Chapter 13: The Reform of Religion

• In early 16th century, reformers throughout western Europe preached new ideas about religious doctrine and religious practice
  • Initially, the ideas took form of sustained critique of Roman Catholic Church but soon gained momentum of their own
• There were problems with Churches
  • Renaissance Popes were considered too worldly
  • Church officials were poorly educated
  • Priests didn’t abide by the rules
  • People developed higher standards
• Christian leaders and Humanists of Northern Renaissance presented new ideas
  • Printing Press
  • Italian Humanism combined with Christain Humanism
• Italian Humanism
  • Secular interests
  • Texts and languages (classical)
  • Examined words and their meanings
• Christian Humanism
  • Reform movement
  • Applied ideals of Humanism to Church doctrine
  • Wanted to make people better Christians
  • Education of Women
  • Challenged Church education
• Erasmus
  • Wanted to unite individual Christian with textual basis of Christian doctrine
• Printing Press (1455)
  • 9-10 million books printed in 50 years
  • Bible is the first book printed (Johann Gutenburg)
  • Increase in education
  • Government increased uniformity of law
  • Newly emerging scientific ideas spread quickly
  • Increased value placed on discovery of new ideas
• Reformation
  • People formed own opinions on religion
  • Ideas spread more quickly
  • People started to criticize the church more
  • New economic pressure
• Economic innovation from Renaissance allowed people to be more independent in their daily lives
• Feudal systems started to make way for a more nationalist worldview
• Reformation became a way to challenge political authority
• Martin Luther believed that salvation came from having “faith in God”
  • Wrote 95 Theses
  • Put on trial by Charles V at Diet of Worms
  • Luther was supported by the Germans
  • German Princes joined Luther in protest against the Pope
• Luther was supported by the German Princes, free towns, and women
• Switzerland had two reformation movements
• Henry VIII
  • Became king in 1509 at age 18
  • Was a devout Catholic
  • “Defender of the Faith”
  • Henry established new church to annul his first marriage to marry Anne Boleyn to have a son
  • Head of the Church of England
  • Seized all church property and sold it to nobles
  • Beheaded Anne Boleyn cause he still didn’t have a male child
  • Had a son with third wife
  • Had 6 wives
  • Died in 1548
• Henry VIII’s son Edward becomes king at age 12
  • Mary becomes queen after Edward’s death
  • Elizabeth I locked up Mary and became Queen
  • Restored Protestantism to England
  • Dealt with return of radical Protestants and Catholics
  • Compromise between conservatives and radicals was created by 39 Articles
• Early Protestants didn’t believe in separation of church and state and weren’t democratic
• Protestant values made the commercial and industrial middle class stronger
• Reformation created a new social, economic, and political way of life with the emerging middle class being able to flourish
• Accumulation of wealth became a sign of living a “good life”
• Western Europe developed due to geographical advantages such as coal and iron
• Protestantism and Catholicism acted in ways that supported emerging capitalism

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