1. The Protestant Reformation Note Entry # 41

2. Humanism  a variety of ethical theory and practice that emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world and often rejects the importance of belief in God. Humanism  a variety of ethical theory and practice that emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world and often rejects the importance of belief in God. Secularism  a system of political or social philosophy that rejects all forms of religious faith and worship. Secularism  a system of political or social philosophy that rejects all forms of religious faith and worship. These both led to criticism of the Catholic Church and its practices. These both led to criticism of the Catholic Church and its practices. By 1500 people were calling for change in the way the Church taught and practiced Christianity. By 1500 people were calling for change in the way the Church taught and practiced Christianity.

3. The church had become more and more involved in worldly politics. Popes competed with Italian princes for political power. They fought wars to protect the Papal States. They plotted against powerful monarchs who sought to control papal lands. They lived in luxury, supported the arts, and hired artists to beautify churches. To finance their lifestyles, church officials charged fees for services such as baptisms and marriages.

4. Things are a changin’… As early as the 1300s, John Wycliff had begun protests against the Church in England. He believed the church should not be rich and the Bible should be written in the vernacular.

5. Jan Hus led a similar protest against the Church in what is today the Czech Republic. He wrote a pamphlet that stated no pope or bishop had the right to take up the sword in the name of the Church He was executed for heresy in 1415.

6. The challenges led to a split in the Church that became known as The Protestant Reformation. The challenges led to a split in the Church that became known as The Protestant Reformation. A monk named Martin Luther A monk named Martin Luther began the Reformation. Luther believed that people could be made good by faith alone. Luther believed that people could be made good by faith alone. This became known as justification by faith. This became known as justification by faith.

7. CONFLICT Luther’s ideas bring him into direct conflict with the Church. Luther’s ideas bring him into direct conflict with the Church. The Catholic Church had been selling indulgences, or passes out of purgatory, to raise money for building projects. The Catholic Church had been selling indulgences, or passes out of purgatory, to raise money for building projects. Luther preached against the sale of indulgences. Luther preached against the sale of indulgences. He did this while he was the priest in the town of Wittenberg. He did this while he was the priest in the town of Wittenberg. To get the Church to listen to his complaints he nailed the 95 Theses to the front door of the Church. To get the Church to listen to his complaints he nailed the 95 Theses to the front door of the Church. All important notices were placed here and couldn’t be removed until they had been addressed. All important notices were placed here and couldn’t be removed until they had been addressed.

8. Copies of the 95 Theses were printed and spread all over Germany. Copies of the 95 Theses were printed and spread all over Germany. This was possible because of the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. This was possible because of the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. The sale of indulgences dropped The sale of indulgences dropped and that got the Pope’s attention. and that got the Pope’s attention. The Pope sent representatives to The Pope sent representatives to ask Luther to withdraw his complaints.

9. When Luther refused he was excommunicated by Pope Leo X in When Luther refused he was excommunicated by Pope Leo X in 1521. 1521. Shortly after the excommunication a group of princes (called a diet) met in the city of Worms. Shortly after the excommunication a group of princes (called a diet) met in the city of Worms. They asked Luther to recant his Theses. They asked Luther to recant his Theses. He refused and was condemned a heretic. He refused and was condemned a heretic.

10. Lutheranism After the events at Worms Luther began the first Protestant faith—Lutheranism. After the events at Worms Luther began the first Protestant faith—Lutheranism. In Lutheranism there were three important teachings: In Lutheranism there were three important teachings: Salvation by faith alone: people can be saved by faith alone and no amount of good works can give them salvation. Salvation by faith alone: people can be saved by faith alone and no amount of good works can give them salvation. Religious truth and authority are only found in the Bible. Religious truth and authority are only found in the Bible. The Lutheran Church is a community of believers, not a hierarchy like the Catholic Church. The Lutheran Church is a community of believers, not a hierarchy like the Catholic Church.

11. Some German princes saw Lutheranism as a chance to throw off the rule of both the Church and the Holy Roman emperor. Some saw an opportunity to seize Church property in their territories. Others embraced the new church out of nationalistic loyalty. Many were tired of paying to support clergy in Italy.

12. Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor)tried to force the German princes to return to the Catholic Church. Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor)tried to force the German princes to return to the Catholic Church. In 1555, after several brief wars, Charles and the princes signed the Peace of Augsburg. In 1555, after several brief wars, Charles and the princes signed the Peace of Augsburg. Under this treaty, each prince chose a religion for his realm—either Catholic or Lutheran. Under this treaty, each prince chose a religion for his realm—either Catholic or Lutheran. Most in the north chose Lutheranism; most in the south chose Catholicism.