Class issues, nationalism, papal problems, Black Plague

Almost a 70 year period when the seat of the papacy was in Avignon, France

Period when two popes had been elected by the College of Cardinals supported by competing groups.

The buying of ecclesiastical offices. This gave rise to anti-clericalism

Rebirth of ideas and scholarship of classical antiquity. adherents viewed themselves positively as a rebirth, but called the preceding era as the "middle ages."

The primary intellectual movement of the Renaissance which emphasized the study of the humanities or liberal arts. It began as a literary movement that sought to return to classical sources and imitate its style.

Reformation of customs: emphasis on personal piety by knowledge

They were followers of Wyclif's teaching. they were called Lollards as a derogatory term because they mumbled when they prayed.

·      pastors shouldn't hold civil office

·      everyone had the right to read and interpret the Bible

·      stressed the priesthood of all

·      rejected images, clerical celibacy, pilgrimages, transubstantiation, and prayers for the dead

·      challenged the doctrine of papal infallibility set by Boniface VII

·      encouraged the importance of scripture over church and tradition

·      foundational ideas gave rise to popular movements

·      movements began with the rich and then moved on to the common people

·      invigorated by the spirit of nationalism

·      preached that the church was the body of Christ predestined

1.     reformation of customs/ devotio moderna

2.     Martin Luther Germany

3.     Swiss Reformation (Zwingli)

4.     John Calvin-Frenchman in Geneva (first systematic reformed theologian)

5.     Anabaptist Movement- radical reformers who rejected ties with secular government

6.     Spiritualist- radical reformers who emphasized personal revelation over church and scripture

7.     Catholic Reformation-counter reform

8.     English Reformation

God has the right to punish sinners 

That the righteous live by faith and their righteousness is not their own, but given by God to those who live by faith

Sola fida and sola gratia-God forgives even though sin is repugnant. Thus, it is not the absence of sin, but God's declaration to who live by faith in spite of sin.

The sale of indulgences by Pope Leo X in an attempt to raise funds to build St. Peters's Cathedral

View that humans were helplessly evil until God's grace changes their essential nature.

Baptism and communion

To reformers, a sacrament was a promise of God to which a sign was added as a memorial. Thus, infant baptism is okay and they believed in consubstantiation. Medieval theologians saw it as a material change.

Priesthood of believers. Community of faith has access to God, not just the priest.

Statement of Lutheran beliefs accepted by Protestant princes

supports original sin

justification by faith

confession not necessary

consubstantiation

free will

good works not equal to salvation

Rejected transubstantiation. 

Communion done as a memorial. 

Communion does not confer grace of salvation nor does it represent literal sacrifice.

They were a voluntary community of believers, viewed by Catholics and Protestants as subversive.

gave rights to women (poor and ignorant),

baptism and communion are outward signs of inward relationship with God,

sacraments do not confer grace

Defined as God's eternal decree by which He determined what He willed to become of every person (eternal life or eternal damnation)

1. goal = to purify the church by returning to biblical religion
2.  opposed to traditional worship of the church (too ritualistic and popish)
3. Rejected adiaphora= the use of crosses, signs, priestly garments, communion, and altar
4. Stressed Calvinist Reforms, biblical preaching and individual conversion experience 

When the host used during communion became the literal blood and body of Christ after the priest blessed it. (The host transformed into the actual body.) 

Total Depravity - human nature corrupted as a result of original sin to the point that knowldege of God, conversion & even ethical knowledge regarding civil and natural matters is not possible.

Unconconditional Election - election of predestined based on the will of God, not on foreknowldege of human response. Nothing humans can do to make themselves the elect.

Limited Atonement - Christ died only for the elect

Irresistible Grace - Elect can't reject/resist salvation

Perseverance of the Saints - Elect can't lose salvation. 

1. Defines predestination ambiguously - Before foundation of the world God decided that thse who would be saved would believe in Christ (group of the elect, not an individual predetermination)

2. Jesus died for all humans but only believers experience benefits of his passion

3. Humans can do nothing good on their own account & grace of God is needed to do good

4. Rejects the irresistibility of grace

5. Rejects idea of perseverance of the saints stating their biblical evidence is inconclusive.

Deism