by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to recant his beliefs, Luther refused to recant
- Augsburg Confession - new form of Christianity, Lutheranism
Question: How did Protestantism spread and change?
- German Peasants' Revolt of 1525 - popular revolt supported by the new Anabaptists (Munster), crushed by nobles after Luther refused to support the revolt.
- John Calvin - Calvinism began in Switzerland and spread to France and Scotland, worship promoted the idea of Predestination - the idea that God had already selected who will be send to heaven and who will burn in hell.
- Zwingli - attacked corruption and use of images or icons in churches. Was more radical than Calvin and was killed in battle against Catholic forces in Switzerland.
- Anglicanism - The Church of England was created by Henry VIII due to his desire to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon in order to conceive a male heir with Anne Boleyn.
Question: How did the Catholic Church respond to the Protestant Reformation?