17.3 and 17.4 Test Flashcards
By the tenth century, the Catholic church dominated religious life in:
Northern and Western Europe
People questioned the church’s methods because:
They felt that the Church leaders were too interested in secular pursuits, such as gaining money and political power.
What was the social cause of the religious reformation:
Renaissance values led people to criticize the Church. The printing press helped to spread ideas critical of the church.
What was the political cause of the Religious Reformation:
Kings challenged the Church as the political/supreme power in Europe. Many leaders viewed the pope as a foreign leader and challenged his authority.
What was the economic cause of the Religious Reformation?
European princes and kings were jealous of the Church’s wealth. Merchants and others resented having to pay taxes to the Church.
What was the religious cause for the Religious Reformation:
Some Church leaders had become secular and corrupt. Many people found Church practices such as indulgences as unacceptable.
Other problems w/ the church
Pope Alexander VI admitted to fathering children. Many priests and monks were poorly educated and couldn’t control people. Other clergy married, drank, or gambled. Simony, Lay Investiture, and the age old division of Church vs. State
Who (before Martin Luther) advocated for Church reform?
In the late 1300’s and early 1400’s, John Wycliffe of England and Jan Hus of Bohemia. In the 1500’s, Desiderius Erasmus and Thomas More.
Martin Luther:
His parents wanted him to be a lawyer, but instead he became a monk and a teacher. He taught scriptures at the University of Wittenberg in Saxony. His 95 theses began the reformation. Martin Luther personally believed it was ok for clergy to marry.
Johann Tetzel
Johann Tetzel was a friar who was raising money to rebuild St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, by selling indulgences. Luther took a public stand against him.
95 Theses
Luther wrote this formal statements about Johann Tetzel selling indulgences. He wrote about these statements, saying that indulgences were not supposed to affect God’s judgement. He put these 95 Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg.
Luther’s Teachings
Luther went beyond criticizing indulgences. He wanted full reform of the church. These were his 3 main teachings:
- People would be forgived by God through faith, not good works.
- Church teachings should be based on the Bible, not the Pope or Church traditions bc they could be corrupt or false.
- Priests were not needed to interpret the Bible because all people with faith were equal.
The response to Luther:
Luther’s ideas rapidly spread.
- Pope Leo X saw him as a threat and threatened to excommunicate him.
- Luther was rebellious so Pope Leo X excommunicated him.
- Charles V summoned Luther to recant his statements. When Luther didn’t, Charles released the Edict of Worms, which declared Luther an outlaw.
Who sheltered Luther, and what did Luther do there?
Frederick the Wise of Saxony sheltered Luther and Luther there translated the New Testament into German.
What were Luther’s followers known as?
Lutherans.