Reformation Period

The Reformation was a significant historical period where the teachings of the Catholic Church and the authority of the Pope were questioned and challenged.

Causes of the Reformation

Influence of the Renaissance

• People began questioning old beliefs.
• Literacy increased, leading more people to read the Bible and interpret it independently.
• The printing press enabled rapid dissemination of reformist ideas across Europe.

Abuses in the Catholic Church

• Simony: Buying or selling of church positions.
• Nepotism: Assigning church roles to relatives regardless of merit.
• Absenteeism: Church leaders absent from their duties for extended periods.
• Pluralism: Holding multiple church roles simultaneously.
• Sale of indulgences: Selling prayers to reduce time in purgatory.

Martin Luther

• Studied the Bible deeply, believed in "justification by faith alone."
• Opposed the selling of indulgences by John Tetzel in 1517.
• Drafted the 95 Theses, initially in Latin, which challenged church practices and authority, notably that the Pope cannot forgive sins and indulgences don't save from punishment.
• Ideas spread rapidly thanks to the printing press.
• Excommunicated in 1521 after refusing to recant his views at the Diet of Worms.
• Became an outlaw under the Edict of Worms, but secretly protected by Prince Frederick of Saxony.
• Translated the Bible into German, promoting personal Bible study.
• Ideas led to civil war, resolved by the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, allowing rulers to choose their state's religion.
• Triggered the Counter-Reformation by the Catholic Church to address issues raised by Luther.

Spread of Reformation

• 1531: Ulrich Zwingli launched the Reformation in Switzerland.
• 1534: Henry VIII created the Church of England, separating from the Catholic Church, appointing himself as head.
• 1541: John Calvin established Presbyterianism in Geneva with a strict doctrine, including the concept of predestination.
• 1572: John Knox introduced Presbyterianism to Scotland.

The Reformation significantly impacted religious, political, and cultural landscapes in Europe, leading to widespread reforms and the establishment of Protestantism.