Protestant Reformation Review

Overview of the Protestant Reformation

• Date: 16th Century
• Significant religious movement that challenged the Catholic Church's practices and beliefs.

Catholic Church Before the Reformation

• Dominance:
• Majority of Europeans were Roman Catholics.
• The Church unified Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, wielding vast influence.

Initiation of the Reformation

• Key Figure:
• Martin Luther: A German monk whose actions sparked the Reformation.
• Motivated by a near-death experience during a thunderstorm in 1505.

Concerns in Rome (1505)

• Observed the moral corruption and sale of indulgences which troubled him.

Luther's Journey to Wittenberg

• Sent to the University of Wittenberg as part of his order's mission.

Theological Revelation

• Sola Fide: Luther's belief that faith alone is necessary for salvation, conflicting with Catholic doctrine that includes good works.

95 Theses

• In response to indulgences, Luther published his 95 Theses outlining his critiques of the Church.

Debates and Influence

• Denied the legitimacy of the papacy and asserted the Bible as the sole source of knowledge.
• Influential due to the introduction of the printing press, enabling mass circulation of his ideas.

Translation of the Bible

• Luther translated the Bible into German, making it accessible to the common people and fostering individual interpretations.

New Protestant Beliefs

• Protestants emphasized Biblical authority, salvation through faith, and direct access to God while rejecting papal authority.

Social Revolt

• The Reformation sparked social revolts challenging both religious and political authority, exemplified by the Twelve Articles demanding reform.
• Martin Luther did not approve of the violent upheaval despite advocating for spiritual freedom.

German Peasants' Revolt

• Outcome: The revolt failed politically but weakened the nobility's power and strengthened social divisions.

Lutheran State Church

• Sweden established the first Lutheran state church in 1522 as political leaders sought to gain power and wealth by breaking from the Catholic Church.

Spread of Reformation

• Switzerland: Early reformers like Zwingli led to the rejection of Catholic rituals but faced conflict.
• England: The Reformation spread when King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church in 1534, leading to the establishment of Anglicanism.

Elizabeth I's Reforms

• Made the Church of England moderate, reaffirming royal supremacy.

Catholic Church's Response

• Countered the Reformation with doctrinal reforms in the Council of Trent and the establishment of the Jesuits to promote Catholicism.

Cost of the Reformation

• Led to wars in Northern Europe as the struggle between Protestant and Catholic factions intensified.