The Protestant REFORMATION, Explained [AP Euro Review: Unit 2 Topic 2 (2.2)]

Summary

This script explores the Protestant Reformation, starting with the unusual papal residence in Avignon, France, due to political disputes between the Pope and European kings. It highlights the corruption within the Catholic Church, including simony and the selling of indulgences, which led to public disillusionment. Martin Luther's 95 Theses, sparked by his realization of salvation as a free gift from God, ignited the Reformation. The script also covers John Calvin's contributions, like the doctrines of predestination and the elect, and the rise of Anabaptists, emphasizing adult baptism. It provides a historical context for the spread of Protestantism and its impact on European society.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The papal palace in Avignon, France, is unusual because popes typically reside in the Vatican in Rome.
• 👑 In 1309, the King of France pressured the Pope to move the papacy to Avignon, leading to a period of corruption and power-grabbing by the Avignon popes.
• 🕊️ The Great Schism (1377-1417) saw the Catholic Church divided, with rival popes in Rome and Avignon claiming absolute authority.
• 💸 The Catholic Church in the 16th century was perceived as corrupt, with practices like simony (buying church offices) and the sale of indulgences contributing to this view.
• 🔥 The doctrine of purgatory and the sale of indulgences allowed people to 'buy' their way out of post-death purification, which was a significant point of contention.
• 📜 Martin Luther's 95 Theses criticized the Catholic Church and sparked the Protestant Reformation, with his ideas spreading rapidly due to the printing press.
• 🙏 Luther's theology emphasized 'sola scriptura' (Scripture alone) and the priesthood of all believers, challenging the Catholic Church's authority.
• 🌟 John Calvin systematized Protestant doctrine, introducing concepts like predestination and the elect, which had significant social and economic impacts.
• ⚖️ Calvin's Geneva was a theocracy, where wealth accumulation was seen as a sign of God's favor, but dissent was harshly punished.
• 👶 The Anabaptists further split from mainstream Protestantism over the issue of baptism, advocating for adult baptism only.

Q & A

Why is there a papal palace in Avignon, France?

In 1309, the King of France pressured the new pope to establish the papacy in Avignon to distance it from Italy, leading to a series of popes living there and focusing on consolidating power and wealth rather than spiritual well-being.

What was the Great Schism, and when did it occur?

The Great Schism occurred in 1377 when the Catholic Church had two rival popes, one in Rome and one in Avignon, each claiming absolute power, which lasted for almost 40 years.

What was the main criticism of the Catholic Church leading up to the Reformation?

The main criticism was that the Church was corrupt, involved in political matters, and engaged in corrupt practices like simony and the selling of indulgences, leading to a perception that the Church was more interested in power than in guiding the faithful.

What is simony, and how was it practiced in the Catholic Church?

Simony was the buying and selling of church offices, where individuals could purchase positions like bishop, often based on wealth rather than spiritual qualifications.

What is an indulgence, and how was it connected to the Reformation?

An indulgence was a document sold by the Church that promised to reduce the punishment for sins in purgatory. The selling of indulgences was a major point of contention during the Reformation, as it was seen as a corrupt practice.

Who was Martin Luther, and what was his role in the Protestant Reformation?

Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk who challenged the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the selling of indulgences. He is known for his 95 Theses, which outlined his complaints and sparked widespread discussion and reform.

What was the significance of the 95 Theses in the context of the Reformation?

The 95 Theses, written by Martin Luther, outlined his criticisms of the Catholic Church and became a catalyst for the Reformation. They were widely disseminated due to the printing press, gaining an eager audience among those discontent with the Church.

What is the doctrine of predestination, and how did John Calvin contribute to its development?

The doctrine of predestination, as developed by John Calvin, taught that God had already decided who would be saved and who would be damned, making salvation and damnation a matter of divine choice rather than human effort.

What was the significance of the doctrine of the elect in Calvin's teachings?

The doctrine of the elect, as taught by John Calvin, held that those chosen by God for salvation were predestined and could not lose their salvation, emphasizing God's sovereignty in the process of salvation.

How did the economic shift in Europe influence the spread of Calvin's teachings?

Calvin's teachings that financial wealth was a proper reward for hard work and a sign of God's favor aligned with the economic shift towards capitalism in Europe. This contributed to the growth of wealth in cities like Geneva and Amsterdam.

What were the Anabaptists, and how did their beliefs differ from those of Martin Luther and John Calvin?

The Anabaptists were a radical reform movement that agreed with many Reformation principles but differed on the issue of baptism, advocating for adult baptism only, as infants could not profess faith.