Paragraph 1.3

1. Paragraph 1.3 The Reformation

2. Abuses in the church • 1509: Erasmus wrote: Lof der Zotheid. ( In Praise of folly) • He made fun of the churchanditsfollowers. • Clericswerestupidandgreedy. • Thatcriticismwasn’t new. • Manypeoplewereannoyedby the church. • The church had strayedtoo far fromthe originalteachings

3. Monks had large partiesand popes weretoorich. • Also the trade in indulgences was wrong. • = letters thatcould save you time in purgatory. • Ifyoupaidenough money, youmight go toheavenquicker.

4. Martin Luther • From 1517 on: • German monk Luther protestedagainst the church. • Het wrote a letter with 95 statements against the church. • Onlywith a deep belief in God youcould go toheaven. • Indulgenceswerenoncence!

5. Luther was excommunicated. • But he was notdeterredbythis, and went further. • He was alsoagainstprieststhatcouldforgiveyoursins. • Only God could do that. . • According to Luther: youcanonlycomeinto contact with God byprayingand reading the Bible. • He alsocondemned the worship of saints.

6. Luthers ideaswere spread quickly, because of the printing of books. • The GermanemperorCharles V was afraidthat the churchand his empire wouldfall apart because of theisquarrel. • So he invited Luther for a meeting in Worms. • Luther had to take back his words, but he refused. • The emperordeclaredhiman outlaw.

7. An other, lower, German monarch, gave Luther protection. • In his castle, Luther could continue his work. • He translated the Bible in German, soeveryonecouldreadit . • ( In stead of Latin , thatonly the churchcouldread)

8. Split • Luther onlywantedtoimprove the church ( reform). • Bit his criticismcaused a split in Christianity: • The Reformation( =hervorming) caused the Christian churchtofall apart in 2 hostilecamps: • Protestantsand the Roman-Catholics. • The Catholicsremainedloyalto the pope, the Protestants not.

9. Differencesbetween the 2 churches: Protestants: Catholic: Catholicclerics (priests) couldforgivesins. Clericswerenotallowedto have a family. Churchbuildingswere a display of pomp andsplendour. • Protestant clerics: preacheror church minister (dominee of predikant) couldnotforgivesins • The clericscould get marriedand have a family • Churchbuildingswere bare and sober. ( no distraction)

10. Calvin • After Luther there were more people who wanted reforms. • Within the Protestant church several communities/ societies arose. • One other important reformer was the Frenchman John Calvin. • He started a strict church in Geneva.

11. Calvin also felt that everyone should read the Bible. • His teachings, Calvinism, even gave the assurance that you could get to heaven if you just truly believe in God. • God had in fact already decided before you were born if you went to hell or heaven. Because God was omniscient. • But everyone had to work hard and live a pious life with moderation. • From 1540 Calvinism became popular in Europe.

12. Religious wars • The kings of England, Sweden and Denmark, and some German princes were Protestant, and their populations had to be as well. • Often there were wars, for example, in Germany, to maken the population Catholic again. • In France, there were major wars between the Catholics and the Huguenots. (French Calvinists) • Finally, they had peace: it remained a Catholic country, but the Huguenots did get equal rights.

13. In the Netherlands, Protestants were severely prosecuted by Charles V. • Protestants were burned at the stake. • Also, his son Philip II persecuted Protestants. • But Calvinism continued to grow in the Netherlands. • In 1566 they dared even to hold hedge-preachings. • Church services in the open air, behind a hedge.

14. The end.