The Reformation WebQuest
Directions: Read the information provided below and then use that information to answer the questions on your answer sheet. Answers must be written in COMPLETE SENTENCES (except for Vocab and question 17).
Introduction:
Have you ever noticed how many different types of Christian Churches there are today? During the Renaissance there was just one Church in Western Europe.
Have you wondered how there went from being just one Church in the West to all the ones we have today? It all started with Martin Luther in 1517 with the Protestant Reformation! At the beginning of the Renaissance all Christians in western Europe belonged to one church, the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church had become extremely powerful, but many felt that it had also become corrupt from within.They felt that the pope and other religious leaders were not living and conducting Church business in accordance with Church doctrine, and so they called for reform. The first and perhaps strongest voice calling for reform was that of Martin Luther, who posted a list of grievances against the Catholic Church in 1517. This sparked a a movement that demanded reform!!!!
Have you ever noticed how many different types of Christian Churches there are today? During the Renaissance there was just one Church in Western Europe.
Have you wondered how there went from being just one Church in the West to all the ones we have today? It all started with Martin Luther in 1517 with the Protestant Reformation! At the beginning of the Renaissance all Christians in western Europe belonged to one church, the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church had become extremely powerful, but many felt that it had also become corrupt from within.They felt that the pope and other religious leaders were not living and conducting Church business in accordance with Church doctrine, and so they called for reform. The first and perhaps strongest voice calling for reform was that of Martin Luther, who posted a list of grievances against the Catholic Church in 1517. This sparked a a movement that demanded reform!!!!
What is the Reformation?
Setting the Stage
As the Renaissance spread throughout Europe, the standard of living among Europeans greatly improved. More people could afford to have their children receive a formal education. Before this, most children who were educated were taught to memorize religious texts in Latin by monks and priests. The Renaissance brought the opportunity for children and adults to learn more than just religious writings, providing for a more boarder education. Due to the fact that more people were now able to read and write, the number of individuals who read the bible increased.
By the early Renaissance, most of Europe followed the Roman Catholic Church and religion. Then people began to question its methods and practices, and world religion changed forever.
By the early 1500's the Catholic Church seemed to be more focused on making money and holding power than saving souls. At the time, the church made a practice of selling indulgences to help raise money. Indulgences were pardons issued by the pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, that people paid for in order to be forgiven of his sins. People began to realize that a change was needed, and the Reformation was a movement against the financial, corruption, abuse of power, and immortality in the Catholic Church.
Causes of the Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a major turning point in history. Not only did it affect religious life in Europe, but also affected social, political, and economic institutions as well. Two major leaders of the Protestant Reformation were Martin Luther and John Calvin, both educated as priests for the Catholic Church. The followers of Luther and Calvin became known as Protestants, because of their "protesting."
By the 1500s the Catholic Church was the most wealthy and powerful institution in Europe. Many church leaders lived more like kings, than priests, and became increasingly involved in political matters. To raise money for these activities, the Church raised fees for services such as, marriage and baptism, and also began the sale of indulgences, which were letters of forgiveness for one's sins. This caused both anger and resentment across Europe, and many called for reforms to take place.
As the Renaissance spread throughout Europe, the standard of living among Europeans greatly improved. More people could afford to have their children receive a formal education. Before this, most children who were educated were taught to memorize religious texts in Latin by monks and priests. The Renaissance brought the opportunity for children and adults to learn more than just religious writings, providing for a more boarder education. Due to the fact that more people were now able to read and write, the number of individuals who read the bible increased.
By the early Renaissance, most of Europe followed the Roman Catholic Church and religion. Then people began to question its methods and practices, and world religion changed forever.
By the early 1500's the Catholic Church seemed to be more focused on making money and holding power than saving souls. At the time, the church made a practice of selling indulgences to help raise money. Indulgences were pardons issued by the pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, that people paid for in order to be forgiven of his sins. People began to realize that a change was needed, and the Reformation was a movement against the financial, corruption, abuse of power, and immortality in the Catholic Church.
Causes of the Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a major turning point in history. Not only did it affect religious life in Europe, but also affected social, political, and economic institutions as well. Two major leaders of the Protestant Reformation were Martin Luther and John Calvin, both educated as priests for the Catholic Church. The followers of Luther and Calvin became known as Protestants, because of their "protesting."
