1. The Protestant Reformation

2. The Power of the Catholic Church
Before the Reformation…
The Catholic Church and the Pope were very powerful
Made many political decisions
Very wealthy (people left land and money to the Church and the Church paid no taxes)
People could “buy” their way out of sin
Why would these things anger people?

3. Anger at the Church Martin Luther Complaints German priest
Angry with the Church
Complaints
Church was not very religious anymore
Too concerned with wealth and power
Sold Indulgences – People could pay money to be forgiven for sins (buy your way into heaven)

5. 95 Theses
Martin Luther nails a list of 95 complaints (Theses) to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany
Thanks to the Printing Press these ideas spread quickly
Protestants: People who protested against the Catholic Church

7. Protestants Main ideas: Begin to form their own Christian groups
You don’t need priests to talk to God for you
Religious texts should be written in the language of the people not Latin
Begin to form their own Christian groups
Baptists, Calvinists, Lutherans, Church of England, etc.

9. Catholic Church Response
Catholic Church starts a counter-Reformation
Change from within before they lost power to the Protestants
Agree to stop selling indulgences but reject the ideas of the Protestants
Send missionaries to all parts of the world (Asia, Americas, Africa, etc.) to convert people to Catholicism

11. Effects? Positive: No more selling indulgences
Church officials must live in areas they are responsible for
Many new groups form
People begin to run their own Churches = people decide they can run their own governments (want more democracy)
People believe that their ideas are important and valid
Science develops as people attempt to explain a world not controlled by religion

12. Effects? Negative Many wars erupt
The 30 Years’ war – Catholics vs. Protestants (8 Million Casualties)
Violence between Catholic groups and Protestants increases
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, etc.
Intolerance for non-Christian Religions
The Inquisition (Tens or Hundreds of Thousands killed)
Force people to Convert to Christianity