Unit 2 Class Flashcards
Erasmus Laid the Egg that Luther Hatched
NCH-ists called for reform of church abuses from within
Martin Luther reads texts of Erasmus, and determines that he must break from the Church
Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther breaks with the Catholic Church over the sale of indulgences and writes “95 Theses” detailing his objections, publishes in Wittenberg in the state of Saxony
Martin Luther (1)
- Catholic Augustinian monk who “broke with Rome” over the issue of “salvation” and the “sales of indulgences”,
- wrote “95 Theses” attacking the use of the sales of indulgences by the Medici Pope Leo X,
- “justification by faith alone”, not dependency on priests for salvation,
- founded of Lutheran Protestant Christianity (1st Protestant Christian faith),
- translated Bible into German and used vernacular, not Latin, in Church
Martin Luther (2)
- excommunicated by Catholic Church and became an outlaw in the Holy Roman Empire after Charles V (Hapsburg family and Holy Roman Emperor) famously declared him an outlaw after the Diet of Worms.
- Reduced sacraments from 7 to 2 in Lutheran Protestant Christianity,
- allowed marriage of ministers,
- believed in Bible as source of all religion—if it isn’t justified in Biblical source then it is not part of religion—SCRIPTURE AS SOLE AUTHORITY, not Catholic Papacy.
- individual interpretation of SCRIPTURES, not the monopoly of Catholic Church to explain text,
- vernacular used in hymns (“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” Luther’s great hymn),
Martin Luther: Religious Revolutionary, But Social Conservative
Religious Revolutionary:
- he was a supporter of complete “break with Rome” and therefore a religious revolutionary.
Social Conservative:
- Luther supported the traditional role of women as “wife and mother”, subservient to men.
- Luther was opposed to the serf rebellion in 1524-26 in the Holy Roman Emperor, thus supporting the princes of Germany and the traditional social order.
- his support of the traditional role of women and the traditional authority of the princes shows his social conservatism.
- Luther was also a rabid anti-Semite, which was not unusual, but does foreshadow some rather nasty attitudes that will be prevalent in Germany during the 1930’s and 1940’s
German Peasant Revolt, 1524-26
Causes: Abuses of peasant by lords in the forms of increased taxes and demand for increased labor. Also, peasants are inspired by asking where in the Bible it said they should be “serfs”, a reference to Luther’s demand for Biblical scripture to justify all.
Results: Luther condemns Peasant Rebellion and the Rebellion is crushed by princes with ferocity that results in a worsened state of serfdom for the German peasants thereafter. The strength of the lords is enhanced. Luther knows where his “bread is buttered.”
Reasons for German Princes Support for Lutheranism
ECONOMIC: German princes stood to gain control over Catholic Church monasteries and Church
lands if Catholic Church is “kicked out”,
POLITICS: German princes sought to retain their autonomy and sovereignty over their domains and not lose power to the Holy Roman Emperor—conflict between Holy Roman Emperor and German Princes—Princes wanted to retain their “medieval liberties”
RELIGION: Princes wanted control over religion within their domains, as did most secular rulers!!!!
Economic Reasons for the Protestant Reformation
Ability to confiscate land from the Catholic Church
- i.e. German Princes
- i.e. Henry VIII
Political Reasons for the Protestant Reformation
- Holy Roman Empire is comprised of 360 sovereign and autonomous princely states
- Charles V tries to get the princes to stay Roman Catholic Christian, which would take away their sovereignty
- Schmalkaldic League is formed between princes which defeats Charles V
R.C.C. vs. Protestantism (1)
- RCC had pope, PC had no pope
- Church interprets scripture in RCC, individuals interpret scripture in PC
- RCC had Papal Edicts
- RCC used Latin in mass until 1962, PC used vernacular
R.C.C. vs. Protestantism (2)
- RCC had Cult of Saints, PC did not
- RCC celebrates Eucharist as a real miracle, PC views Eucharist as symbolic
- Priests take oath of celibacy in RCC, priests can marry and have sex in PC
- PC believes that all practices must have direct scriptural basis
Martin Luther on Salvation
Luther believed that salvation was achieved through “faith alone”
- Supported the princes during the German Peasants’ Revolt
- Preaches that the woman should be a wife, mother and subservient to a male figure
- Rabid anti-Semite
John Calvin
Begins Calvinism in Geneva, Switzerland
Believes in Doctrine of Predestination
- Calvinists believed that success on Earth indicated that you will go to heaven
- Emphasized hard work
- Cleanliness is next to holiness
- No, drinking, gambling, theater, pubs, loud music, smoking, recreational sex
Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor
- ruled over vast Hapsburg Empire, including expanding Spanish Empire in the “New World”,
- tried to crush Protestantism within his domains and the Holy Roman Empire,
- tried to expand his political power in the HRE (Holy Roman Empire), but ultimately failed.
- defeated the Ottoman Turks and lifted the siege of Vienna in 1529.
- after his army “sacked Rome” in 1527, Charles V gained control over much of the Italian Peninsula,
- religious zealot who failed to stamp out the infant Protestantism that left the HRE religiously divided after the Peace of Augsburg
Results of Protestant Reformation
- Decline of Roman Catholic Church
- Secular Authorities grow in power
i.e. Henry VIII - Nationalized state churches
- 125 years of religious civil war
- 2 wars in HRE
- French Civil Wars of Religion
- Dutch Wars of Independence and Religion (80 Years’ War) - Growth in Literacy
- Rise of Individualism
