Session 2: Renaissance and Religious Turmoil

Martin Luther and the Reformation

Lesson Objectives• Define Catholic terminology including usury, monastery,

inquisition, heresy, sacraments, simony, excommunication and purgatory.

• Explain the abuses of the Catholic Church during the 15th-16th century, including the sale of indulgences.

• Identify pre-Reformation reformers John Wycliffe and Jan Hus• Identify Martin Luther and his role in reforming the Catholic

Church• Describe the Papal response to Lutheranism and that of the

German princes and states.• Explain how Lutheranism was able to spread throughout the

German States and the significance of the Gutenberg printing press.

• Compare the teachings of Lutheranism with the teachings of Catholicism. (see alternate sheet)

Activity• The class will be broken up into 6 groups

and each will define the specific term of the Catholic Church they are assigned.

• Once they have completed that task, students will have approximately 15 minutes to design a way to present their term.

Abuses of the Catholic Church• In the 15th and 16th centuries, some began

to speak out against some of the actions of the Catholic Church demanding reform.– 1. Improper relationships and marriages that

many bishops, arch-bishops and even pope’s were involved.

– 2. The act of simony: (see back of the note sheet)

– 3. Prohibiting usury for bankers and merchants– 4. The sale of indulgences…certificates issued

by the church that were said to reduce or even cancel one’s time in purgatory.

• A great deal of the money that was earned from the sale of indulgences was used to build and furnish St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Early Dissidents of the Church• Prior to the Reformation, there were some

Catholics who outwardly criticized the Church despite the dangers that entailed.

• John Wycliffe: English scholar who believed the Bible was the supreme authority not the Pope and attacked the sale of indulgences and the behavior or clergy.– He was branded a heretic and all of his writings

burned by the Church. Followers were often killed

• Jan Hus: Bohemian priest, agreed with Wycliffe and criticized the wealth of the pope and his authority. Wanted the Bible to be printed in common language.– He was arrested and charged with heresy and

was burned at the stake.

Check for Understanding• What are the definitions for the

following terms– Excommunication, heresy, usury,

monastery, purgatory, simony, sacraments, purgatory

• What were the abuses of the Church? What was the purpose for the sale of indulgences?

• Who were the earliest critics of the Catholic Church? What happened to them?

Martin Luther• Originally a Catholic monk, Luther

was outraged by and openly spoke out against the sale of indulgences.

• On October 31st, 1517, Luther hammered on the door of Wittenberg Church 95 theses or statements criticizing not only indulgences, but many other Church policies as well.

• News of Luther’s teaching spread and the sale of indulgences declined sharply. Luther eventually published hundreds of essays attacking Church abuses.

The Catholic Church Responds• Pope Leo X, sent messengers to

Germany in the hopes of persuading Luther to withdraw his statements.

• When Luther refused, Pope Leo X excommunicated him and banned all of his writings.

• Germans princes gathered in a special council called the Diet of Worms, to try to convince Luther to retract his statements. He again refused and fled into hiding under the protection of Prince Frederick of Saxony.

Lutheranism Spreads• While in hiding, Luther translated the

New Testament from Latin into German.

• Using the Gutenberg printing press, Luther’s teachings could reach a larger audience who would not only be able to attain a copy of the Bible, but read it as well.

• Luther created the first Protestant religion which spread throughout Northern Europe. Eventually others would also form their own Protestant religions that would lead to greater conflict within Christendom.

Activity• On your own, read pages 358-59 in

the History Alive textbook you have been given.

• Fill out the sections on Lutheranism on your graphic organizer.

• You will have until the end of class to complete this, and will be checked during your note check next class.

Check for Understanding• Who was Martin Luther? What complaints

did he have about the Church? What is he known for writing?

• What was the Catholic response to Martin Luther? How did the German princes respond? What was their council called?

• How did Lutheranism spread? What invention aided Martin Luther?

• What are the major beliefs of Lutherans? How does it differ from Catholics?

Next Class• Session 3:

Renaissance and Religious Turmoil- The Anglican and Calvinist Reformation

• Quiz: 9/7/11 Sessions 1 & 2.