Reformation, The (Revised)

the [Music] the year is 1300 in the major cities of Western Europe during the late medieval period the most impressive building is the Cathedral located in the Heart of the City the cathedral is a symbol of the central importance of the Catholic church in medieval life the church presents itself as a unifying force in a time of many political divisions and rivalries there is one Christian faith for all the people of Western Europe the clergymen and Nobles and the Common People the Craftsmen and Merchants of the growing towns and cities and the peasant farmers who make up the major portion of the population life on this Earth is marked by poverty ceaseless hard labor and insecurity infant death is common average life expectancy at Birth is only about 30 years in the midst of this hardship the Church offers hope of a better life after death all who have faith in its doctrines and follow its practices are promised the salvation of their souls and eternal life in heaven [Music] but to secure salvation they must perform certain religious duties attending the ceremonies of the church for example and receiving sacraments such as baptism and Holy Communion and they might also help to earn their way to heaven through good works perhaps by giving money to religious causes a pilgrimage a journey to a holy place to view the relics of a saint is one way of earning a spiritual benefit called an Indulgence the church teaches that most people can enter Heaven only after many years of suffering in purgatory but that time can be shortened by earning an Indulgence the best way of all to win salvation is to devote one's life to Prayer by entering a monastery or convent [Music] most monks have withdrawn from the world to consecrate themselves to the life of the spirit but many high ranking churchmen are involved in a struggle for Earthly power a bishop for example may also be a wealthy landowner whose major concern is not the spiritual welfare of his people but rather the money and power he gains from his Holdings of land a large amount of land in Western Europe is controlled by the Pope the leader of the Catholic Church the Pope's claim to Spiritual Authority sometimes expressed in a document called a papal bull has often brought him into conflict with the political rulers of Western Europe and some of these political rulers especially Philip IV of France have successfully challenged the authority of the Pope in 1303 through Philip's influence the court of the pope is moved from Rome to ainon [Music] France the church will be ruled from this Palace in aino where the pope is dominated by the king of France and worse is yet to come by 1378 there are two rival popes one here in ainon and the other in Rome the division near is a cause of bitter criticism finally in 1417 the Pope's Palace in Rome once again becomes the Undisputed center of the Catholic [Music] church but criticism of the church continues as the years pass religious attitudes are being affected by other developments by the year 1500 gradual changes in life and thought have ushered in a new age the Renaissance the growth of trade and Manufacturing has created new sources of wealth and new opportunities for the enrichment of life more people are able to read and write and they can afford to buy books with the invention of printing from movable metal type and the use of inexpensive paper rather than costly parchment a new era in communication has begun [Music] many people are becoming aware of the ideas being developed by University Scholars the Renaissance philosophy called humanism is being applied to the study of Religion and many Christian humanists are coming to feel that the church is in need of Reform some say that the Catholic church has grown too wealthy and too worldly and that a simple humility like that of St Francis of AI would be more in keeping with Biblical teachings there is criticism also of the growing emphasis on good works such as pilgrimages as a means of earning salvation the critics insist that good works must be balanced by faith criticism of the church combined with concern for salvation will lead to important changes in the religious life of Western Europe shortly after the year 1500 in the German province of Saxony a part of the Holy Roman Empire a crucial event will occur in the University Town of Wittenberg Wittenberg in 1516 a professor at the University an augustinian monk named Martin Luther is preparing lectures on the New Testament book of Romans as he studies the Bible Luther becomes convinced that that salvation is not earned by good works but is given by the grace of God and received by faith alone thereupon he says I felt myself to be reborn but this concept of salvation by faith alone will bring Luther into conflict with the Catholic Church special indulgences authorized by the pope are being sold in Germany by Johan tetzel a Dominican [Music] to Luther and many others tetel seems to represent salvation as merely a financial transaction it is time Luther decides to issue a formal Challenge on the Wittenberg Church door he posts a list of 95 thesis arguments against the misuse of indulgences this bold action is the beginning of the movement called the Reformation it will affect both church and state Pope Leo the 10th will condemn Luther's ideas and put him out of the church the religious conflict will be caught up in the political struggle between Charles I who rules the Holy Roman Empire which includes Germany and some of the princes who govern parts of Germany and who support Luther against Pope and Emperor in 1521 in the German city called worms Luther is brought to trial for teaching doctrines opposed by the church he is ordered to recant to reject those doctrines his reply according to later reports I cannot and I will not recant here I stand I cannot do otherwise God help me amen the emperor issues an edict condemning Luther as an an outlaw if enforced it will mean his death but Frederick the wise Prince of Luther's home province of Saxony has arranged to protect him Luther's party traveling home from worms is intercepted and in a pretended kidnapping Luther is brought secretly to the safety of wartberg Castle here he devotes himself to study and writing and are translating the New Testament from Greek into German Luther believes that the Bible should be available to everyone and later after returning to Wittenberg he translates the Old Testament as well and he also writes several books and many pamphlets that are eagerly bought and read Luther teaches that any worthwhile occupation could be considered a vocation a call calling from God a Craftsman for example may serve God in his daily work there's no need to enter a monastery or go on a pilgrimage to win salvation these doctrines help lead to the establishment of new churches Lutheranism is spread to several parts of Germany and to Scandinavia and Bohemia when the Holy Roman Emperor attempts to Stamp Out Lutheranism in Germany there's a vigorous protest from those who support Luther and they become known as Protestants the Protestant Reformation in Western Europe takes several forms under several leaders who sometimes disagree the preaching of UR Singley has begun the Reformation in Suk Switzerland single's interpretation of the Bible is somewhat different from that of Luther or of John Calin the Protestant leader leer in Geneva Switzerland Calvin's system of doctrines will be a major influence on John Knox leader of the Protestant Reformation in [Music] Scotland from Wittenberg zorich and Geneva these various forms of protestantism are spreading to other parts of Western Europe and in England King Henry VII although he opposes the Protestants has quarreled with the Pope and has separated from Rome Cathedrals and other Church property in England are taken over by the king who has placed himself at the head of the new church of [Music] England and so by the year 1550 several areas of Western Europe have broken away from the Catholic Church to follow the teachings of one of the Protestant churches but concern for reform is not limited to those who have become Protestants Catholic leaders such as Ignatius of lyola are working to strengthen the Catholic church to meet the challenge of protestantism at the Council of Trent beginning in 1545 the Catholic Church clarifies many of its doctrines and approves several reforms in church [Music] practice these reforms will help to awaken a new spirit of loyalty and devotion among Catholics but there have been great changes in the life and thought of Western Europe in addition to Catholicism there are now many Protestant groups that preach various interpretations of Christianity the Protestant reformers find their Authority in the Bible and individual conscience these religious ideas owe a great deal to the new learning of the Renaissance which encourages critical independent thought and this has brought about a new spirit of individualism in religion in many ways the Protestant Reformation is a reflection of a larger pattern of new ideas that will affect life and thought for many years to come oh