21.01.2026: Reformation in Switzerland, Anabaptists, John Calvin, England, and John Knox

Who led the Reformation in Switzerland?

Ulrich Zwingli: military chaplain by day, ladies’ man by night.

What does Ulrich Zwingli do in Zurich that’s significant to Protestantism?

In Zurich, Zwingli defended the Lenten fast-breakers, which was the first political backing of Protestantism

True or False: Zwingli breaks off from Luther, and Luther wasn’t happy.

True! Zwingli and Luther did not get along.

How did Luther teach Scripture?

Luther emphasized Scripture as the central teaching (sola scriptura), but stripped out the books that emphasized the necessity of good works (such as Maccabees).

What happened in 1529?

The start of the Catholic/Protestant Canton War! The Hapsburgs backed the Catholics.

What happened on 10.11.1531? Be specific!

The Battle of Cappel.

Zwingli is killed, Protestants go on the run, and the cantons want to convert everyone back to Catholicism.

What is the Peace of Cappel?

Follows the Battle of Cappel. Allows Protestants to exist, but Catholics can exist on Protestant land (BUT Protestants cannot exist on Catholic land).

Who are the Anabaptists?

Modern Mennonites (the Amish)

Are the Anabaptists “radical”? What are their main beliefs?

Yes, they are radical.

They do not believe in baptism; adults need to choose baptism for themselves. They also take Scripture entirely literally.

Who was John of Leiden?

He ran the most radical group of Anabaptists. He believed in polygamy, preached about the “Kingdom of New Righteousness", claimed he was the “new Messiah”, believed in rebaptism, and claimed that no one could own private property.

What happened in 1535? What is the result?

The Siege of Munster

Walls are breached, casualties, burning heretics at the stake (painful purification), Leiden is captured and executed

Result: Anabaptists are pushed into the quiet life.

Who takes over the Mennonites after Leiden dies?

Menno Simmons (hence the name “MENNOnite").

Which famous person in history was a Mennonite?

Eisenhower

Who was John Calvin? When does he convert to Protestantism and why?

French civil and canon lawyer

Converts to Protestantism in 1529 (his dad’s client, a bishop, has a falling out with Calvin’s father, cuing Calvin’s own break with Catholicism)

Where is Calvin by 1536 and why?

Charles V kicked Calvin out, ends up in Geneva permanently by 1536

True or False: Calvinism and Islam are similar.

True! Legalistically, Calvinism and Islam are similar, as they both do not believe in iconography or predestination.

What were the qualifications for predestination?

Wealthy, calvinist beliefs, prosperous, consistently had good fortune

What was the result of Calvin’s predestination teachings?

Spiritual competition and spiritual subjectivity

True or False: Just like Catholicism, Calvinism is a great mystery of faith.

False! There aren’t any mysteries left to be beheld by the faithful in Calvinism.

What’s the significance of Geneva to Calvin? Who governs Geneva in his absence? Be specific!

Calvin makes Geneva a theocracy, run by “The Elders”

• The administrators were “The Deacons”

• The educators were “The Doctors and Preachers”

You always have someone higher than you to look up to and answer to!

What is Calvinism’s nickname?

The NFL: “NoFunLeague”

The NFL of Protestantism is Calvinism, especially in this era of musical evolution in which Calvinism is born into.

True or False: Catharine of Aragon was only ever married to Henry VIII.

FALSE. Henry VII married Catharine to his son Arthur, then to Henry VIII once Arthur died.

When does Henry VIII come into power? Did he seem promising? What was the exception? Be specific!

Henry VIII becomes king in 1509. He was a humanist, athlete, amateur theologian, seemed like a great guy!

HOWEVER, he was only ever raised as the “spare”, and was never trained to be king. This made him arrogant, spoiled, autocratic, and even indulgent.

To which two modern royals can we compare Henry VIII and Arthur to?

Arthur was to William as Henry VIII was to Harry.

After what is Henry’s rule?

Dynastic war (the War of Roses)

What is the title of the English King? With whom did it start?

“Defensur fidei”: “Defender of the Faith”. This starts with Henry VIII!

Who led the effort for Henry to divorce Catharine of Aragon?

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey

Who are THE THOMASES?

1. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey

2. Secretary Thomas Cromwell

3. Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer

4. Abp. St. Thomas More

Who was Thomas Wolsey?

• Cardinal

• Son of a dishonest butcher

• Pluralist and absenteeist

• Chancellor of England

• NOT a good guy

Who was Pope at the time everything with Henry and Catharine of Aragon was going down?

Clement VII, and all of this put him in a tough spot! He was faced with possibly excommunicating the KING OF ENGLAND.

What happens in Henry’s life in 1526?

His new woman, Anne Boleyn, is making him wait to make anything permanent, which is making Henry even more impatient and desperate for the Aragon divorce.

Does Clement give a letter of divorce? If not, why?

Clement makes a letter, but Charles V freaks out and threatens war if Clement goes through with it, so Clement does not officially send an approval letter to Henry.

What happens after Henry doesn’t get his letter of divorce?

Henry fires Wolsey and appoints layman Thomas More as Chancellor (the first layman EVER to receive the position)

What happens in 1530? Be specific, and give all the ripple effects.

Henry goes to the English clergy with a old law in the Constitution that results in him becoming the Churchhead.

• Thomas More resigns

• Henry gives the approval for his own divorce, marries Anne Boleyn, gets excommunicated from the Catholic Church, gets involved in parliament and passes several laws that remove clauses about divine approval for divorces (this seals the deal for Thomas More, he refuses to acknowledge this, and he gets beheaded/is martyred.)

What is the Act of Supremacy?

A 1534 document in which Henry made his subjects sign acknowledgement of his rightful place as head of the Church and thus that all actions flowing from that were legit and sanctioned by God. Thomas More does not sign this, and this is why he is beheaded.

What are some religious actions that occur after Henry becomes Churchhead?

Henry dissolves monasteries for money (he doesn’t see them, especially the contemplative ones, as reasonable investments), ensues the “Pilgrimage of Grace”, which is led by the Darcys

What is the Pilgrimage of Grace?

The Pilgrimage of Grace (1536–1537) was the largest popular rebellion against King Henry VIII, arising in Northern England to oppose the dissolution of monasteries and religious reformation. Led by lawyer Robert Aske, 50,000 "pilgrims" demanded a return to Catholicism, removal of Thomas Cromwell, and economic relief.