Protestant Reformationb Ackground The Roman Catholic Church In Wester ✓ Solved

PROTESTANT REFORMATION B ACKGROUND • The Roman Catholic Church in western Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries an all-pervasive influence. • Clergy were dispensers of sacraments, managers of hospitals, in charge of schools, and dispensers of services such as writing and literacy. • The Pope was a major political force in his own right and a constant fixture in strategic alliances of the west. B ACKGROUND • Many see this period as truly a time of reform and renewal for western Christendom, which only accidentally led to fragmentation. • Church-building • Religious enthusiasm • Age of great religious art • Pilgrimage and other forms of public devotion B ACKGROUND • Scholasticism • Free thought • Humanism and the rediscovery of the classics MARTIN LUTHER • 16th century Roman Catholic priest and monk. • Professor of theology. • Plagued by anxiety about his own sin and salvation. • Deeply indebted to Augustinian readings of Scripture.

MART I N L U T H E R • In 1517, posts famous “95 Theses†on the door of the Church in Wittenberg. • Went on to compose numerous biblical commentaries and other writings. • Excommunicated by Roman Catholic Church in 1520. 95 THESES In the 95 Theses, what was Luther’s primary complaint against the Roman Catholic Church? INDULGENCES • Grants remitting penitential punishment. • Could be seen as practical demonstration that God loved sinners, and that God’s love was channeled through the power of the Church. • Seen by many as corrupt means of raising funds for the Church. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF LUTHER’S THOUGHTS ON SALVATION • Sola gratia • Sola fide • Sola Scriptura “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the Pope or in Councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God.

I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.†(Martin Luther) SOLA GRATIA/SOLA FIDE • Revives Augustinian/Pelagian debate. • This debate had revolved around whether one could earn their salvation through good works (as Pelagius was accused of teaching) or whether it was only through God’s grace. • Luther saw the Roman Catholic Church as being in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Apostle Paul by acting as a mediator between human beings and God. • Luther likened Paul’s “works of the Law†(Galatians) to certain teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, such as confession. • For Luther, salvation was solely by God’s grace (sola gratia) and human beings’ faith (sola fide). • “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith alone apart from the works of the law.†(Romans 3:28) • “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.†(James 2:24) SOLA SCRIPTURA • Martin Luther came to argue more broadly against church tradition and the church hierarchy as sources of authority regarding theology. • For Luther, the sole authority in matters of doctrine and practice is the Bible. • Because of this, Luther comes to criticize other practices of the Roman Catholic Church which are not found in the Scriptures, e.g. prayers to the saints. • The translation of the Bible at this time remained the Latin Vulgate. • Only the most educated spoke and understood Latin. • Therefore, one’s exposure to the Bible was usually hearing it in Latin in the Mass, then having the priest comment upon it in his homily. • Because of this, Luther saw the translation of the Bible into German as a primary task.

PRINTING PRESS L U T H E R WA S M O R E “ C AT H O L I C †T H A N M A N Y R E A L I Z E • Eucharist • Virgin Mary • “Fr. Martin Luther†• Other Reformers more radical HULDRYCH ZWINGLI • Attacked the practice of fasting during Lent. • Attacked use of images in worship. • Promoted clerical marriage. • Taught that the Eucharist was not the Body and Blood of Christ, but merely symbols. JOHN C ALVIN • French theologian and pastor in Geneva. • Broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530. • Published Institutes of the Christian Religion in 1536. • Predestination and God’s sovereignty. • Also heavily influenced by Augustine. T H E P ROT E S TA N T S H I F T I N E C C L E S I O L O G I C A L T H I N K I N G • Since the earliest days of Christianity, it had been seen as essential that Christians belong to the Church. • Mutual excommunications. • After the Protestant Reformation, over time one’s individual salvation and relationship with God seen by Protestants as more important that belonging to a particular church.

NEXT CLASS: COUNTER- REFORMATION How did the Roman Catholic Church respond to the claims of the Reformers? © 2017 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 1 of 1 Week 2 Case Studies Case #1 Hannah is a 3-year-old girl with no siblings who lives with her biological parents in a second- story apartment. Both parents work full-time jobs. Hannah came to the attention of the apartment complex manager when the tenant below the family complained that water was leaking through the ceiling. The apartment complex manager went to the upstairs apartment to investigate and found Hannah locked in a bathroom and handcuffed to the plumbing pipes.

She had turned the water on in the bathtub, flooding the room. The apartment complex manager contacted the police, who came to the scene, unlocked the handcuffs, and referred the case to Child Protective Services (CPS). Hannah was taken to a temporary shelter by CPS, who notified her parents of this. Both parents were very responsive, left their jobs immediately, and drove to the shelter to be interviewed by CPS. The preliminary CPS investigation revealed the following: Heather seemed to be a happy child who readily engaged with the investigators.

