The Schism to the Protestant Reformation

1. The Schism to the Protestant Reformation Christian History, Ritual and Biblical Interpretation

2. Christianity in the Middle Ages • The Church pervaded all aspects of life (cathedral was city square) • Society was changing – tradespeople, early industrialization, education was expanding • The invention of the printing press (1440) made books (e.g.Bible) more affordable • The Catholic Church held an amazing amount of power – politically, economically, socially

3. Corruption in the Church • With power came examples of Church abuses of power • Priests were found to be selling indulgences • Indulgence – the remission of punishment from sins after being absolved (usually through prayer, alms, pilgrimage) • The money from such sales was used to build churches • Priests were not always well trained • Bible interpretation was only undertaken by priests and monks – believers were discouraged from reading the Bible on their own

4. Early reform movements • Martin Luther (a German monk) noticed the sale of indulgences • He posted his 95 Theses at his local church • Conflict resulted with the Pope, who commanded that Luther recant • When Luther refused, he was excommunicated • Luther began a German translation of the Bible • Saw religious freedom as essential • The term “Protestant” refers to Christians who are neither Catholic nor Orthodox.

5. Differences in Teaching • Luther taught that people are saved by faith and the grace of God alone (sola fide, sola gratia), not by actions • He taught that the Bible has authority (sola scriptura) – and any Christian can interpret it themselves • He taught that all Christians have a responsibility to preach and spread the Gospel (priesthood of all believers) • Later the Catholic Church accepted a version of this teaching as well

6. Religious Ritual • An example of a Protestant reform of Christianity is the focus away from ritual • The 7 sacraments are maintained by Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism as “visible signs of God’s grace” • Fewer sacraments are recognized by Protestant denominations (varies by movement) • Early Protestant leaders saw the 7 sacraments as only loosely based on scripture • e.g. eucharist (frequency, form, who can receive), matrimony, baptism (infant/adult, full immersion/sprinkling)

7. Other reform movements • Anglicanism – • England broke away from Rome because King Henry VIII wanted a divorce that the Pope would not grant • Henry declared himself head of the Church of England, although changed the teachings very little • Hundreds of years of conflict resulted – the state religion was determined by the monarch • Many martyrs from these conflicts

8. Other reform movements • Calvinism (reform traditions) • Calvin’s teachings went even further from Roman Catholicism • Teachings: • total depravity of humans (people depend entirely on God’s goodness) • Predestination (God has chosen who his mercy is given to) • Jesus’ sacrifice only saves those God has chosen • Modern reform traditions include the Baptists, Presbyterians.

9. Other Reform Traditions • Anabaptists – • did not agree with Luther or Calvin • Baptized only adults, teach pacifism (complete peace, opposition to war) – includes Mennonites • Evangelicals – • More modern movement,“born again” • Teaches that the Bible is without error • Pentecostals – • Often grouped with evangelical (same view of the Bible) • Focus on experiencing the Holy Spirit and the 2nd coming of Christ • Believe in signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence (speaking in tongues, slaying in the spirit)

10. Other Reform traditions • Fundamentalists – • Absolute authority of the Bible • Reject Darwin’s theory of evolution in favour of the Genesis account of creation • NOTE: Protestantism is difficult to define in modern times because there are so many denominations – many terms overlap • Today hundreds of denominations exist, partly because of the original teachings of Luther