Protestant Reformation

Protestant Reformation

A series of events in the 1500s that caused religious reform and led to the creation of new Christian religions, known as Protestants.

Protestant

A Christian who is not Roman Catholic but holds the same basic beliefs in Jesus.

Pope

Leader of the Roman Catholic Church, seen as corrupt by many during this time.

Salvation

Deliverance to heaven; getting into heaven.

Indulgence

A pardon for a sin given by the Pope that was not found in the Bible, created to gain money.

Tithe

A 10% income tax owed to the Catholic Church.

Vernacular

Common everyday language, which was not used in the Bible until the Protestant Reformation.

Martin Luther

A Catholic monk who challenged the Catholic Church's corruptions and sparked the Reformation by writing the 95 Theses.

95 Theses

A list of Luther's complaints against the Catholic Church's practices, which sparked the Reformation.

Lutheranism

The faith and teachings of Martin Luther, emphasizing salvation by faith alone and equality of all people.

Printing Press

A technology that allowed for the mass production of books, increasing literacy and making Bibles available in vernacular.

Calvinism

A Protestant religion based on John Calvin's beliefs, including the concept of predestination.

Huguenots

French Protestants who followed the teachings of the Reformation.

King Henry VIII

King of England who separated from the Catholic Church and formed the Church of England to obtain a divorce.

Queen Mary I

First daughter of Henry VIII, known as "Bloody Mary" for her persecution of Protestants.

Queen Elizabeth I

Second daughter of Henry VIII, known as the "Virgin Queen" for her reforms that made England Protestant again.

Puritans

Members of the Church of England who sought to eliminate Catholic traditions from their worship.

Pilgrims

Separatists who left England for religious freedom and established Plymouth Colony in 1620.