Protestant Reformation

  1. Protestant Reformation

Series of events (in the 1500s) that caused religious reform, sparking some Catholics to split from the Roman Catholic Church and form new Christian religions, known as Protestants. 

  1. Protestant

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

  1. Pope

Leader of the Roman Catholic Church - at this time was seen as corrupt to many

  1. Concerned with political power over religious concerns

  2. Spent lavishly on his lifestyle (St. Peter’s Basilica/artwork)

  3. Accepted bribes for church jobs

  4. Approved the sale of indulgences

  1. Salvation

deliverance to heaven; getting into heaven 

  1. Indulgence

A pardon for a sin given by the Pope; this was not found in the Bible - just made up by the Pope to get money

  1. Tithe

10% income tax owed to the Catholic Church

  1. Vernacular

Common everyday language (not used in Bible until this time - Prot. Ref)

  1. Martin Luther

Catholic monk, upset over the sale of indulgences and other corruptions in the Catholic Church - wrote the 95 Theses (complaints) and sparked revolution.

  1. 95 Theses

A list of Luther’s complaints against the actions of the Catholic Church which sparked the Reformation.

  1. Lutheranism

followers of Luther’s teachings – based on the basic beliefs: 

A. salvation by faith alone

B: all people are equal

C. God/Bible is the ultimate authority.

  1. Printing Press

More Books were available due to the machine used to print = the cheaper books so  increased literacy.  Many Bibles were printed in the vernacular so for the first time in history the common person could interpret the Bible on their own and create new views

  1. Calvinism

Protestant religion based on the beliefs of John Calvin and his philosophy of Predestination – God has decided who was/is saved (gone/going to heaven)

Created a theocracy – a government run by religious leaders with very strict rules

  1. Huguenots

French Protestants

  1. King Henry VIII

King of England (Tudor Family) separated from the Catholic Church and formed his own religion called the Church of England 

  • he wanted to divorce to remarry to have a son to inherit his throne

  • Pope denied his annulment (divorce) and made Henry mad

  • Henry made his own church - named himself the leader & divorced his wife

  1. Queen Mary I

  • First daughter of Henry VII – also called “Blood Mary”

  • Catholic - daughter of his first wife

  • First queen of England

  • Forced the English to convert BACK to Catholicism

  • Executed any who opposed Catholicism - hundreds of Protestants killed.  

  1. Queen Elizabeth I

  • 2nd daughter of Henry VII, born Protestant.  

  • Called the “peaceful queen” because she made England Protestant again.

  • created the Anglican Church – mixed Catholic and Protestant traditions.

  • because of this mixed religion -  Puritans formed

  • Note - she really was not peaceful - executed more than her own sister did

  • Also called the “Virgin Queen” because she never married

  1. Puritans

  • Members of the Church of England who wanted to get rid of Catholic traditions in the Church of England.  

  • They wanted to “purify” their religion of Catholic traditions.

  • Many moved to Massachusetts, and followed their strict religious views here.

  1. Pilgrims

  • Left England for religious freedom (escape religious persecution / discrimination) 

  • called Separatists - a group of people who wanted to separate from the English government’s influence on their religion

  • they established Plymouth Colony 1620