Renaissance & Renaissance & ReformationReformationSECTION 3 OBJ: Discuss Christian SECTION 3 OBJ: Discuss Christian Humanism & the development of Humanism & the development of ProtestantismProtestantism

I. Erasmus & Christian I. Erasmus & Christian HumanismHumanismA.A. The ideas of Italian Humanism spread to The ideas of Italian Humanism spread to

northern Europe creating a movement northern Europe creating a movement known as known as ChristianChristian HumanismHumanism. . Christian Humanists believed in the Christian Humanists believed in the ability of humans to reason and improve ability of humans to reason and improve themselves. themselves.

Prior to the Renaissance Prior to the Renaissance people believed & were told by the people believed & were told by the Church that you cannot improve your Church that you cannot improve your life. The Church had absolute authority life. The Church had absolute authority over the common peopleover the common people. .

Reasons for the Church’s Reasons for the Church’s absolute authorityabsolute authority

SerfdomSerfdom Gov. system where most commoners (peasants) were Gov. system where most commoners (peasants) were

attached to a lords land – form of slaveryattached to a lords land – form of slavery Divine Right MonarchiesDivine Right Monarchies

Kings & other rulers who believed & forced others to Kings & other rulers who believed & forced others to believe they were appointed by GODbelieve they were appointed by GOD

IlliteracyIlliteracy Most commoners could not read the Bible & understand Most commoners could not read the Bible & understand

it for themselves. Had to rely on what the Church told it for themselves. Had to rely on what the Church told them.them.

Latin (the official language of the Church)Latin (the official language of the Church) The Bible was written in Latin. Only the educated could The Bible was written in Latin. Only the educated could

read it.read it.

B.B. Christian Humanists wanted to reform the Christian Humanists wanted to reform the Catholic Church. They wanted the priests to: Catholic Church. They wanted the priests to:

1. stress inward piety through studying the works 1. stress inward piety through studying the works of Christianity.of Christianity.

2. stop treating Sunday service like a pagan 2. stop treating Sunday service like a pagan ritual.ritual.

3. preach to the needs of the people not the 3. preach to the needs of the people not the needs of the Church. needs of the Church.

C. C. ErasmusErasmus is the father & best - Known is the father & best - Known Christian Humanist. He developed Christian Humanist. He developed “Philosophy of Christ” to show people how to “Philosophy of Christ” to show people how to achieve salvation without the Church’s false achieve salvation without the Church’s false teachings and pagan rituals.teachings and pagan rituals.

……In order to reform the In order to reform the Church, he believed all Church, he believed all Christian Humanists Christian Humanists should spread the should spread the “Philosophy of Christ”, “Philosophy of Christ”, educate the common educate the common people about people about Christianity, & criticize Christianity, & criticize the abuses of the Church. the abuses of the Church. In 1509 he wrote In 1509 he wrote The The Praise of FollyPraise of Folly – – attacked the church.attacked the church.

ERASMUSERASMUS (1466 – 1536)(1466 – 1536)

II. Religion on the eve of II. Religion on the eve of revolutionrevolutionA.A. In the early 1500’s, corruption within the Catholic In the early 1500’s, corruption within the Catholic

Church had become so prevalent, the Christian Church had become so prevalent, the Christian Humanists & educated commoners (middle Humanists & educated commoners (middle class) started calling for reforms. class) started calling for reforms.

Some of the corruptions includedSome of the corruptions included:: Incompetent popes between 1450 – 1520Incompetent popes between 1450 – 1520 Selling of indulgencesSelling of indulgences Uneducated priestsUneducated priests Pagan ritualsPagan rituals Promotion within the church was political – not Promotion within the church was political – not

based on ability. “Good Old Boy” systembased on ability. “Good Old Boy” system Church not concerned with peoples needs – only Church not concerned with peoples needs – only

retaining authority over themretaining authority over them

B.B. Many church officials and local priests Many church officials and local priests were ignorant to their spiritual duties – were ignorant to their spiritual duties – especially the teaching of especially the teaching of salvationsalvation. As a . As a result, obtaining salvation became result, obtaining salvation became mechanical – collecting relics or giving mechanical – collecting relics or giving extra money. Also, extra money. Also, indulgencesindulgences were sold were sold to the people by the clergy. to the people by the clergy.

C.C. Due to corruption and dishonesty Due to corruption and dishonesty throughout the Church, many people throughout the Church, many people sought comfort through the “Modern sought comfort through the “Modern Devotion” which stressed the need to Devotion” which stressed the need to follow the teachings of Jesus, and not follow the teachings of Jesus, and not church doctrine. Most educated people church doctrine. Most educated people viewed the church as unconcerned with viewed the church as unconcerned with their spiritual needs.their spiritual needs.

This situation This situation helps to helps to explain the explain the teachings & teachings & ideas of ideas of Martin Martin LutherLuther..

Martin Luther (1483 – Martin Luther (1483 – 1546)1546)

Not to be confused Not to be confused with Martin Luther with Martin Luther King Jr. King Jr. (1929 – 1968)(1929 – 1968)

III. Martin LutherIII. Martin LutherA.A. Martin Luther was a monk & professor at Martin Luther was a monk & professor at

the University of Wittenberg. He rejected the University of Wittenberg. He rejected the teaching that both faith & good works the teaching that both faith & good works were necessary in order to achieve were necessary in order to achieve salvation. He believed salvation was salvation. He believed salvation was through faith alone. through faith alone. Justification by Faith Justification by Faith became the Protestant Church’s chief became the Protestant Church’s chief teaching. For all Protestants the Bible, not teaching. For all Protestants the Bible, not the Church, became the primary source the Church, became the primary source for religious truth and Knowledge.for religious truth and Knowledge.

