The Reformation
I. Intellectual changes in Europe,
A. Print Revolution Gutenberg
1.Christian Humanism 2.Renaissance Humanism 3.Exploration / Age of Discovery 4.Millennialism
II. The Protestant Reformation Revolution and Reaction
A. Church status 1. Renaissance 2. Simony, Pluralism, Nepotism 3. Indulgences
4. Pilgrimages - Enhanced spirituality
B. Martin Luther Theses Oct. 30, 1517 taking it to the streets
2. Luther’s guilt complex - Law & Grace - Paul: “The Just shall live by Faith” Galatians
C. 3 Tenets of Faith 1. Sola Fide - Salvation by Faith Alone 2. Sola Scriptura - Literal interpretation of the Bible 3. Priesthood of All Believers
D. Luther to Lutheranism 1. Class and religion - Swabian Peasant Revolt 1520s - Appeal to merchant/urban classes “Protestant Work Ethic” capitalism / calling
2. Women and Protestantism - alternative to convents - education Katharine von Bora
3. Appeal to the nobility - Papacy and HRE were human institutions
Appeal to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation * Luther links religious identity with national identity
4. The Diet of Worms HRE Charles V - Frederick “The Wise” of Saxony
III. Reformation of the Radicals, 1530s - The Democratization of Christianity
A. Task of the New Reformers 1.Systematization - Reformation of Roman Church not possible - build a new set of institutions 2. Reform of society and religion
B. Geneva and John Calvin Swiss vote to become Protestant 2. John Calvin - The Institutes of the Christian Religion
C. Reform (Calvinist) Theology 1.Predestination - Grace was free gift, but not always accepted 2. Theocracy? - only the elect should govern church/society - experimental societies (Utopias)
D. The Ghost of John Calvin 1.Problem of Predestination 2.Puritanism -Moderation -Low Church
3. Conversion process - personal redemption - social/political reform 4. Rise of modern capitalism
5. Intolerance / paranoia - world full of secular, civil enemies - “democratic” Christianity prone to hysteria
E. Anabaptists 1.Rejection of society - communalism