The Reformation

I. Reforming the Church The power of the Church had been increasingly criticized throughout the Middle Ages The ideas planted during the Renaissance began a movement to actually change the Church Reformation – a movement for religious reform Why were people upset? Some rulers/leaders began to challenge Church authority Northern merchants disliked paying taxes to church in Rome Some argued that Church leaders were corrupt Priests and bishops were uneducated and/or broke vows Printing press made it possible to quickly spread these new ideas/information about Church reform

II. Martin Luther German monk, lived 1483-1546 Angry over the practice of selling indulgences: A pardon that released a sinner from performing the penalty that a priest imposed for sins Many thought that buying indulgences guaranteed them a spot in heaven Wrote the 95 Theses (formal statements) attacking the Church 3 main ideas: Salvation was through faith in God’s gift of forgiveness, not through “good works” Church teachings should be based only on words of the Bible People could interpret the Bible for themselves

II. Continued… Luther was excommunicated in 1520 Edict of Worms – Holy Roman Emperor Charles V declared Luther an outlaw and heretic Luther went into hiding, continued to work Continued to gain followers, who formed new religious group called Lutherans Protestant – term used to describe Western European Christians who belonged to non-Catholic churches

Letter to the Editor Pretend you are living during the time of Martin Luther and the Reformation. What side are you on? Write a letter to the local newspaper editor, in the voice of someone from that time period, explaining your position. Use terms and examples from the notes and readings. 2 paragraphs

III. England Becomes Protestant King Henry VIII needed a male heir He wanted to divorce his wife Catherine, to marry Anne Boleyn, whom he thought would give him a son Catholic law forbids divorce, Pope refused to annul (set aside) the marriage 1529 – Henry convinces Parliament to declare him head of England’s Church Between the death of Henry and the start of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, England struggled to find peace between Catholics and Protestants 1559 – Queen Elizabeth I established the Anglican Church – Church of England Attempted to bring compromise between Catholics and Protestants

IV. The Reformation Spreads Calvinism – religion based on the ideas/teachings of John Calvin Based around the idea of predestination – God has known since the beginning of time who will be saved Argued that a theocracy (government controlled by religious leaders) was best Calvinism spreads throughout Europe In Scotland, followers became known as Presbyterians – leaders of the church were called presbyters (elders) Other religious groups form throughout Europe Anabaptists – taught that Church and state (government) should be separate, refused to fight in wars Persecuted by both Catholics and Protestants

V. Further Changes & Impact Catholic Reformation Because Protestant churches gained so many followers, the Catholic church attempted to change and adapt Papal reform Banned the false selling of indulgences (could not tell people they were guaranteed to go to Heaven) Cleaned up corruption in high Church positions Jesuits helped spread ideas and convert non-Christians to Catholicism Impact of Reformation on Society Education became more important in spreading beliefs of both Catholics and Protestants Individual monarchs/nations become more powerful as the Catholic Church struggled