Class 9/21

Not a lot happened today because we had pictures but we still talked about Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation a little.

Lutheranism vs. Catholicism

• Lutherans were closer to God (they didn't have saints and stuff between them and God)
• Lutheran = Catholicism 1.0 
• Fundamentally similar, but Luther tried to return the church to what it was like before it became corrupt and too extra for him



(Basically all you need to know about the Protestant Reformation

• Faith alone, grace alone, scripture alone was his mantra 
• Luther also hated the idea of a church hierarchy, because he believed that everyone was equal in the eyes of God 

Three Main Catalysts for the Protestant Reformation 

(conveniently also the chorus to this song)

1. Papal Bulls (no Hannah not Papa Bowls) - when the Pope decrees anything that is sinful (obviously Luther didn't like this because he didn't like the Pope)
2. Indulgences - people could buy their way out of Purgatory faster, which Martin didn't like because there are no indulgences in the Bible and the Catholics were corrupt
3. Transubstantiation - literally everyone but Catholics (and Hannah) (I think -- I don't fully understand religion) believes that the wine isn't really Jesus' blood and the bread isn't really his body except the Catholics and the Catholics didn't like Martin challenging their beliefs again

Why was Luther so popular with the political class? Why was he popular with the peasants? Was he popular for the same reasons?

• People liked the idea of not tithing/paying taxes to the church. They also did not enjoy buying indulgences
• People with money liked Martin because he could save them some money by not being corrupt
• Peasants like Luther but he didn't like them 

• They revolted after being inspired by his ideas about freedom, thinking he would support them in their quest for freedom
• They believed that the outward body & the soul should be free
• Luther believed that people should only be free from an omnipotent church, not from secular powers like lords and the government and such






• Both groups liked Lutheranism because it promised them better lives, even if those promises came from misinterpreted words. The wealthier people wanted to protect their money, so they liked Luther's stance on indulgences and tithes. Peasants, who had very little to their names, liked the idea of freedom. To both groups, Lutheranism was a way to protect what they had and live more fulfilling lives.