B.B. Luther believed that the Luther believed that the selling of indulgences selling of indulgences hurt peoples chances of hurt peoples chances of achieving salvation. On achieving salvation. On October 31, 1517 Luther October 31, 1517 Luther posted his posted his 95 Theses95 Theses (on (on the door of the Castle the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg). Church in Wittenberg). The 95 Theses attacked The 95 Theses attacked the abuses of the Church the abuses of the Church - especially the selling of - especially the selling of indulgences.indulgences.

C.C. 1520 – Luther encouraged the German 1520 – Luther encouraged the German princes to overthrow the papacy and princes to overthrow the papacy and establish a reformed German Church. establish a reformed German Church. He wanted the reformed churches to He wanted the reformed churches to keep only 2 Catholic doctrines – keep only 2 Catholic doctrines – communion & baptism.communion & baptism.

He also believed He also believed the clergy the clergy

shouldshouldbe allowed be allowed

to marry.to marry.

D.D. The Catholic Church excommunicated The Catholic Church excommunicated Luther at his trial in the city of Worms in Luther at his trial in the city of Worms in 1521. Luther’s books were to be burned, 1521. Luther’s books were to be burned, and he was to be delivered to the emperor. and he was to be delivered to the emperor. Local rulers, however, protected him. Local rulers, however, protected him.

E.E. Luther’s religious movement soon became Luther’s religious movement soon became a revolution & gained support from many a revolution & gained support from many German rulers who took control of German rulers who took control of Catholic churches and formed state Catholic churches and formed state churches supervised by the government. churches supervised by the government. These churches had bible readings, These churches had bible readings, preaching from the Bible and singing to preaching from the Bible and singing to replace mass. This doctrine became replace mass. This doctrine became known as Lutheranism – the 1known as Lutheranism – the 1stst protestant protestant faith.faith.

IV. Politics in the German IV. Politics in the German ReformationReformationA.A. Charles V – Holy Roman Emperor. Ruled Spain (b/c Charles V – Holy Roman Emperor. Ruled Spain (b/c

he is from there), Austrian lands, Bohemia, part of he is from there), Austrian lands, Bohemia, part of Hungary, the Low Countries, Milan, Naples, German Hungary, the Low Countries, Milan, Naples, German States, and Spanish territory in the new world. He States, and Spanish territory in the new world. He wanted to keep his empire Catholic.wanted to keep his empire Catholic.

Problems within the Holy Roman Empire: Problems within the Holy Roman Empire: Rivalry with France - Francis IRivalry with France - Francis I Pope Clement II opposed him – sided with the Pope Clement II opposed him – sided with the French during Italian WarsFrench during Italian Wars Ottoman Empire was attacking from southOttoman Empire was attacking from south Individual rulers of the German states Individual rulers of the German states supported supported LutherLuther

B.B. In 1555 Charles V finally made peace In 1555 Charles V finally made peace with the German princes in the with the German princes in the Peace of Peace of AugsburgAugsburg. This treaty accepted the . This treaty accepted the division of Christianity within Germany. division of Christianity within Germany. The German states could choose to be The German states could choose to be either Catholic or Lutheran. Rulers would either Catholic or Lutheran. Rulers would choose not individuals. All states would choose not individuals. All states would have the same legal rights.have the same legal rights.

Charles V (1500 - 1558)Charles V (1500 - 1558)Holy Roman EmperorHoly Roman EmperorRuled: 1519 - 1558Ruled: 1519 - 1558

Q. & A.Q. & A. Why did the Church want to maintain absolute Why did the Church want to maintain absolute

authority over the people of Europe?authority over the people of Europe? Why was illiteracy so common during this time Why was illiteracy so common during this time

period?period? What made education so difficult to obtain?What made education so difficult to obtain? Who is the father of Christian Humanism?Who is the father of Christian Humanism? What is the What is the Philosophy of ChristPhilosophy of Christ?? What do you feel was wrong with the Catholic What do you feel was wrong with the Catholic

Church during this time period?Church during this time period? What are indulgences?What are indulgences?

Q. & A. Cont.Q. & A. Cont. What was the 95 Theses?What was the 95 Theses? Why was this such an important event in Why was this such an important event in

history?history? What is salvation?What is salvation? How did the Catholic Church view Luther & How did the Catholic Church view Luther &

why?why? What was the 1What was the 1stst Protestant Faith? Protestant Faith? What was the Peace of Augsburg?What was the Peace of Augsburg? Did the Peace of Augsburg establish complete Did the Peace of Augsburg establish complete

religious freedom? Explain your answer.religious freedom? Explain your answer.

Homework Activity:Homework Activity: Complete the Q. & A.Complete the Q. & A.

Create a chart comparing and contrasting Create a chart comparing and contrasting the Catholic faith with Protestant Faiths. List the Catholic faith with Protestant Faiths. List as many Protestant faiths as you can. List as many Protestant faiths as you can. List some of the other major religions of the some of the other major religions of the world & whether or not they have divisions world & whether or not they have divisions within them.within them.