HISTORY 2HH3 Lecture 4: Religious Life Part II
12 Oct 2020
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Armstrong • History 2HH3
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Course: History 2HH3
Instructor: Dr. Megan Armstrong
Lecture: Religious Life Part II
Introduction:
• 16th and 17th centuries saw a number of profound religious changes
• Impacted the religious communities of the Mediterranean
• Some were internal to each tradition, while others were external
• In this lecture, we will consider 2 big processes of change:
o 1. Quest for reform
o 2. Confessionalization
Meaning of Reform:
• Reform held many meanings
• Defined in terms of internal impulses driven by the pursuit of spiritual perfection and a
desire to lead a more purified spiritual life
• Either leave a given tradition or purify it
• Reform took hold of religious tradition periodically throughout their histories
• During early modern period, they assumed certain forms and had impacts relevant to our
understanding of religious life in the Mediterranean
• Reforming impulses visible across the faiths in the 16th and 17th c.
• Fueled by concerns about salvation and integrity of existing institutions/practices
• Reform movements within Sunni Islam or questions of orthodoxy and religious practice
• Most serious and disruptive was the Reformation in Europe
o Divided the Western church into multiple competing traditions after 1517
o Stirred significant destruction of material property, weakened ecclesiastical
institutions, and led to violence
The German Reformation (1517-):
• Arguably began before German monk Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the doors of
Wittenberg Cathedral in 1617
• The Catholic Church soon found itself quickly and profoundly divided
• 95 Theses – theological arguments that Luther posted against a popular Catholic practice
known as Indulgences
o A Catholic practice intended to help a devout believer acquire spiritual merit by
performing a “good work”
o Stemmed from a doctrine accepted in the Church that the Pope presided over a
“treasury of merit”
o Cumulative divinity of saints that could be used on behalf of a devout person to
absolve them of sin
o Papacy claimed to have authority through St. Peter (an apostle, first Bishop of
Rome) to help souls into Heaven
o Initially, Indulgences only offered to those who performed an arduous pilgrimage
o By 16th c., papacy granted them for a range of charitable acts (e.g. giving funds to
support the building of the new Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome)
Armstrong • History 2HH3
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• Debates over spiritual merit of Indulgences occurred before Luther
• Luther’s criticisms resonated with many Catholics who were concerned about fees and
corruption within the Church
• Luther challenged the core doctrine of the Church and the authority of the papacy
o Argued the papacy had no authority to give spiritual merit because it only
belonged to God
• 1521 – Luther was excommunicated by the Catholic body
• With the support of the Duke of Saxony, Luther went into hiding
• Developed an intellectual framework for a new faith
• Differences among his followers led to formation of different kinds of Protestant
traditions
o Shared some core beliefs that set them apart from Catholic Church
o Protestants rejected papal claims to spiritual authority, the Catholic belief in a
tangible “holiness” (i.e. shrines), the efficacy of pilgrimage
Impact of Reformation in Europe and Mediterranean:
• Regarded as a serious crisis because everyone believed only in one “true” faith
• For a thousand years, Europe had been nearly entirely Catholic
• After 1517, it had several Christian traditions
• Impact was psychological, spiritual, economic, and political
• Several European states surrounding Mediterranean (France, Italian states, Balkan
regions) as well as some that would become commercial powers (England, Netherlands)
were impacted
Economic Change:
• Division of Church meant loss of many Church properties and almsgiving members
• Some churches and monasteries were confiscated and converted into Protestant buildings
or sold off as secular property (e.g. Henry VIII confiscated the monasteries)
o Some were outright destroyed
• Artwork destroyed because it was deemed sacrilegious
• Loss of devout meant fewer funds coming into the Church
Psychological Change:
• Raised concerns and anxiety over the spiritual health of society
• Spiritual division was a sign of spiritual corruption
• Some families were divided over faith
• Pit neighbours against neighbours
• Heresy regarded as a direct threat to their salvation
Political Change:
• Challenged political governance
• Heresy was considered a threat to the state
• Political discussions emerged in Europe printing presses and at courts
o Discussing how to treat subjects who converted
New Theories About State and Religious Division:
Document Summary
Impacted the religious communities of the mediterranean: 16th and 17th centuries saw a number of profound religious changes, some were internal to each tradition, while others were external. In this lecture, we will consider 2 big processes of change: 1. The german reformation (1517-): arguably began before german monk martin luther posted his 95 theses on the doors of. Treasury of merit : cumulative divinity of saints that could be used on behalf of a devout person to absolve them of sin, papacy claimed to have authority through st. peter (an apostle, first bishop of. Impact was psychological, spiritual, economic, and political regions) as well as some that would become commercial powers (england, netherlands) were impacted. Political change: challenged political governance, heresy was considered a threat to the state, political discussions emerged in europe printing presses and at courts, discussing how to treat subjects who converted. Conquest the just war and forced conversion: 2.
