The Protestant Reformation

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The Protestant Reformation

• Europe
• 1517 c. 1650

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The Reformation the movement to reform (change)
the Christian church in Western Europe

• reform to change for the better
• The Reformation began with people (esp. Martin
  Luther) questioning the teachings and practices
  of the Catholic church and ended with the
  formation of different sects (types) of Christian
  churches

• Martin Luther stands up to the Catholic church at
  the Diet of Worms

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Corruption in the Catholic Church during the
Middle Ages

• During the Middle Ages, the Catholic church had
  much power. It developed several practices that
  angered some catholic thinkers
• Sale of indulgences
• - The Church taught that when Christians died,
  they went to a temporary place called purgatory
  where they were punished for their sins
  (wrongdoings). After a while of suffering, they
  went to heaven.
• - An indulgence was something that reduced the
  amount of time someone spent in purgatory. It
  was usually sold as a piece of paper, signed by
  the Pope. People were taught that the more money
  they paid, the quicker they or their loved one
  would get to heaven.
• - The Church used these sales to raise money.

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This picture demonstrates the medieval Church
teaching on purgatory.

• 4. Then, people can end up in
• Heaven with God.
• 3. This shows the role of the Church.
• People can must go through the
• Church to get out of purgatory.
• 1. Here are common people in normal life.
• 2. Here are the people in purgatory once they die.

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Indulgences

• This picture shows a poor
• woman paying money to a
• Clergyman for an indulgence.

• In the movie Luther, Martin Luther becomes angry
  at the thought of poor people paying money for a
  worthless piece of paper.

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Church Corruption (contd)

• Immoral and ignorant priests / clergy
• - Many clergy often broke their vows they were
  rich (breaking the vow of poverty), they had
  children (breaking the vow of chastity), and
  abused their power
• - Many clergy could not read, so they did not
  know the Bible personally. They were supposed to
  be teaching the people, but they were ignorant
  about the teachings and beliefs of Christianity.
• Enormous wealth of the Catholic church
• - The Church was one of the richest
  institutions in Europe during the Middle Ages and
  it paid no taxes.
• - Most people were very poor in the Mid. Ages
• - The Church still required people to give it
  money.

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Martin Luther

• Martin Luther was a Catholic monk who disagreed
  with the corrupt Church teachings and practices.
• On October 31 1517, Luther posted 95 Theses
  (arguments) on the door of the castle church in
  Wittenberg.
• These theses outlined Luthers disagreements with
  the Church.

• Luther nails his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg door
  (movie, Luther.)

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By the way,

• This is
• Martin Luther King,Jr.
• We love him! But he is NOT the guy we are
  talking about!

• This is Martin Luther.
• THIS is the guy with the 95 Theses!

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Martin luther

• However, the reformation had been brewing across
  Europe for many years (click here to read about
  Pre-Reformers such as Hus, Wycliffe...). Luther
  was fortunate to have a protector and supporter,
  Frederick the Wise. The invention of moveable
  type by Gutenberg, also meant that Luther's
  books, Bibles, pamphlets etc could be widely
  distributed. Back to top

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Other figures

• Calvin
• Tyndale
• Henry VIII church of England

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Counter reformation
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Effects of reformation
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Effects of reformation
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summary
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