The Protestant Reformation, in many ways, led to the rise of absolutism in Europe. Initially, the Roman Catholic Church held the majority of the political power until the mid- fifteen hundreds. The Protestants believed that not only was the church abusing its powers, but the fundamental doctrines of the church itself were faulty. The Catholic Church’s authority was questioned and disputed and there was a consequential shift of authority from the Roman Catholic Church to royalty. There are two primary Europeans who are credited with beginning the Protestant Reformation.
The first of the two was a German Monk by the name of Martin Luther (1483-1546). While Luther was at the University of Wittenberg, a travelling indulgence seller came to visit and make profit. This inspired Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, published in 1517. Luther believed that the selling of indulgences in the church, although highly profitable, was hypocritical and served as a symbol of moral degeneration. Luther rejected many other fundamental doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. He did not believe that any human being had the ability to forgive others of their sins, because they were not God and were consequently no better than the individuals they were “forgiving”. Luther also rejected the catholic teaching that good works were necessary for salvation and that sins were punished by a stint in purgatory, God’s spiritual torture chamber. Luther believed that salvation was given from God by grace, through faith, as promised in the Bible. His belief that Christianity is God’s relationship with man through God’s Word suggested a need for the reconstruction of priesthood and challenged the Pope’s authority.
With the help of the Guttenberg Press, Luther’s publication spread like a wildfire. Luther’s Ninety-five Theses was met with great encouragement from the people and opposition from the church officials. In 1520, Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X. In 1521, the Holy Roman emperor, Charles V, summoned Luther and required him to recant his views. Luther refused to recant his views but rather replied to the emperor, “I cannot and will not recant anything, for it is neither safe nor right to act against one’s conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”(Traditions and Encounters, 2008) Despite being excommunicated from the Church, Luther still held church services and had many devout followers.
The second key player in the Protestant Reformation was a French lawyer by the name of John Calvin (1509-1564). In 1536, he published a highly influential treatise known as the, institutes of the Christian Religion. Calvin agreed with most of the Lutheran doctrine and converted to Protestant Christianity in the 1530s. Shortly thereafter Calvin moved to Geneva, Switzerland and became the religious leader for a Protestant community. In his community, Calvin stressed the importance of studying the Bible on a regular basis, dressing appropriately, and shunned the playing of cards or dancing.
Calvin believed in the fundamental parts of the Lutheran theology, however, some of his ideas somewhat contrasted with Luther’s. First and foremost, Calvin focused on the omnipotence and power of God. He also believed in what later became known as “predestination”. This meant that God, being that He is all-knowing, already knows who will come to salvation and who will not; that those who will be saved are already predestined for salvation from the beginning of time. Based on this doctrine, Calvin’s community worked fervently to bring realization to those who are predestined to come to salvation. Their missionary work was widespread. Their work spread to France, Germany, the Low Countries, England, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Scotland.
Luther’s and Calvin’s work initiated the Protestant Reformation and, ultimately, changed the political face of Europe. They questioned the church’s doctrines and, in-so-doing, displaced the church’s authority and paved the way for the rise of absolutism. Their beliefs were followed by thousands in their time. Little did they know at the time, but the theology of Luther and Calvin would come to dominate Protestant Europe for years to come.
Bibliography
Bentley, J.H, Ziegler, H.F., Streets, H.E. (2008). Traditions and Encounters A Brief Global History. New York, NY.: McGraw Hill.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Protestant Reformation, in many ways, led to the rise of absolutism in Europe. Initially, the Roman Catholic Church held the majority of the political power until the mid- fifteen hundreds. The Protestants believed that not only was the church abusing its powers, but the fundamental doctrines of the church itself were faulty. The Catholic Church’s authority was questioned and disputed and there was a consequential shift of authority from the Roman Catholic Church to royalty. There are two primary Europeans who are credited with beginning the Protestant Reformation.
The first of the two was a German Monk by the name of Martin Luther (1483-1546). While Luther was at the University of Wittenberg, a travelling indulgence seller came to visit and make profit. This inspired Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, published in 1517. Luther believed that the selling of indulgences in the church, although highly profitable, was hypocritical and served as a symbol of moral degeneration. Luther rejected many other fundamental doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. He did not believe that any human being had the ability to forgive others of their sins, because they were not God and were consequently no better than the individuals they were “forgiving”. Luther also rejected the catholic teaching that good works were necessary for salvation and that sins were punished by a stint in purgatory, God’s spiritual torture chamber. Luther believed that salvation was given from God by grace, through faith, as promised in the Bible. His belief that Christianity is God’s relationship with man through God’s Word suggested a need for the reconstruction of priesthood and challenged the Pope’s authority.
