The Reformation Begins (pages 633-641)

Did You Know?

The Lutheran Church in the United States contains more than 20
different denominations. The practice of each denomination can be
different, although they are all part of the Lutheran
Church.

Calls for Church Reform (pages 634-637)

Martin Luther was a monk who challenged the Roman Catholic
Church. At first Luther wanted only to reform the Catholic Church, leading
to the period being called the Reformation. The movement to create
Christian churches other than the Catholic Church became known as
Protestantism.

Desiderius Erasmus was a leader in Christian humanism. He felt
humans could use reason to be better Christians.

People became upset with the Church's focus on money. They were also
upset over the sale of indulgences, or a reduction in the Church's
punishment for a person's sins. This practice motivated Martin Luther to
write a list of 95 arguments against selling indulgences. This list became
known as the Ninety-Five Theses.

Church leaders felt threatened by Luther, and the pope excommunicated
him.

Luther's ideas led to a new religious denomination, or organized
branch of Christianity. Lutheranism was the first Protestant denomination.

Discussion Question

Why did Erasmus want to translate the Bible into the vernacular?
(Erasmus believed everyone should be able to study the Bible. Erasmus
thought that participating in religious activities was not
enough.)

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Politics and Lutheranism (page 639)

Local kings and nobles of the Holy Roman Empire did not want Charles V,
the Holy Roman Emperor, to become too powerful.

Kings realized they could increase their power if they supported
Lutheranism. When the kings became Lutheran, their entire kingdoms did
also.

The Catholic Church could not earn income from the Lutheran
kingdoms.

Charles V warred with the local kings but could not defeat them. The
fighting ended with the Peace of Augsburg.

Discussion Question

What was the role of Charles V in the rise of Lutheranism? (Charles V
was the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Because he had so much power,
other rulers resented him and wanted to get out from under his control.
After warring with the rulers, Charles V signed the Peace of Augsburg, an
agreement that let each ruler decide whether his kingdom would be Lutheran
or Catholic. Most of northern Germany became Protestant as a result of this
agreement.)

Calvin and Calvinism (pages 640-641)

Early in his life, John Calvin studied theology, the study
of questions about God, in Paris.

Forced to flee Paris because of his discussions of Lutheranism, Calvin
found safety in Geneva, Switzerland.

Calvin taught that God's will is absolute and decides everything in the
world in advance, including who will go to heaven and who will not. This
belief is called predestination.

Calvinism encouraged people to work hard at their business and to behave
themselves. Calvin's belief that congregations should choose their own
leaders supported the idea of English settlers in America that they should
be able to elect their own political leaders.

Calvinism became the basis of many Protestant churches, such as the
Puritans and Presbyterians.

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