She had no signs of physical abuse, but did show some moderate signs of malnutrition and dehydration. She appeared to be delayed in meeting developmental milestones in all areas except motor skills. She expressed only one-word utterances and appeared to be at an 18-month-old developmental level. Her parents were forthright with the investigators and admitted handcuffing and locking Hannah in the bathroom. They reported that they had been doing this for over a year, because they did not know what else to do with her while they were at work.

They did not have enough money for childcare, but both needed to work in order to pay their bills. Neither parent had a criminal record, and there had been no previous reports of child maltreatment. Case #2 Tony is a 10-year-old boy living with his mother and her male partner, Hank, in a rural area in a trailer that is rented by his mother. Hank has two children, ages 3 and 7, who visit 1–2 times per week, but do not spend the night. These children are in the custody of their mother.

Tony’s mother works intermittently as a part-time motel maid, while Hank occasionally works construction jobs. Tony came to the attention of Child Protective Services (CPS) after the police arrested Hank at the trailer for illegally manufacturing methamphetamine. He was taken into custody, and Tony was taken to a temporary shelter by CPS until his mother could be notified. The mother responded by immediately going to the shelter to be interviewed by CPS. The preliminary investigation revealed the following: The mother and Hank had been living together for two years in the trailer.

There were no previous reports of child maltreatment, but Hank was on probation and had an arrest record that consisted of possession of illegal drugs. He had been making methamphetamine in the trailer kitchen and selling it. The mother denied knowledge of this, but since drug production paraphernalia was in full sight in the kitchen, her denial was suspect. The mother had been arrested about five years prior for drug possession charges that were later dropped. Tony appeared to have no signs of physical or emotional abuse.

Preliminary developmental screening reflected that he seemed to be functioning like a normal 10-year-old. He was cooperative with investigators and answered all of their questions. He reported that Hank had shown him how to pour stuff into a glass bottle (beaker), then he would watch as Hank heated this over a fire. Law enforcement investigators reported that the “meth lab†in the family’s kitchen was extremely dangerous and at risk of blowing up. Hank’s punishment was unknown at the time of the CPS preliminary investigation, but it is likely that he will be detained in jail to face charges for methamphetamine production and sales.

The mother intends to continue living in the trailer with Tony. © 2017 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 1 of 1 Week 2 Case Studies Case #1 Hannah is a 3-year-old girl with no siblings who lives with her biological parents in a second- story apartment. Both parents work full-time jobs. Hannah came to the attention of the apartment complex manager when the tenant below the family complained that water was leaking through the ceiling. The apartment complex manager went to the upstairs apartment to investigate and found Hannah locked in a bathroom and handcuffed to the plumbing pipes.

She had turned the water on in the bathtub, flooding the room. The apartment complex manager contacted the police, who came to the scene, unlocked the handcuffs, and referred the case to Child Protective Services (CPS). Hannah was taken to a temporary shelter by CPS, who notified her parents of this. Both parents were very responsive, left their jobs immediately, and drove to the shelter to be interviewed by CPS. The preliminary CPS investigation revealed the following: Heather seemed to be a happy child who readily engaged with the investigators.

She had no signs of physical abuse, but did show some moderate signs of malnutrition and dehydration. She appeared to be delayed in meeting developmental milestones in all areas except motor skills. She expressed only one-word utterances and appeared to be at an 18-month-old developmental level. Her parents were forthright with the investigators and admitted handcuffing and locking Hannah in the bathroom. They reported that they had been doing this for over a year, because they did not know what else to do with her while they were at work.

They did not have enough money for childcare, but both needed to work in order to pay their bills. Neither parent had a criminal record, and there had been no previous reports of child maltreatment. Case #2 Tony is a 10-year-old boy living with his mother and her male partner, Hank, in a rural area in a trailer that is rented by his mother. Hank has two children, ages 3 and 7, who visit 1–2 times per week, but do not spend the night. These children are in the custody of their mother.

Tony’s mother works intermittently as a part-time motel maid, while Hank occasionally works construction jobs. Tony came to the attention of Child Protective Services (CPS) after the police arrested Hank at the trailer for illegally manufacturing methamphetamine. He was taken into custody, and Tony was taken to a temporary shelter by CPS until his mother could be notified. The mother responded by immediately going to the shelter to be interviewed by CPS. The preliminary investigation revealed the following: The mother and Hank had been living together for two years in the trailer.

