Erasmus on the Protestant Reformation

Erasmus

Most influential Christian humanist who wanted to reform Christianity through education and a return to early Christian human teachings

What did Erasmus criticize?

Corruption (abuse of power) and abuses among Church officials

What did Erasmus believe

Living morally, and following Christ

Why was Erasmus important to the reformation?

Erasmus helped create an intellectual environment, where criticism of the church became more common

The praise of folly

Satirical work that criticized church officials written by Erasmus in 1511

Christian humanists

Believed that people could improve Christianity through education, studying ancient texts, and studying the Bible

Martin Luther

Protestant reformer, Rejected catholic authority, leader of Protestantism

What did Luther criticize

Church abuses

What did Luther reforms lead to?

A break between protestants and Catholic

What did Erasmus and Luther disagree about?

Free will

Erasmus’ view on free will

More emphasis on human free will

Luther’s view of free will

Stronger emphasis on God’s grace

Erasmus view of the church

He believed Christianity should focus more on Christ, scripture, morality, education rather than excessive emphasis on ritual, church ceremonies, or corruption

Erasmus and the printing press

It allowed Erasmus’s ideas to spread throughout Europe, connecting him to the protestant reformation and Northern Renaissance

What ideas did the printing press help Erasmus spread?

Criticism of the church spreads, and then more people become aware of religious reform ideas