WHI.30

media type="custom" key="29537097" align="right" =Describe the Origins and Effects of the Protestant Reformation=
 *  **

Topics on the Page

 * A. the reasons for the growing discontent with the Catholic Church, including the main ideas of Martin Luther and John Calvin **
 * B. the spread of Protestantism across Europe, including the reasons and consequences of England’s break with the Catholic Church **
 * **Martin Luther and the 95 Theses**
 * **John Calvin**
 * **Women of the Protestant Reformation**
 * **Catherine de Medici**
 * C. the weakening of a uniform Christian faith **
 * D. the consolidation of royal power **
 * **//The Protestant Ethic and the Rise of Capitalism// by Max Webe**r

For background on the Reformation, see this BBC website which features a nice overview of the Middle Ages in Europe.

//Focus Question: Why was there growing discontent with the Catholic Church before the Protestant Reformation?//

 * 1400 - 1500s: Issues that lead to corruption in the Catholic church were based on individual problems as well as problems with the spiritual practices of the Catholic church.**

__**Individual Issues**__ Popes were living as secular rulers, mainly based on wealth. Therefore, many citizens had issues with the way the church was earning and spending money. The church offered the public three different ways to purchase salvation. These practices were highly criticized for how they turned religious practices into wealth, primarily benefiting the clergy.
 * 1) Dispensations: exemptions from obligations were available for sale to whomever could afford them.
 * 2) Indulgences offered guaranteed passage to heaven, bypassing purgatory, and were available for purchase to whomever could afford them.
 * 3) Buying/selling of church offices: individuals could buy and sell offices of members of the clergy.

__**Issues with Spiritual Practices**__
 * At this time, the church was considered the only intermediary between God and His people. Catholics were required to follow all church laws, receive all sacraments and read and understand the Bible. The church seemed to be getting away from its traditional practices and this led to the Catholic community's want for simplification of the church organization and practices.
 * The sale of indulgences and other corruption of [|Pope Alexander's] papacy led Luther to issue his 95 Theses, thus starting the Protestant Reformation.


 * 1450-1520, The Renaissance Popes** were very concerned with personal advancement and personal wealth.
 * Some had children even though they took vows of celibacy.
 * The sale of INDULGENCES was a major critique: pay a fee to shorten your time in purgatory, too much emphasis on giving money to God.
 * The church waived its responsibility to the poor, schools, and arts during this time
 * Religious life suffered and the Sacraments became meaningless

//**Focus Question: What were the causes and consequences of the Protestant Reformation and the spread of Protestantism?**//

 * The** **Protestant Reformation** began in 1517

Timeline of Protestant Reformation from TimeToast.

One of the founders of the Reformation was Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) >
 * Mentioned in the famous quote,"Erasmus laid the Egg that Luther hatched." Desiderius Erasmus published an annotated version of the New Testament in which he introduced a more pragmatic and rational conception of the religious doctrine.
 * This effort irritated both the old and the new religious thinkers. The old order was upset with Erasmus's deviation from orthodox standards, while the new was upset that Erasmus did not continue with his preaching; they felt that he was cowardly in his attempt to change and improve Christianity.

[|Martin Luther]
For more background, see [|Martin Luther: The Reluctant Revolutionary] from PBS.

Luther was a lawyer, a professor, a monk, musician and a priest/pastor. He believed people could gain justification by grace alone and he was against the selling of indulgences.

In 1517, he posted his 95 Theses. Rap video of the 95 Theses.

Luther refused to recant his views and would have been arrested, but he was protected by Frederick of Saxony.
 * A religious change movement grew, and Luther focused on improving “the Mass” by preaching in his native tongue (German, not Latin), reading from the Bible he had translated into German, and singing and using music in the worship
 * The Holy Roman Emperor was unable to stop him, so Charles V negotiated a truce: the [|PEACE OF AUGSBURG 1555].
 * The split of Christianity was acknowledged, and 40 years later half of Europe was Protestant.
 * [|Peace of Augsburg Study Quiz]

Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast "Prophets of Doom" elucidates the volatility of the religious landscape during the Reformation by telling the story of the takeover of the German city of Muenster by utopian Anabaptists who were too radical even for other Protestants.

John Calvin 1509-1564

 * Born in France, Calvin was also educated as a lawyer. In 1534, after proclaiming himself a Protestant, he fled to Basel, Switzerland.
 * He wrote //Institutes of the Christian Religion// (1536) and preached in Geneva. His ideas influenced followers in France, England, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
 * Calvinists developed political theories including the beliefs that all believers were considered priests, that only God could save souls by grace, there was an “ELECT” who would be saved, “Predestination,” and others, called the "reprobate" would be damned.
 * Calvinists believed that one should look the part of being saved, thus no dancing, swearing, singing obscene songs, drinking, or playing cards. Calvin's style of church government became the modern Presbyterian faith.

[[image:Female_Rose.png]]**Women of the Protestant Reformation**

 * Marguerite de Navarre was the Princess of France and her cultural and intellectual successes made her an influential female figure during Europe's Renaissance age. **


 * The only wife of John Calvin: Idelette de Bure**


 * [|Katharina von Bora] was the wife of Martin Luther and is known for setting the standard and example of Protestant family life.**


 * Catherine de Medici**
 * **For more on Catherine, see WHI.32**

//**Focus Question: How did the Protestant Reformation affect the power of kings?**//
In England, the Reformation was an act of the State.

Before his notorious divorce, Henry VIII had been a devout Catholic, even being given the name //Defender of the Faith// by the Pope in his youth.

Henry VIII was impatient with waiting for an annulment from the Pope to divorce Catherine of Aragon because he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. In 1534, Henry VIII had the Archbishop of Canterbury pass an act saying the Pope had no authority in England, and that the King was the official head of the church in England. He did not change much according to ceremony, doctrine, or theology.

Click [|here] for a video about Henry VIII's tumultuous relationship with the Church

Click here for a song about Henry VIII and his wives

After Henry's death his son Edward VI 1547-1553, made a few changes which marked the start of the modern Anglican Church, including allowing clergy to marry.

Mary succeeds Edward VI, changing England back to Catholic.

[|Elizabeth I] (1558-1603) ascends after, and changes England back to Protestant.

As a result of the Protestant Reformation:
 * Europe was divided by Catholics and Non-Catholics
 * It stimulated reform inside the Catholic Church
 * Established state churches, like in England
 * Lutherans were mostly conservative
 * Calvinists supported democracy, man's right to oppose tyranny
 * Protestant Ethic is formulated with an emphasis on family, community participation, industriousness, thrifty living, and careful management of material things
 * Promoted literacy, education, respect, and study of the classics
 * It contributed to the growth of industry and commerce in the 1700s and 1800s

Link here for the text of //[|The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism], a classic view of capitalism's emergence from Protestant ethic //by Max Weber.


 * Max Weber Reference Archive**

Lecture: Weber on Protestantism and Capitalism, from Open Yale Courses

Author, reformation. Retrieved February 21, 2007, from reformation Web site: //Reformation//. (1972). //Reformation// Vol. 4-7). USA: Field Enterprises Educational Davidson, &Gienapp, James, & William (1999). //Nation of nations//. Boston, MA Duniker/Spielvogel, David (2005). //The essential world history//. Belmont, CA:Duniker/Spielvogel, David (2005). //The essential world history//. Belmont, CA:
 * Sources**