By the 1500s the Catholic Church was the most wealthy and powerful institution in Europe. Many church leaders lived more like kings, than priests, and became increasingly involved in political matters. To raise money for these activities, the Church raised fees for services such as, marriage and baptism, and also began the sale of indulgences, which were letters of forgiveness for one's sins. This caused both anger and resentment across Europe, and many called for reforms to take place.
Who was Martin Luther?
Martin Luther was one of eight children born to a poor German peasant family. Luther's father, a miner, worked hard to make sure his son could attend a university. When he was 21, he began to study law at the university. But he did not complete even a single semester.
What happened?
As Martin Luther later told the story, he had a number of close brushes with death, which changed his attitudes about life. One such incident happened on a stormy night. As Luther walked home alone, thunder crashed around him and lightning blazed across the sky. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck, knocking Luther to the ground.
The storm raged around him. Terrified, Luther screamed, "St. Anne, help me!" He vowed that if he
survived the storm, he would give his life to God and become a monk.
Luther did survive. True to his promise, but much to his father's dismay, he quit studying law and entered the monastery.
What happened?
As Martin Luther later told the story, he had a number of close brushes with death, which changed his attitudes about life. One such incident happened on a stormy night. As Luther walked home alone, thunder crashed around him and lightning blazed across the sky. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck, knocking Luther to the ground.
The storm raged around him. Terrified, Luther screamed, "St. Anne, help me!" He vowed that if he
survived the storm, he would give his life to God and become a monk.
Luther did survive. True to his promise, but much to his father's dismay, he quit studying law and entered the monastery.
Part A: Find out what Martin Luther believed about faith. Read the following passage, and write a paragraph in your own words (3-5 complete sentences) that summarizes his beliefs.
Like many Christians of his time. Luther believed that the only way to escape hellfire was to do good works, give to the poor, confess his sins, and live faithfully according to the ways of the church. But the more Luther thought about it, the more convinced he became that he could never be good enough to go to heaven. The somber monk saw God as a stern judge who would most certainly condemn him.
Luther studied the Bible for hours on end. As he read and thought about the words in the Bible, his thinking began to change. He came to some revolutionary conclusions:
This was an important point, and it threatened the church because Luther was questions just how much people really needed priests.
Like many Christians of his time. Luther believed that the only way to escape hellfire was to do good works, give to the poor, confess his sins, and live faithfully according to the ways of the church. But the more Luther thought about it, the more convinced he became that he could never be good enough to go to heaven. The somber monk saw God as a stern judge who would most certainly condemn him.
Luther studied the Bible for hours on end. As he read and thought about the words in the Bible, his thinking began to change. He came to some revolutionary conclusions:
- He decided that God was not so much a stern judge as a loving father.
- He also concluded that doing good works and observing church law would not get you to heaven. Instead, Luther said, a person could only be saved by his or her faith in God.
- Luther also said that people didn't need priests to obtain forgiveness from God for their sins. Instead, said Luther, if people confessed their sins, were sorry, and had faith, then God would forgive them.
This was an important point, and it threatened the church because Luther was questions just how much people really needed priests.
Luther Posts his 95 Theses
A small crowd gathers to watch as Martin Luther directs the posting of his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. The Ninety-Five Theses would spark the birth of the Protestant religion and the Reformation.
In Rome, Lorenzo de' Medici had been named Pope Leo X, and had big plans for his reign. To raise money for the project, Pope Leo sold over 2,000 high-powered jobs in the church. If a person could pay a lot of money, then he could become a cardinal or bishop. The person's background or character didn't matter as long as he had the cash. The result was not good.
Leo X also raised money by sending people out to sell indulgences, which were sometimes called pardons. The church said that if people bought indulgences, their sins would be pardoned, and so they could lessen the punishment they would suffer in the afterlife. Many peasants, who did not have much money, bought indulgences, hoping to get a better chance of being saved and going to heaven.
The practices of selling indulgences infuriated Martin Luther, who said that only faith and God's mercy could save a person. In other words, you cannot buy your way to heaven.