With the help of the Guttenberg Press, Luther’s publication spread like a wildfire. Luther’s Ninety-five Theses was met with great encouragement from the people and opposition from the church officials. In 1520, Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X. In 1521, the Holy Roman emperor, Charles V, summoned Luther and required him to recant his views. Luther refused to recant his views but rather replied to the emperor, “I cannot and will not recant anything, for it is neither safe nor right to act against one’s conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”(Traditions and Encounters, 2008) Despite being excommunicated from the Church, Luther still held church services and had many devout followers.
The second key player in the Protestant Reformation was a French lawyer by the name of John Calvin (1509-1564). In 1536, he published a highly influential treatise known as the, institutes of the Christian Religion. Calvin agreed with most of the Lutheran doctrine and converted to Protestant Christianity in the 1530s. Shortly thereafter Calvin moved to Geneva, Switzerland and became the religious leader for a Protestant community. In his community, Calvin stressed the importance of studying the Bible on a regular basis, dressing appropriately, and shunned the playing of cards or dancing.
Calvin believed in the fundamental parts of the Lutheran theology, however, some of his ideas somewhat contrasted with Luther’s. First and foremost, Calvin focused on the omnipotence and power of God. He also believed in what later became known as “predestination”. This meant that God, being that He is all-knowing, already knows who will come to salvation and who will not; that those who will be saved are already predestined for salvation from the beginning of time. Based on this doctrine, Calvin’s community worked fervently to bring realization to those who are predestined to come to salvation. Their missionary work was widespread. Their work spread to France, Germany, the Low Countries, England, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Scotland.
Luther’s and Calvin’s work initiated the Protestant Reformation and, ultimately, changed the political face of Europe. They questioned the church’s doctrines and, in-so-doing, displaced the church’s authority and paved the way for the rise of absolutism. Their beliefs were followed by thousands in their time. Little did they know at the time, but the theology of Luther and Calvin would come to dominate Protestant Europe for years to come.
Bibliography
Bentley, J.H, Ziegler, H.F., Streets, H.E. (2008). Traditions and Encounters A Brief Global History. New York, NY.: McGraw Hill.
The first of the two was a German Monk by the name of Martin Luther (1483-1546). While Luther was at the University of Wittenberg, a travelling indulgence seller came to visit and make profit. This inspired Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, published in 1517. Luther believed that the selling of indulgences in the church, although highly profitable, was hypocritical and served as a symbol of moral degeneration. Luther rejected many other fundamental doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. He did not believe that any human being had the ability to forgive others of their sins, because they were not God and were consequently no better than the individuals they were “forgiving”. Luther also rejected the catholic teaching that good works were necessary for salvation and that sins were punished by a stint in purgatory, God’s spiritual torture chamber. Luther believed that salvation was given from God by grace, through faith, as promised in the Bible. His belief that Christianity is God’s relationship with man through God’s Word suggested a need for the reconstruction of priesthood and challenged the Pope’s authority.
With the help of the Guttenberg Press, Luther’s publication spread like a wildfire. Luther’s Ninety-five Theses was met with great encouragement from the people and opposition from the church officials. In 1520, Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X. In 1521, the Holy Roman emperor, Charles V, summoned Luther and required him to recant his views. Luther refused to recant his views but rather replied to the emperor, “I cannot and will not recant anything, for it is neither safe nor right to act against one’s conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”(Traditions and Encounters, 2008) Despite being excommunicated from the Church, Luther still held church services and had many devout followers.
The second key player in the Protestant Reformation was a French lawyer by the name of John Calvin (1509-1564). In 1536, he published a highly influential treatise known as the, institutes of the Christian Religion. Calvin agreed with most of the Lutheran doctrine and converted to Protestant Christianity in the 1530s. Shortly thereafter Calvin moved to Geneva, Switzerland and became the religious leader for a Protestant community. In his community, Calvin stressed the importance of studying the Bible on a regular basis, dressing appropriately, and shunned the playing of cards or dancing.
Calvin believed in the fundamental parts of the Lutheran theology, however, some of his ideas somewhat contrasted with Luther’s. First and foremost, Calvin focused on the omnipotence and power of God. He also believed in what later became known as “predestination”. This meant that God, being that He is all-knowing, already knows who will come to salvation and who will not; that those who will be saved are already predestined for salvation from the beginning of time. Based on this doctrine, Calvin’s community worked fervently to bring realization to those who are predestined to come to salvation. Their missionary work was widespread. Their work spread to France, Germany, the Low Countries, England, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Scotland.
Luther’s and Calvin’s work initiated the Protestant Reformation and, ultimately, changed the political face of Europe. They questioned the church’s doctrines and, in-so-doing, displaced the church’s authority and paved the way for the rise of absolutism. Their beliefs were followed by thousands in their time. Little did they know at the time, but the theology of Luther and Calvin would come to dominate Protestant Europe for years to come.
Bibliography
Bentley, J.H, Ziegler, H.F., Streets, H.E. (2008). Traditions and Encounters A Brief Global History. New York, NY.: McGraw Hill.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