There were no previous reports of child maltreatment, but Hank was on probation and had an arrest record that consisted of possession of illegal drugs. He had been making methamphetamine in the trailer kitchen and selling it. The mother denied knowledge of this, but since drug production paraphernalia was in full sight in the kitchen, her denial was suspect. The mother had been arrested about five years prior for drug possession charges that were later dropped. Tony appeared to have no signs of physical or emotional abuse.

Preliminary developmental screening reflected that he seemed to be functioning like a normal 10-year-old. He was cooperative with investigators and answered all of their questions. He reported that Hank had shown him how to pour stuff into a glass bottle (beaker), then he would watch as Hank heated this over a fire. Law enforcement investigators reported that the “meth lab†in the family’s kitchen was extremely dangerous and at risk of blowing up. Hank’s punishment was unknown at the time of the CPS preliminary investigation, but it is likely that he will be detained in jail to face charges for methamphetamine production and sales.

The mother intends to continue living in the trailer with Tony. © 2017 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 1 of 1 Week 2 Case Studies Case #1 Hannah is a 3-year-old girl with no siblings who lives with her biological parents in a second- story apartment. Both parents work full-time jobs. Hannah came to the attention of the apartment complex manager when the tenant below the family complained that water was leaking through the ceiling. The apartment complex manager went to the upstairs apartment to investigate and found Hannah locked in a bathroom and handcuffed to the plumbing pipes.

She had turned the water on in the bathtub, flooding the room. The apartment complex manager contacted the police, who came to the scene, unlocked the handcuffs, and referred the case to Child Protective Services (CPS). Hannah was taken to a temporary shelter by CPS, who notified her parents of this. Both parents were very responsive, left their jobs immediately, and drove to the shelter to be interviewed by CPS. The preliminary CPS investigation revealed the following: Heather seemed to be a happy child who readily engaged with the investigators.

She had no signs of physical abuse, but did show some moderate signs of malnutrition and dehydration. She appeared to be delayed in meeting developmental milestones in all areas except motor skills. She expressed only one-word utterances and appeared to be at an 18-month-old developmental level. Her parents were forthright with the investigators and admitted handcuffing and locking Hannah in the bathroom. They reported that they had been doing this for over a year, because they did not know what else to do with her while they were at work.

They did not have enough money for childcare, but both needed to work in order to pay their bills. Neither parent had a criminal record, and there had been no previous reports of child maltreatment. Case #2 Tony is a 10-year-old boy living with his mother and her male partner, Hank, in a rural area in a trailer that is rented by his mother. Hank has two children, ages 3 and 7, who visit 1–2 times per week, but do not spend the night. These children are in the custody of their mother.

Tony’s mother works intermittently as a part-time motel maid, while Hank occasionally works construction jobs. Tony came to the attention of Child Protective Services (CPS) after the police arrested Hank at the trailer for illegally manufacturing methamphetamine. He was taken into custody, and Tony was taken to a temporary shelter by CPS until his mother could be notified. The mother responded by immediately going to the shelter to be interviewed by CPS. The preliminary investigation revealed the following: The mother and Hank had been living together for two years in the trailer.

There were no previous reports of child maltreatment, but Hank was on probation and had an arrest record that consisted of possession of illegal drugs. He had been making methamphetamine in the trailer kitchen and selling it. The mother denied knowledge of this, but since drug production paraphernalia was in full sight in the kitchen, her denial was suspect. The mother had been arrested about five years prior for drug possession charges that were later dropped. Tony appeared to have no signs of physical or emotional abuse.

Preliminary developmental screening reflected that he seemed to be functioning like a normal 10-year-old. He was cooperative with investigators and answered all of their questions. He reported that Hank had shown him how to pour stuff into a glass bottle (beaker), then he would watch as Hank heated this over a fire. Law enforcement investigators reported that the “meth lab†in the family’s kitchen was extremely dangerous and at risk of blowing up. Hank’s punishment was unknown at the time of the CPS preliminary investigation, but it is likely that he will be detained in jail to face charges for methamphetamine production and sales. The mother intends to continue living in the trailer with Tony.

Paper for above instructions

The Protestant Reformation: An Intellectual and Cultural Shift

The Protestant Reformation marked a pivotal moment in Western religious history, fundamentally altering the landscape of Christianity in Europe during the 16th century. With deep-seated ties to socio-political, economic, and intellectual changes, this movement arose as a response to perceived abuses and corruption within the Roman Catholic Church, highlighting a significant shift in theological understanding and church governance.