Luther thought that the practice of selling indulgences was a sign of greed and corruption in the church. He decided to let other people know what he thought. In Latin--the language normally used by scholars in his time--Luther wrote his objections. In all, he came up with 95 arguments against indulgences.
On October 31, 1517, he nailed this document, called the Ninety-five Theses, to the door of the church of the University of Wittenberg, where he was a professor. Nailing a document to a door was a common way to begin a debate at the time.
Leo X also raised money by sending people out to sell indulgences, which were sometimes called pardons. The church said that if people bought indulgences, their sins would be pardoned, and so they could lessen the punishment they would suffer in the afterlife. Many peasants, who did not have much money, bought indulgences, hoping to get a better chance of being saved and going to heaven.
The practices of selling indulgences infuriated Martin Luther, who said that only faith and God's mercy could save a person. In other words, you cannot buy your way to heaven.
Luther thought that the practice of selling indulgences was a sign of greed and corruption in the church. He decided to let other people know what he thought. In Latin--the language normally used by scholars in his time--Luther wrote his objections. In all, he came up with 95 arguments against indulgences.
On October 31, 1517, he nailed this document, called the Ninety-five Theses, to the door of the church of the University of Wittenberg, where he was a professor. Nailing a document to a door was a common way to begin a debate at the time.
Printing Press
During the 1500's, reformers risked the anger of Church officials by raising questions about the Roman Catholic Church's authority. To help spread their ideas, the reformers used the new printing press technologies that had developed during the 1400's.
The person credited with setting up Europe's first printing press was a German, Johannes Guttenberg. The first book he printed, in about 1455, was the Bible.
Soon after Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the Church door in 1517, it was translated from Latin into German. Now many more people could read them, and many more people got the chance to read them.
Can you guess why?
Because of the printing press!
In less than a month's time, people across Europe held copies of Luther's 95 Theses in their hands.
Johannes Guttenberg' machine was modeled after other presses, which were tools used to squeeze juice from grapes and olives.
Guttenberg arranged his moveable type--individual raised letters sticking up from blocks of metal--backwards in a holder to print the words in correct order on a page. He rolled ink over the type and then pressed a sheet of paper onto the inked letters to print the words. What made was his invention so important at this time, especially during the Renaissance, was that it allowed him to print many copies of a page easily and quickly.
The Printing Press made it so much easier, faster, and cheaper to copy books that it was no longer just the wealthy who could afford to buy them. Printing in this way also meant that books of any kind could be copied and sold, not just religious texts copied by scribes.
More books on a wide variety of subjects meant it was possible for more people to learn, become knowledgeable, and get a broad education.
Can you guess why?
Because of the printing press!
In less than a month's time, people across Europe held copies of Luther's 95 Theses in their hands.
Johannes Guttenberg' machine was modeled after other presses, which were tools used to squeeze juice from grapes and olives.
Guttenberg arranged his moveable type--individual raised letters sticking up from blocks of metal--backwards in a holder to print the words in correct order on a page. He rolled ink over the type and then pressed a sheet of paper onto the inked letters to print the words. What made was his invention so important at this time, especially during the Renaissance, was that it allowed him to print many copies of a page easily and quickly.
The Printing Press made it so much easier, faster, and cheaper to copy books that it was no longer just the wealthy who could afford to buy them. Printing in this way also meant that books of any kind could be copied and sold, not just religious texts copied by scribes.
More books on a wide variety of subjects meant it was possible for more people to learn, become knowledgeable, and get a broad education.
Before the Reformation, most Bibles were in Latin, Greek, or Hebrew, which only priests could usually understand. Reformers produced the Bible in their own languages. Luther's German translation appeared in 1534. The church resisted such efforts. William Tyndale, the English translator, was exiled and later
burned at the stake.
burned at the stake.
Effects of the 95 Theses
Luther's Ideas Spread Like Wildfire!
By nailing his Ninety-five Theses to the church door, Luther was trying to start a discussion. It was as thought he were putting a notice on a bulletin board and asking people to respond to his ideas. But his ideas proved so powerful that they sparked a protest that led to huge changes across Europe.
Luther's ideas appealed to the people. His attacks on the greed of the Church pleased over-taxed peasants. But it was more than money that made Luther's voice powerful. He taught that all believers were equal. His ideas did not please the leaders of the Church, and Pope Leo X called Luther "a wild boar [who] has invaded [the Lord's] vineyard".
