The Reformation

What was the Reformation?

A 16th-century religious movement that aimed to reform corrupt practices in the Roman Catholic Church.

PAINS Framework

Mnemonic for major causes of abuse in the Catholic Church: Pluralism, Absenteeism, Indulgences, Nepotism, Simony.

Pluralism

Priests and bishops ruling over multiple parishes to collect multiple salaries.

Absenteeism

Priests or bishops being absent from their parishes for long periods due to holding multiple offices.

Indulgences

Payments to the Church for relief from punishment for sins, used to fund grand projects like St. Peter's Basilica.

Nepotism

High-ranking church leaders giving powerful positions to family members without regard for merit.

Simony

The buying and selling of sacred positions and offices within the Church.

Martin Luther's early life

Born in Saxony, Germany in 1483, became a monk after surviving a storm.

Justification by Faith Alone

The belief that salvation is a free gift from God based on true faith in Jesus Christ.

95 Theses

A list of 95 arguments by Martin Luther against the sale of indulgences and questioning papal authority.

Diet of Worms

The 1521 assembly where Martin Luther refused to recant his writings.

Edict of Worms

Proclamation by Charles V that declared Luther an outlaw and heretic.

Wartburg Castle

Where Luther was hidden for ten months and translated the New Testament into German.

Role of the Printing Press

Allowed Luther's ideas to spread rapidly and cheaply across Europe.

Definition of a Protestant

Any Western Christian who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and followed Reformation principles.

Main Differences: Catholic vs. Lutheran

Catholics follow the Pope; Lutherans follow Scripture alone. Catholics require both faith and works for salvation; Lutherans believe in faith alone.

Spread of Lutheranism in Europe

Supported by German princes for religious, political, and financial reasons.

Peace of Augsburg (1555)

Allowed German princes to choose between Lutheranism and Catholicism in their territories.

John Knox

Leader of the Scottish Reformation who founded the Presbyterian Church.

John Calvin

French reformer who established Calvinism in Geneva.

Predestination

Belief that God has predetermined who will be saved.

King Henry VIII

King of England who formed the Church of England after his divorce request was denied by the Pope.

The Counter-Reformation

The Catholic Church's response to correct internal corruption and resist the spread of Protestantism.