This lesson explains why calls for reform emerged within the Catholic Church and how Martin Luther’s protest over indulgences helped launch the Protestant Reformation.
At the beginning of the sixteenth century, most people in western and central Europe belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. Yet its unity faced growing pressure. Critics argued that some senior clergy pursued wealth and political power rather than spiritual responsibilities. Some church offices were bought, held by the same person in multiple places, or passed to relatives. Popes could also act like secular rulers, intervening in politics and commanding armies.
All flashcards
What was Christian humanism?
A northern European movement that combined classical learning with early Christian writings to encourage inward piety and improve Christian life.
What was an indulgence?
A remission of some or all of the temporal penalty for sin, associated with the Church's teaching about purification after death. Luther opposed the sale of indulgences because he feared people would mistake payment for a way to obtain forgiveness or salvation.
What were the Ninety-five Theses?
Ninety-five arguments Martin Luther drafted in 1517 criticizing the sale of indulgences and related Church claims. They were circulated in print and helped spark debate about reform.
What is justification by faith?
Luther's teaching that salvation depends on God and is received through faith, rather than being earned by human actions or purchased through indulgences.
What happened to Luther in 1521?
After refusing to recant his views, Luther was excommunicated, meaning the Catholic Church formally excluded him from participation in its life.
Quiz questions
Which reform did Ulrich Zwingli promote in Zurich?Answer: He rejected transubstantiation and advocated removing religious images from churches.
What did Anabaptists teach about baptism?Answer: Baptism should follow a person's conscious profession of faith in adulthood.
What did Calvinist predestination teach?Answer: God had already determined which souls would be saved and which would be damned.
What did the Peace of Augsburg establish in the Holy Roman Empire?Answer: Rulers could establish either Lutheranism or Catholicism as their territory's religion.
Based on World History Volume 2, from 1400 by Ann Kordas, Ryan J. Lynch, Brooke Nelson, Julie Tatlock (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.