Reformation: Religious Background Flashcards
How do we know that Europeans in the late middle ages were so worried about salvation?
Many masses were said for those in Purgatory
Why was Purgatory added to Latin teachings?
It was very discouraging to hear that getting into heaven was nearly impossible. People didn’t want to go to hell, so they needed a place in between to prevent people from giving up on religion and sinning aimlessly.
What was an indulgence?
money to the church to shorten time in purgatory for dead relatives OR reduce penance after confession
What was the origin of indulgences?
Knights during the Crusades sinned a lot and needed a way to undo their sins
What were the main two developments of the Second Information Revolution?
- made ideas more accessible (to the literate minority)
- increased demand for Bibles (especially in the vernacular)
What is Soteriology? Explain the path to salvation.
study of salvation
Jesus didn’t have to die b/c he was God, so he died voluntarily. God’s suffering is infinite, creating a huge amount of grace. People needed to tap into this grace “treasury” to ensure salvation. To do this, one could do a good work or complete a sacrament. Most sacraments, however, were something one only did once in their life time. This made penance the most important sacrament b/c one could do it frequently.
What year did Erasmus do his translation? What did it say?
1516
metanoite - Greek
translated originally to “poenitentiam agite” -> Do penance!
Erasmus translated it to “resipicite” -> Repent!
Why was Luther upset? What did he do?
He hated indulgences and wrote his 95 theses.
What did Luther argue about salvation?
We are saved by faith and faith alone
Why did Luther’s opinions create so much change?
Church went from communal to individual
