Protestantism

Origin - beginnings
-Protestant first named - 1529 - formal assembly.
 German leaders protested Catholic Church's limits of Lutheranism
-Lutheranism was the first movement of Protestants.
-Name give to Western Christians that left the Roman Catholic Church
-Started in 1517 as religious movement in Europe.  Started by Martin Luther.
-In 1550, half of Europe was already Protestant

• Social and Political Factors:
  • European decentralization, rise of nation-states. Breakdown of medieval centralization under Pope.

  • Breakdown of society because of Black Death, Hundred Years' War, etc.

  • Renaissance: Interest in humanism and rediscovery of ancient culture.

• Weaknesses in Catholic Church:
  • Administrative Divisions:
    • Competing Popes (Avignon, Rome and more).

  • Proliferation of Questionable Religious Rituals and Practices
    Pilgrimages, saint worship, endowment of masses.

  • Corruption and Abuses of Power in Church:
    • Sale of Indulgences (certificates of remission from purgatory) and other forms of forgiveness.

    • Simony (selling of church offices).