UNIT 11: THE REFORMATION

Question 1

The Reformation

Answer 1

Break-up of Christian Communion

Question 2

Four Significant Factors that led to the break-up of the Christian communion and developments through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance…

Answer 2

1. RENAISSANCE POPES
2. EDUCATION, ART & LITERATURE
3. POLITICAL CHANGE
4. HUMANISM

Question 3

Four Significant Factors that led to the break-up of the Christian communion and developments through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance…

1. RENAISSANCE POPES

Answer 3

“Naughty, Neutral and Nice” Popes of the Renaissance
The decline in the influence of the papacy because of such things as the Avignon Papacy and the Western Schism
Calls for reform unheeded by most popes of the period; e.g., Council of Constance (1414-1418)

Question 4

Four Significant Factors that led to the break-up of the Christian communion and developments through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance…

2. EDUCATION, ART & LITERATURE

Answer 4

Promotion of Education, Art and Literature
New ways of thinking; e.g., the philosophy of Nominalism (no more universal terms), individualism, subjectivity – all led to distrust of philosophy and, therefore, of theology
New scientific discoveries; e.g., Copernicus, Galileo
Exploration of the world opened Europe to new possibilities; e.g., Polo, Columbo
The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for wide dissemination of ideas good and bad

Question 5

Four Significant Factors that led to the break-up of the Christian communion and developments through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance…

3. POLITICAL CHANGE

Answer 5

Desire for political change, especially a desire to shirk the pope’s temporal power – a result of growth of strong nation-states

Question 6

Four Significant Factors that led to the break-up of the Christian communion and developments through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance…

4. HUMANISM

Answer 6

Growth of humanism
Secular humanists no longer “needed” God
Deep spiritual malaise and anxiety in people made atheistic humanism more attractive than religion in general

Question 7

How did the Church Respond to the Renaissance?

The Church’s Response (4)

Answer 7

1. Emphasis on devotion rather than knowledge of faith and teachings
2. People tired of ignorant (many could not read or write), unfaithful priests and bishops
3. Emphasis on fund-raising for capitol projects – taxes and indulgences
4. Martin Luther starts a debate (31 October 1517): 95 theses against Church abuses, including indulgences – never intended a break with Rome!

Question 8

How did the Church reform during the Renaissance?

Answer 8

There were 18 things that the the Council of Constance (1475) set to reform the Church. Absolutely nothing was done, and the Church sat on their butts. Reform was not initiated, and exactly 100 years later (1575), Martin Luther began the Reformation.

Question 9

How was Martin Luther characterized?

Answer 9

Characterized in Dichotomy (and extremism)
1. Characterized by Catholics:
“a coarse individualist, a drunkard, a liar and a sensualist who left the Church only so as to be free to gratify his baser instincts”

2. Characterized by Protestants:
   “a humble doctor”; “an angel raised up by Providence to fight the Antichrist of Rome”
   AntiChrist of Rome = the Pope

Question 10

How is Martin Luther viewed today?

Answer 10

NOW seen as a man of faith, motivated by a truly religious spirit in the beginning.

Catholics recognize there were problems in the Church and there was not an openness to dialogue on differing theological ideas.

Protestants recognize Luther was not perfect and had personal shortcomings (violent temper, obstinacy, a certain “fondness for beer”, but he also adopted a new view of philosophy)

This is where we get into trouble, bad philosophy leads to bad theology…

Question 11

31 October 1517:

Answer 11

Ninety-Five Theses

Goes down in history as the day the Reformation started.

Tradition says Luther posted the Ninety-five Theses on the church door at Wittenberg Castle (this was not dramatic, it was a common way to promote discussion, although there are some questions about whether he ever nailed theses to church door). There’s a theory that a later disciple, Philip Melancthon, may have elaborated the story
Luther certainly sent copies to some friends and to his bishop.

If he had, according to one wit, it would have caused about as much excitement as a professor posting a notice on the staff bulletin board
Nevertheless, it has been seen as the iconic moment which started the movement known as the Protestant Reformation.

Question 12

31 October 1517: Ninety-Five Theses

Answer 12

The Theses:

Meant to promote discussion and clarification of something not defined.

Submitted his “Resolutions” (explanations of theses) to his local bishop, who gave his placet (“agreement”).

Erasmus also agreed with the idea of a discussion and some of his positions.

Luther offered some orthodox teaching (based in SS) and some legitimate criticism of abuses of the “indulgence system.”

Doing the work of theology and getting approval.

Question 13

What 4 areas does Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Thesis cover?

Answer 13

1. Indulgences
2. Power of the Papacy
3. Sin
4. The Sacrament of Penance

Question 14

Luther’s Ninety-Five Thesis: The Aftermath

Answer 14

Luther accused at the court of Rome, and for three years people tried to get him to recant,
There was a discussion held at Augsburg in 1518: Luther was “sowing seeds of a new religion.” German nationalism was aroused and inflamed situation, and would bring a political “edge” to the Reformation

Luther followed up with three important documents in 1520:

1. Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation (developed his ecclesiology; doctrine of the Church)
2. The Babylonian Captivity of the Church (on systematics; other major teachings, e.g., Christology, Trinity, etc.)
3. The Freedom of the Church (to convince the pope that he was orthodox)

Luther called for a council but wondered if it could be orthodox since, in his writings, he referred to Pope Leo as the Antichrist…

Excommunication: Exsurge Dominae (Pope Leo X)

Question 15

Pope Leo X: Bull “Exsurge Domine” Condemning the Errors of Martin Luther

Answer 15

Condemned 41 of Luther’s 95 propositions

This shows that not everything Luther said was bad, or against the Church. Luther was discussing things that the Church had not officially defined (e.g., that there were 7 sacraments).

The Bull did not excommunicate Martin Luther, it only suspended him.