The Protestant Reformation The Challenging of the Church
Mar 28, 2015
The Protestant Reformation
The Challenging of the Church
A PROTEST against Church Abuses and a REFORM movement in the Christian Church.
Prior to the Reformation many Europeans Christians were Roman Catholic
People like Martin Luther wanted to get rid of the corruption and restore the people’s faith in the church
100 Years War and Black Death Scientific Advances which contradicted
the Church The Corruption within the Catholic Church Availability of printed books such as the
Bible. Revival of education in Europe; which
emphasized critical thinking.
Gutenberg’s Printing Press
Before the press was invented, books had to be written by hand
After the plague decimated the population of Europe, new technologies were created to make up for the lack of workers
The printing press helped spread information to the masses very quickly
Helped to spread Reformation literature
Abuses of the Church Pope Leo X’s lifestyle.
Very wealthy lifestyle based on gifts to the church Very influential in Italian politics
Sales of Indulgences. An indulgence was a pardon. It released a sinner from performing the
penalty that a priest imposed for sins. Indulgences were not supposed to affect God's right to judge, but they gave people the impression that by buying indulgences, they could buy their way into heaven.
Sales of Relics (relics, which can include the fragments of saints' bodies, pieces of clothing or rosaries, serve as mementos of the individual saint.)
Sales of Church Offices.
Martin Luther John Calvin
Martin Luther
Lived from 1483-1546
in Germany
Criticized Church practices and the leadership of the Church in 95 Theses.
Posted his 95 Theses on Church doors in Germany
Printing Press made it possible for Luther to spread his beliefs
The Trial of Luther
The Diet of Worms This was a meeting in the city of Worms
1520 Pope Leo X order Luther to give up his beliefs
Luther burned the order and was excommunicated
Luther went into hiding where he translated the New Testament into German – spreading his beliefs even further
He was the Pope during the height of the corruption
John Calvin
John Calvin (1509AD) Geneva, Switzerland
Key Doctrine: Predestination: a belief that God alone directs past, present, future.
At birth it is decided if you will go to heaven or hell
Church body regulated behavior – drinking, gambling, card playing forbidden
Takes hold in France & Scotland
Results of the Reformation
There is another GREAT SCHISM within the world of Christians
Division of Christianity
Map of Christianity
after the Reformation