The Protestant Reformation began as a protest by Martin Luther against abuses in the Catholic Church like selling indulgences and the Pope's political power. Luther argued salvation came through faith alone according to the Bible, not Church authority or priests, and translated the Bible to German. His ideas spread rapidly as a response to Church corruption, forming the Protestants. John Calvin similarly preached salvation by predestination alone and set up theocracies where the church governed.

1. THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

2. III. Protestant ReformationAbuses in the ChurchPope competed with princes for political powerSold indulgences – lessening of the time a soul would have to spend in purgatory

3. B. Luther’s Protest (German Monk)Wrote 95 Theses against indulgencesNo basis in the biblePope had no authority to release souls from purgatory, Christians could be saved only through faith.He was excommunicated from the church.

4. Luther’s TeachingArgued salvation was achieved through faith aloneBible the sole source of religious truthRejected the idea that priests had special powersTranslated bible to German vernacular

5. Spread of Lutheran IdeasUsed the name Protestants to show that they protested papal authority.People believed Lutheranism was an answer to Church corruption.

6. John CalvinPreached predestination- God already determined who would gain salvationTwo groups of People, saints and sinnersSet-up a theocracy – government ran by the church