What is Reformation?

Reformation is…..the action or process of reforming an

institution or practice: "the reformation of the Senate"a 16th-century movement for the reform of

abuses in the Roman Catholic Church ending in the establishment of the Reformed and Protestant Churches.

Church Organization

PopeCardinals

ArchbishopsBishopsPriests

Monks/NunsCongregation

What does Protestant mean?

a member or follower of any of the Western Christian churches that are separate from the Roman Catholic Church and follow the principles of the Reformation, including the Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches.

The Protestant ReformationA series of events in the 1500s that

led to a new form of Christianity known as Protestantism.Nearly ¼ of all Christians in the world today are Protestants.

Most of the churches right here in Morehead are Protestant.

Read Pages 61 & 62- Background to the Reformation

Causes of the Reformation1.) Renaissance attitude of secularism (worldiness)

-spirit of curiosity, improvement was valued.2.) Resentment of Church power and wealth

-Political power, taxes, land ownership3.) Church abuses (corruption)

Immorality (fornication, gambling, drunkeness)

Ignorance (lack of education, illiteracy)Pluralism/Absenteeism (misuse of money,

neglecting spiritual duties)

Martin Luther1483-1546

From Germany, son of a copper minerLightning storm1505- entered a monastery1507- became an ordained priest1512- became a professor of theology at the

University of Wittenberg.Struggled with anxiety over his salvation

“He who through faith is righteous shall live”Began to disagree with Catholic Church

teachings

Luther writes the 95 ThesesWhat prompted him?

The sale of indulgences (pardons for sins) Remission, after death, of all or part of the

punishment for sin Replaced traditional act of penance (fasting, prayer,

etc…)Johann Tetzel – “As soon as the coin in the

coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs”Luther’s protests:

Unfair to the poor Gave people false sense of salvation

95 ThesesOct. 31, 1517: Luther nailed the 95 Theses on

the door of the Church.Wanted reform, not to break from the church.Quickly reprinted in the vernacular ; spread

quickly due to the printing press.Luther’s ideas were so popular because of

the environment of backlash that already existed.

His popularity and followers make him a huge threat in the eyes of the Church.

Read pages 62-63- Catalyst of Change

Luther’s Teachings-What Luther wanted to change:

No IndulgencesNo ConfessionNo PilgrimagesNo Prayers to saintsSimplify ritual of the mass, instead focus on

sermonClergy should be able to marry

Martin LutherChurch officials asked him to recant; he

refusedSummoned to appear at the Diet of Worms Excommunicated and declared an outlawTranslated the New Testament into German

during his year of hiding.Some of his teachings had already been put

into action = Lutherans – the first Protestant church.

1555- Peace of Augsburg

Read Page 64

Page 65 – John CalvinWhat were Calvin’s ideas?How were Calvin’s ideas put into practice?