Contextual Background of the Roman Catholic Church

In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the Roman Catholic Church held a predominant position in Western Europe. Its influence extended beyond religious matters, permeating various facets of life, from daily rituals and education to politics (MacCulloch, 2003). The clergy served not only as spiritual shepherds but also facilitated literacy and societal welfare through the administration of hospitals and schools. The Pope wielded significant political power, often engaging in alliances that shaped kingdoms and national borders (Lindberg, 2010).
This period, however, while marked by extensive church building and an increase in religious artworks, also saw the rise of discontent fueled by the clergy's abuses and the Church's increasingly apparent reliance on financial practices like the sale of indulgences (Bainton, 1950). Humanism and the rediscovery of classical texts encouraged free thought and raised questions about traditional authority, sowing the seeds for the Reformation.

Martin Luther and the Catalyst of Change

Central to the Reformation was Martin Luther, a devout Augustinian monk and professor of theology. Luther's journey of faith was characterized by a profound anguish over sin and salvation, which he sought to resolve through rigorous study of the Scriptures (Kittelson, 1999). His pivotal moment came when he posted the “95 Theses” on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517, a direct challenge to the Church’s practice of selling indulgences.
Luther articulated that indulgences presented a false assurance of salvation, undermining the core Christian tenet that salvation came solely through divine grace, which he encapsulated in the doctrines of sola gratia, sola fide, and sola scriptura (G. Wright, 2012). These tenets emphasized faith alone (sola fide) and Scripture alone (sola scriptura) as the pathways to salvation, objecting to the church’s claims of mediating God's grace through its rituals and sacraments (Horsley, 2011).

Key Doctrines of the Reformation

1. Sola Gratia (Grace Alone): Luther revived Augustinian debates regarding salvation, advocating that it is granted by God's grace rather than through human merit or good works (McGrath, 2012). This marked a drastic departure from Catholic teaching, which held that both faith and works played essential roles in salvation.
2. Sola Fide (Faith Alone): Luther emphasized that a person is justified by faith alone, as stated in Romans 3:28, which directly contradicted the Roman doctrine of justification that incorporated works as well (Luther, 1535).
3. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): This principle established that the Bible is the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice, eradicating the Church's traditional claim of authority based on Tradition and the Papal office (Bockmuehl, 2009).

The Role of the Printing Press

The invention of the printing press was instrumental in disseminating Reformation ideas rapidly. Luther’s works, including his Bible translation into German, became widely available, enabling access to Scripture for the lay populace, thus undermining the Church's control over biblical interpretation (Kipling, 2015). The press not only allowed Luther to spread his writings, but also encouraged the proliferation of pamphlets and “libelli” challenging Catholic doctrines, galvanizing public sentiment toward reform.

The Radical Protestant Reformers

Following Luther’s initial movement, other reformers emerged who pushed the boundaries further. Zwingli rejected the sacraments' physical presence of Christ and challenged other traditional practices such as clerical celibacy (Lausanne, 2017). John Calvin, whose works included "Institutes of the Christian Religion," introduced the notion of predestination and further developed Reformed theology, emphasizing the sovereignty of God (Schaff, 1905).

The Shift in Ecclesiological Thinking

Historically, Christianity emphasized church membership as essential for individual salvation. However, the Reformation catalyzed a shift towards a personal relationship with God and individual salvation over institutional allegiance (Johnson, 1999). This idea of personal faith transformed what it meant to be a Christian, leading to diversifications in beliefs and practices that splintered the once-unified Christendom.

The Catholic Counter-Reformation

In response to the tumult of the Reformation, the Catholic Church initiated the Counter-Reformation, a movement aimed at reforming internal abuses and reclaiming lost followers through the Council of Trent and the establishment of new orders like the Jesuits (O’Malley, 2013). This effort sought to reaffirm church authority against Protestant claims while addressing some of the grievances that had spurred the Reformation.

Conclusion

The Protestant Reformation represented a fundamental reshaping of the Christian landscape in Europe, heralding an era of new thought and questioning of established practices and beliefs. Martin Luther’s theological positions and the subsequent radical developments galvanized a movement that prioritized individual faith and the authority of Scripture. The socio-cultural environment, combined with advancements such as the printing press, facilitated the widespread dissemination of Reformation ideas, leading to lasting changes in both religious belief and practice.

References

1. Bainton, R. H. (1950). Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther. New York: Abingdon Press.
2. Bockmuehl, M. (2009). The Cambridge Companion to the Gospels. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
3. Johnson, P. (1999). A History of the American People. New York: HarperCollins.
4. Kipling, R. (2015). The Reformation: A History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
5. Kittelson, J. (1999). Luther the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
6. Lindberg, C. (2010). The European Reformations. Wiley-Blackwell.
7. Luther, M. (1535). Commentary on Romans.
8. McGrath, A. E. (2012). Christian Theology: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
9. O’Malley, J. W. (2013). Trent: What Happened at the Council. Harvard University Press.
10. Schaff, P. (1905). History of the Christian Church. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.