By nailing his Ninety-five Theses to the church door, Luther was trying to start a discussion. It was as thought he were putting a notice on a bulletin board and asking people to respond to his ideas. But his ideas proved so powerful that they sparked a protest that led to huge changes across Europe.
Luther's ideas appealed to the people. His attacks on the greed of the Church pleased over-taxed peasants. But it was more than money that made Luther's voice powerful. He taught that all believers were equal. His ideas did not please the leaders of the Church, and Pope Leo X called Luther "a wild boar [who] has invaded [the Lord's] vineyard".
Look Out for the Papal Bull!
The pope was furious! He decided to strike back at Luther. In 1520, he issued the papal bull. Papal means anything having to do with the pope, and bull in this case does not have anything to do with a snorting barnyard animal. It is the word for an official document issued by the pope.
In his papal bull, the pope attacked Luther. The pope required all members of the church to burn Luther's writings and warned that anyone following Luther would be considered a heretic--a person who openly disagrees with the official beliefs of the church.
The pope was furious! He decided to strike back at Luther. In 1520, he issued the papal bull. Papal means anything having to do with the pope, and bull in this case does not have anything to do with a snorting barnyard animal. It is the word for an official document issued by the pope.
In his papal bull, the pope attacked Luther. The pope required all members of the church to burn Luther's writings and warned that anyone following Luther would be considered a heretic--a person who openly disagrees with the official beliefs of the church.
How did Luther respond? Rebelliously!! In December of 1520, students, professors and townspeople of Wittenberg gathered before a blazing fire and watched as Martin Luther dropped a copy of the papal bull into the blaze!!!!!
Luther had gone far beyond simply arguing with the church about indulgences. He had publicly opposed the pope, and had made a break with the church. A month later the pope made it official: he excommunicated Luther, which means that he took away Luther's membership in the church.
Luther had gone far beyond simply arguing with the church about indulgences. He had publicly opposed the pope, and had made a break with the church. A month later the pope made it official: he excommunicated Luther, which means that he took away Luther's membership in the church.
Why They're Called "Protestants"
As a result of Martin Luther's criticisms, many people began to break away from the Roman Catholic Church. They no longer believed they had to obey the pope. These people who protested against the practices and beliefs of the church came to be called Protestants. (That is why sometimes you may hear the Reformation referred to as the Protestant Reformation.)
Effects of the Reformation
After Luther, Christians were divided into Catholics and Protestants. In the United States today, Catholics and Protestants can be neighbors and friends, but in Luther's time, they were bitter enemies. Each side believed it was right. Wars and fighting broke out. Different groups of Protestants even fought against each other, since they did not all agree with each other about religious beliefs and practices. Some people were tortured, hanged, or burned at the stake over these issues. It's sad to say but history is full of examples of people doing things to each other in the name of religion.
But what happened to Martin Luther?
As for Martin Luther, unlike many of the people who opposed the Catholic church in his time, he was neither hanged nor burned at the stake. He returned to Wittenberg and kept preaching and writing for the rest of his life. Before he died in 1546, Luther wrote over 60,000 pages. Yet he once said that he would be happy if "all my books could disappear and the Scripture alone would be read."
Effects of the Reformation
After Luther, Christians were divided into Catholics and Protestants. In the United States today, Catholics and Protestants can be neighbors and friends, but in Luther's time, they were bitter enemies. Each side believed it was right. Wars and fighting broke out. Different groups of Protestants even fought against each other, since they did not all agree with each other about religious beliefs and practices. Some people were tortured, hanged, or burned at the stake over these issues. It's sad to say but history is full of examples of people doing things to each other in the name of religion.
But what happened to Martin Luther?
As for Martin Luther, unlike many of the people who opposed the Catholic church in his time, he was neither hanged nor burned at the stake. He returned to Wittenberg and kept preaching and writing for the rest of his life. Before he died in 1546, Luther wrote over 60,000 pages. Yet he once said that he would be happy if "all my books could disappear and the Scripture alone would be read."
New Kinds of Protestantism
Not long after Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, another many took a leading role in the Reformation in Europe.
