Martin Luther and

Babylonian Captivity and Great Schism Undermined the power and authority of

the Church Made people question power of the

papacy

John Wycliffe and Jan Hus Wycliffe: Simplification of

doctrine and less power for priests

Hus: Church made up of all faithful, not just priests; rejected authority of the pope’s

Both questioned transubstantiation

Popular Piety and Christian Humanism Yearned for faith more relevant to daily

life Erasmus: charity and good works, not

empty rituals, are marks of a true ChristianPraise of Folly: Criticized pomposity and

wealth of corrupt Church leaders

The Printing Press

New ideas about dissatisfaction with the Church could be spread quickly and easily

People could read the bible for themselves

Martin Luther (1483-1546) Born in Saxony Entered Augustan monastery after

abandoning study of law Did not feel salvation despite adherence

to Church rituals and good works This led to the idea of “Justification by

faith alone”Faith alone saves; not good works and

sacraments

Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction in penance. I did

not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly I was angry with

God…At last, by the mercy of God I gave heed to the context of the words in the Gospel: “The just shall live by faith.” There I began to understand that righteousness of God is that by which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith.

Albrecht of Mainz

Simony – selling of Church positions for money

Borrows money to buy position

Sells indulgences to payloan

Indulgences

Indulgences: Monetary substitution for penanceForgive a person’s time in purgatory and

help to release their soul into heaven

Luther viewed indulgences as corruptBuying forgiveness is meaningless Any penance is useless without faith. Faith

is the key to salvation

95 Theses (1517) Nailed to church door in

Wittenberg Attacks on indulgences

and sale of Church offices

Printed and spread throughout HRE

Luther writes additional pamphlets

Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Denounced corrupt Italians in Rome

who cheated and exploited Christians Called on German princes to defend

their nation and reform the church [reject Pope’s authority]

Priesthood of all believers: bible provides all necessary teachings for Christian living; laypeople aren't less important

On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church Condemned the papacy as the

embodiment of the Antichrist Only 2 sacraments Baptism and communion depend on

faith, not a priest

The Luther Affair

Excommunication by Leo X in 1520 Diet of Worms (1521) before Charles V

Luther refuses to retract statementsSent into exile

Luther protected by Frederick the WiseTranslates bible during exile

Social Revolution

Peasant rebellion 1524 – 1525Stirred by new religious ideas Social and economic aims blended Luther rejects connection with peasants

Example of unrest that pervaded during this period

Political Rebellion

States of the empire view Charles efforts to repress Luther as a threat on their freedom

Conversion to Lutheranism Secularization of Church land

Schmalkaldic League formed by German princes

League goes to war against emperor in 1546

Political Rebellion

Peace of Augsburg (1555)States can chose Lutheranism or

Catholicism

EffectsGerman states become increasingly

separate