World History Ch 17, Section 3--Luther Leads the Reformation

Luther's teachings: 3 main ideas

1. "Good works" not needed for salvation, a person could win salvation based on faith. 2. Church teachings should be based on the Bible not the pope or Church traditions which could be corrupt or false. 3. Priests not needed to interpret the Bible because all people with faith were equal.

3 branches of Protestantism in 16th century

1.Lutheranism, based on teachings of Martin Luther 2. Calvinism, based on teachings of John Calvin 3. Anglicanism, established by King Henry VIII

What set the stage for the Reformation

By the tenth century, the Roman Catholic Church dominated religious life in Northern and Western Europe. Many people began to criticize the Church's practices. People felt that Church leaders were too interested in worldly pursuits, such as gaining wealth and political power

Because of Martin Luther's actions, Christianity has two main branches in the Western world. What are they?

Catholicism and Protestantism

What was the Peace of Augsburg?

Charles V went to war against the Protestant princes. Even though he defeated them, he got tired of fight and ordered all German princes from both sides to gather in city of Augsburg. There the princes agreed each ruler would decide the religion of his state. This agreement called the Peace of Augsburg

What was the Edict of Worms?

Charles' imperial order declaring Luther an outlaw and a heretic. It said no one in the empire was to give him food or shelter and all his books were to be burned.

Economic:

European princes and kings were jealous of the Church's wealth. Merchants and others resented having to pay taxes to the Church

Leo then did what?

Excommunicated Luther

What did Pope Leo X threatened Luther with if he didn't take back his statements?

Excommunication

Instead of taking back his statements, what did Luther do?

He burned the pope's decree in a bonfire.

What happened next?

Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, a devout Catholic, summoned Luther to the town of Worms to stand trial. Luther again refused to take back his statements.

95 Theses

Luther took a stand against a friar named Johann Tetzel who was selling indulgences to pay for the rebuilding of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. Indulgences: a pardon that 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 Tetzel gave people impression that they were buying their way into heaven. On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg. The 95 Theses were formal statements attacking "pardon merchants" Martin Luther's actions began the Reformation.

In 1522 Luther returned to Wittenberg and his followers became known as what?

Lutherans

Martin Luther

Parents wanted him to be a lwyer; instead he became a monk and a teacher. Taught scripture at University of Wittenberg in German state of Saxony. His 95 Theses began the Reformation.

Other examples

Pope Alexander VI admitted that he had fathered several children. Many priests and monks were poorly educated and couldn't teach people. Other clergy broke their vows by marring, drank, or gambled.

Political:

Powerful monarchs challenged the Church as the supreme power in Europe. Many leaders viewed the pope as a foreign ruler and challenged his authority

Who then helped Luther?

Prince Frederick the Wise of Saxony sheltered Luther in one of his castles for almost a year. During that time Luther translated the New Testament into German.

Causes of the Reformation (Weaknesses of the Church): Social:

Renaissance values of humanism and secularism led to people to question the Church. The printing press helped to spread ideas critical of the Church

Religious

Some Church leaders had become worldly (secular) and corrupt. Many people found Church practices such as the sale of indulgences unacceptable

Where did the term Protestant come from?

When German princes who remained loyal to the pope agreed to join forces against Luther's ideas, other princes who supported Luther signed a protest. These protesting princes came to be known as Protestants. Eventually the term Protestant was applied to Christians who belonged to non-Catholic churches.

Reformation: A movement of what?

religious reform