The Protestant
Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was
the European Christian reform
movement that began in 1517 when
a German monk, Martin Luther
published The Ninety-Five Theses.

• The Protestant Reformation began
as an attempt to reform (fix) the
Catholic Church, because of
perceived false teachings and
malpractice that some Christians
saw as evidence of the corruption
of the Church’s hierarchy, which
included the Pope.
Why the need to reform?

Can you explain the need to reform?

• The Protestant Reformation began
as an attempt to reform the
Catholic Church, because of
perceived false teachings and
malpractice that some Christians
saw as evidence of the corruption
of the Church’s hierarchy, which
included the Pope.
Why the need to reform?

Others sharply criticized the
Church for some of its practices.
Popes seemed more concerned
with luxury and political power
than with spiritual matters.
Why the need to reform?

Why the need to reform?
Following the years of the black
plague in Europe, people became
more suspicious of the Church and
its power although they never
doubted their faith.

Why the need to reform?
As a result of the Renaissance, a
new perspective on the world,
spreading knowledge and education
encouraged people to challenge
authority, not just accept what
was told to them.

•Biblical teachings contradicted
science
•The sale of indulgences was
immoral & corrupt
•The practice of simony was
immoral & corrupt
Why the need for reform?

Biblical Teachings
•The printing press allowed for
the publication of the bible in
many vernaculars and for the
first time in hundreds of years,
average people could read the
bible. To their surprise, much of
what had always been taught to
them was not the truth.

•An indulgence was a guarantee of
forgiveness. By paying money to
the Church, people thought they
could win salvation.
What are Indulgences?

•The selling and buying of Church
jobs
What is Simony?

Can you explain ways in which the church was
corrupt?

Who was Martin Luther?
Martin Luther was a German Monk
who openly challenged the practice
of indulgences and was the first
to publicly challenge church
wrongdoings. He posted a written
protest called the 95 Theses on
the door of the Wittenberg
Cathedral in Germany, for all to
read.

Eventually his words were printed
(using the new printing press) and
spread throughout Germany. This
was the beginning of the
Reformation movement.
Who was Martin Luther?

In 1524, peasants in Germany
hoped to use Luther’s ideas about
Christian freedom to change
society.
Goal of the Revolution

Goal of the Revolution
Politically, German princes hoped
the revolution would weaken the
power of Catholic Church and help
them escape the rule of the
Pope. This would make
Monarchies (King’s governments)
stronger.

What Happened?
A split between members of society
saw some join forces with Luther
(Protestants… which came to mean
“Christians who belonged to non-
Catholic churches”) while others
remained loyal to the Pope.
War eventually broke out
between Catholic and Protestant
forces in Germany.

Can you explain the importance of what Martin
Luther did?

Calvinism
In 1530, the Protestant movement
gave way to the teachings of John
Calvin. Calvin wrote an important
book that gave structure to
Protestant beliefs. He taught
that people are sinful by nature.

Calvinism which too was a religion
for “Christians who belonged to
non-Catholic church”) taught
predestination, the idea that God
determines beforehand (He has
pre-determined,) who will be saved..
Calvinism

Do you understand predestination?

The Catholic Church’s Response
As Protestant churches grew all over
Europe, the Catholic Church took
steps to change itself. This was
called the Catholic Reformation or
Counter-Reformation.

The Catholic Church’s Response
One Catholic reformer was Ignatius
(later St. Ignatius) who founded a
new group in the Catholic Church
based on deep devotion to Jesus.
Members of this group, were called
the Jesuits.

The Jesuits…
•started schools across Europe
•they sent missionaries to convert people
to Catholicism
•tried to stop the spread of
Protestantism
This was called the Counter-Reformation
Movement
The Catholic Church’s Response

Do you understand how the counter reformation tried
saved the Catholicism?

Legacy of the Reformation
In the wake of the movement,
Protestant churches flourished but…
•the Catholic Church became more
unified
•there was an overall decline in the
authority of the church.
•individual monarchs/Kings and nations
gained greater power.