He was a Frenchman named John Calvin. While Luther's own objections were to the institution of the church and the conduct of its clergy; John Calvin rethought Christian theology, or the study of the nature of God.
He promosted a theological system that was severe and strongly Bible based. In his view, the faithful, or "elect", would be saved, but sinners would be cast into hell forever. Calvin even argued that God already knew which group was which and that some people were thus destined to be damned. In English-speaking countries, Calvin's followers became known as Puritans.
Officials of the Catholic Church forced him to leave France in 1534. He moved around for a couple of years and eventually settled in Switzerland, in the city of Geneva. His ideas and teaching attracted many followers, and soon Geneva became the center of the Protestant movement known as Calvinism.
He was a Frenchman named John Calvin. While Luther's own objections were to the institution of the church and the conduct of its clergy; John Calvin rethought Christian theology, or the study of the nature of God.
He promosted a theological system that was severe and strongly Bible based. In his view, the faithful, or "elect", would be saved, but sinners would be cast into hell forever. Calvin even argued that God already knew which group was which and that some people were thus destined to be damned. In English-speaking countries, Calvin's followers became known as Puritans.
Officials of the Catholic Church forced him to leave France in 1534. He moved around for a couple of years and eventually settled in Switzerland, in the city of Geneva. His ideas and teaching attracted many followers, and soon Geneva became the center of the Protestant movement known as Calvinism.
Part A : Read the information below and identify at least 2 differences and 2 similarities between John Calvin and Martin Luther.
Calvin threw out many of the traditions of the Catholic church. He believed that if the Bible did not tell you to do something in the church service, then you shouldn't do it. Compared to a Catholic cathedral, a Calvinist church was very plain and bare. There was no stained glass windows, no statues of saints, no paintings. Everything was kept simple.
Calvin emphasized an idea called predestination which is the belief that some people have already been chose by God to be saved. Those chosen for salvation would lead a strict and self-disciplined life devoted to God. Because of Calvin, the city of Geneva passed laws forbidding dancing, swearing, and gambling. Everyone had to attend church. In church people had to follow strict rules against laughing or making noise.
Calvin also worked for better hospitals and special care for poor and handicapped people. He started a school called the Geneva Academy.
Like many Christians of his time. Luther believed that the only way to escape hellfire was to do good works, give to the poor, confess his sins, and live faithfully according to the ways of the church.
Luther studied the Bible for hours on end. As he read and thought about the words in the Bible, his thinking began to change. He came to some revolutionary conclusions:
He decided that God was not so much a stern judge as a loving father.
He also concluded that doing good works and observing church law would not get you to heaven. Instead, Luther said, a person could only be saved by his or her faith in God.
Luther also said that people didn't need priests to obtain forgiveness from God for their sins. Instead, said Luther, if people confessed their sins, were sorry, and had faith, then God would forgive them.
Calvin threw out many of the traditions of the Catholic church. He believed that if the Bible did not tell you to do something in the church service, then you shouldn't do it. Compared to a Catholic cathedral, a Calvinist church was very plain and bare. There was no stained glass windows, no statues of saints, no paintings. Everything was kept simple.
Calvin emphasized an idea called predestination which is the belief that some people have already been chose by God to be saved. Those chosen for salvation would lead a strict and self-disciplined life devoted to God. Because of Calvin, the city of Geneva passed laws forbidding dancing, swearing, and gambling. Everyone had to attend church. In church people had to follow strict rules against laughing or making noise.
Calvin also worked for better hospitals and special care for poor and handicapped people. He started a school called the Geneva Academy.
Like many Christians of his time. Luther believed that the only way to escape hellfire was to do good works, give to the poor, confess his sins, and live faithfully according to the ways of the church.
Luther studied the Bible for hours on end. As he read and thought about the words in the Bible, his thinking began to change. He came to some revolutionary conclusions:
He decided that God was not so much a stern judge as a loving father.
He also concluded that doing good works and observing church law would not get you to heaven. Instead, Luther said, a person could only be saved by his or her faith in God.
Luther also said that people didn't need priests to obtain forgiveness from God for their sins. Instead, said Luther, if people confessed their sins, were sorry, and had faith, then God would forgive them.