The Old Religion and its Stresses:
The Old Religion and its Stresses Fear and the Ritual Response BUT sacraments need pure priests, texts, and rituals
Religious Institutions of Society BUT complex rules from afar poorly fit local conditions
Clerical Leadership -- few challenges BUT resented and a yearning for reform
Martin Luther’s Revolt:
Martin Luther’s Revolt Troubles of Brother Martin (1483-1546)
Growing up in electoral Saxony: a worried monk, priest, & Wittenberg theologian
Righteousness (Gerechtigkeit) 1517 theses vs indulgences; humans cannot gain salvation, only by God’s grace
From the Diet of Augsburg 1518 to the Diet of Worms 1521 – political protection
Philip Melanchton 1497-1560 installed reform in Wittenberg
Key Doctrinal Positions: Sola Scriptura :: Sola Fide
1520 Sermon on Good Works – ethical behaviour a result of faith Liberty of a Christian Man -- freedom from sin to love God & serve neighbours
Babylonian Captivity of the Church – denied all sacraments except baptism & eucharist; every Christian has potential to interpret Word of God
1522 German New Testament
Society and Authority
1520 Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation – laity must lead reform
1523 Temporal Authority -- must provide order & be obeyed, but not in affairs of salvation
1525 Against the Murderous and Thieving Hordes of Peasants
Popular Reformation in Town & Country:
Popular Reformation in Town & Country Cities
Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) at Zürich, others in imperial cities: communal religion
Reform divisions and agreements
1526 Diet of Speyer permitted local church organization
1529 Diet of Speyer ‘protested’ imperial edict
1530 Augsburg Confession
1536 Wittenberg Concord
Rural
Insecure peasants seeking ‘pure gospel’ and ‘Godly law’ peacefully
1525 Peasants’ War to enforce ‘Godly law’ – suppressed but some social gains
Radical Reformers
Thomas Müntzer 1489-1525 apocalyptic socal revolutionary and spiritualist
Anabaptists – adult baptism created new chosen people,
‘saints’ exempt from existing rules
Violent communalism: Jan of Leyden at Münster 1533-35
Pacifist withdrawal and martyrdom: heritage for Mennonites, Hutterites, etc.
The Reformation of the Princes, 1:
The Reformation of the Princes, 1 German ‘Lutherans’
With princely assent, churches run by universities, pastors, & communities
Defensive League of Schmalkalden 1531-47 defeated by Emperor Charles
1555 Peace of Augsburg: Lutherans treated equally with Catholics Cuius regio, eius religio with right of emigration
Scandinavia
1534 Christian II bowed to pressure & reformed Denmark, Norway, and Iceland
Gustavas Vasa 1523-60 , helped by Petri bros, gradually reformed Sweden
East-Central Europe wide acceptance & official toleration of reform.
England
The Reformation of the Princes, 2:
The Reformation of the Princes, 2 German ‘Lutherans’
Scandinavia
East-Central Europe wide acceptance & official toleration of reform.
England
Henry VIII 1507-47
King ‘s pamphlet against Luther, 1521, won him ‘Defender of the Faith’
Marriage problem: no male heir, but denied divorce. Broke with Rome 1532
1534 Act of Supremacy, 1536-39 suppressed monasteries, but still opposed reform doctrine
Edward VI 1547-53 strong reform programs (1549 & 1551) provoked popular resistance
Mary 1553-58 fierce reCatholicisation backfired
Elizabeth I ‘Anglican’ settlement 1563: conservative theology reinforced temporal authority
The Reformation as a theological age . . . :
The Reformation as a theological age . . . Doctrines could associate with social groups but theology the chosen mode of expression
Religious developments had their own dynamic, often opposing material interests and mentalities of the very groups who promoted them.
True believers knew ‘their’ God was ‘a Mighty Fortress’