The German Reformation: Corruption and the Birth of Protestantism

1. AP EUROUnit #1 – Renaissance and ReformationLesson #6German Reformation(Early Reformation)

2. The Church (1500s) • Europeans remained religious and pious • Many started questioning the Church leadership • Failure of the Church to heal people from the Plague • Failure of the Church to deal with corruption like the Babylonian Captivity and Great Schism • Failure to route out corruption (next slide) • Some called for a reform of the Church doctrine

3. Clerical Immorality • Bishops were way too involved with politics • Some priests were drunkards, womanizers, gamblers and solicited prostitutes • Paid no taxes • Paid no duties for land • Some were illiterate in Latin • Examples of Corruption • PLURALISM – holding (paid for) two jobs • ABSENTEEISM – paid, but not there • SIMONY – selling religious privilege (or offices)

4. Questions to Ponder • What should the Church do? • If they openly work on these issues, what did they just admit? • If they do that, what will happen? • If they do nothing, what will happen?

5. Reaction: • Some called for change • Some called for a major overhaul • Some called for a new type of Christianity • Gave birth to the PROTESTANT movement • Started the REFORMation era

6. Martin Luther • Didn’t mean to start a movement • Started as a law student – caught in a storm • Swore his life to service to God – a Monk • Got a Doctorate in Scholasticism and Divinity • Became a Biblical expert • Decided to only trust the Bible for truth • Felt the Church was never able to relieve him from feeling of being a sinner… • The Church told him to go to confession, then communion, then he’d feel better • Finally, found Bible verses that taught him to surrender directly to God – not to a Church leader • He came to a realization… that no man could ever guide him to salvation (justification), it had to be given by God by a personal commitment (Bible) Luther - Trailer

7. Justification by Faith Alone • Luther found that writings outside scripture were contradictory • He found scripture taught that you are “saved” by simply choosing to believe that Jesus died to take your sin for you • He said you needed nothing more to be “saved” • He called this belief: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE • Became and instructor and preacher • His students loved him

8. Ninety Five Theses In the mean time… • St. Peters (Rome) needed rebuilding • Michelangelo and Raphael helped • Albert of Mainz volunteered to raise $$ • Mainz was an Elector State in the Empire (like Saxony) • Selling of indulgences • Hired expert salesman: Johanne Tetzel • Luther wrote to Albert of Mainz (1517) • His issue: Indulgences undermined the seriousness of penance and piety • Oct (1517) – became locked in lore • Wrote 95 arguments against sale of indulgences (KNOWN AS THE 95 THESES) • Nailed to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral

9. Location and Technology • Two issues made Luther’s argument a real movement • Printing Press • Politics in the Empire in a state of flux • A new emperor needed to be “elected” • Luther became and overnight sensation • Debated with Dr. Johanne Eck (1519) • (an expert on Scholasticism) • Charles V had (Charles I of Spain) had just become HRE (purchased position) • Electors resented his power • Electors saw Luther as their key to challenging authority Charles V

10. Diet of Worms • Young (new) Charles V – • schemed to shut up Luther • Frederick of Saxony swore to protect Luther • Luther started writing books ideas • Will get him in BIG trouble… • Denied Papal Infallibility • Clergy not having special powers • Clergy need not be celibate • Reason always the same: not in the Bible • Summoned to Worms to recant • “I cannot and will not recant • Here I stand. • I can do no other” Click – Diet of Worms

11. New ideas of Protestants: • You don’t need a priest to get your sins forgiven… • You don’t need a priest to take communion • Priesthood of all believers • Bread and wine do not transform at communion: CONSTUBSTANCIATION • ANABAPTISM ( a fringe idea) • Free Will (disputed by Calvin)

12. The Appeal of Protestant Ideas • How did all this appeal to Humanists? • How did all this appeal to politicians? FREDERICK OF SAXONY • How will this appeal to peasants? leads to Peasant’s Rebellion Luther rap

13. This was not overnight… it was a SLOW Break 1517 – Ninety Five Theses 1519 – Public debate with John Eck 1520 – faith alone, priesthood of all believers • Pope told Luther to recant 41 of the 95 • “Papal Bull” – threat of excommunication • Loyal Catholics then started burning Luther’s books • Luther publically burned Catholic books, and the bull 1521 - Diet of Worms • meeting (Diet) for force Luther to recant • Luther refused (“here I stand… I can do no other” • Frederick the Wise (Elector of Saxony) – captured Luther • Luther translated the Bible into “vernacular” • 1524 – 1525 – Peasant’s Rebellion (significance!) 1531 – HRE Charles V attacked Lutheran towns • Lutherans formed SchmalkaldenLeague 1555 – Peace of Augsburg

14. Why was Luther successful? • Preoccupation of Charles V with foreign wars • Support of folks like Frederick of Saxony • Perceived corruption in the Church • Influence of the Fuggers (lenders) • Distant and “cold” relationship of common man and Church • Disgust with the Church officials and laws • Impact of new technology, and of new ideas • Impact of previous new ideas

15. Why Was Luther Successful? Cultural/Intellectual printing press use of vernacular Church scandals Christian Humanists Economic/Social church land & Church taxes peasant unrest indulgences Political/Military German Princes (Frederick of Saxony) Anti-Italian feelings (invasion of Italy) Wars of Charles V SchmalkaldenLeague Luther the man: courage & conviction