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Questions to Highlight the answer Summarize the

Study Before Puritanism: Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Reformation of information/ Write a
the 17th Century bumper sticker

This is a period or change. As its most distinguishing feature or marker, the

17th Century marks the culmination of the Reformation and
Counter-Reformation developed by the Protestant and Catholic Churches:
"The Reformation refers to the rise of Protestant Christianity, which
peaked in intensity in Europe during the 1600s, though it began a
century earlier with Martin Luther in Germany and the English
Reformation led by King Henry VIII. The Puritans, Presbyterians, an
many other Protestant sects (including early Baptists) rose during t
17th century.
The Protestant Reformation stimulated the Counter-Reformation (a
Catholic Revival or Catholic Reformation) from 1545-1648 when the
Roman Catholic Church revived its spiritual missions, reconfigured i
ecclesiastical institutions, and attempted to roll back political gains
Protestant leaders and populations". (White)

The Pope
According to Roman Catholicism of this time, the pope was believed
have certain power and status conferred (To present as a gift or an honor) to
him based on his position and the origin of the position. The papal powers o
position (pope authority on matters) came from the belief that the pope was
taking over a position that began with the Apostle Peter. It was believed that
Christ gave Peter the ability to loosen of bind sins.
Catholicism of the time believed that the popes power also came fro
having certain relics (something that has survived the passage of time, especially
an object or custom whose original culture has disappeared) that were believed
to be connected with Biblical stories. (Richard 5) The people believed that
because of the power of the position the pope had the power to decide just
about anything not only spiritually and religiously but also socially and
politically.

Problems of the Roman Catholic Church

The problems arose in the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) when the
church became an entity (something having real or distinct existence; a
thing) of profit, power and social position than faith. Many in the upp
positions of the church would have illegitimate (born of parents who
were not married to each other at the time of birth; bastard) children,
even though the beliefs of the RCC demanded celibacy (The condition
remaining unmarried, especially for religious reasons), and some would
even hand over control of their sees (The official seat, center of
authority, jurisdiction, or office of a bishop) to such children or other
family members (Richard 4-5).
The lack of performing duties with fidelity (Faithfulness to obligations,
duties, or observances) was not the only problem. Another issue that le
to the Protestant reformation was the selling of indulgences
 (Faithfulness to obligations, duties, or observances.). These were
originally to help fund the Crusades (A holy war undertaken with papal
sanction), but soon they were a money making machine. Since no one
really knew how long a sin could land a soul in purgatory (A place or
condition of suffering, expiation, or remorse)the people were always
eager to spend money on them (Richard 5).
By the eve of the Reformation, the selling of indulgences had degrad
into preying (One that is deceived or taken advantage of by another) on
the fears and guilt of the poor.
The sale of indulgences was based on the 'treasury of merit' theory,
belief that the surplus of goodness of Jesus, Mary, and the saints cou
be purchased from the pope and applied to one's own sins or to thos
of one's relatives to reduce the time spent in purgatory, a place wher
some sinners suffered before entering heaven." (Richard 5)

The Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther
The year is 1517 and Martin Luther is preparing to nails his
'Ninety-five Theses" to the church door that fall. This was viewed a
direct attack on the power of the pope. Luther believed there to be
treasury of merit and wanted priests to spend more time preachin
the Word of God rather than trying to make money.
"Luther argued that the pope had no power to [pardon] sins..." an
that there was no way to grant forgiveness of sins to people who ha
already died--including those already in purgatory. Furthermore,
Luther exposed the belief that indulgences were unnecessary as
those who truly repented of a sin were forgiven (Richard 6-7)
The inception (The beginning of something, such as an undertaking; a
commencement) of the printing press in 1440 made the spread of
ideas widespread. Luther's words of 1517 might not have gotten
anywhere near the attention that they did had they not been
printed--without his permission-- and disseminated for reading an
discussion.
Eventually, people starting asking the hard questions regarding th
pope's ability to free those in purgatory and whether or not
indulgences might not be accidentally damning people leaving the
pope's power questioned and damaged (Richard 7).
Luther challenged the church through not only public displays but
also personal correspondence (Communication by the exchange of
letters, e-mails, or other forms of written messages) . Luther wrote
letters challenging Pope Leo X to a theological debate. Leo ignored
the theological (The study of the nature of God and religious truth;
rational inquiry into religious questions) issues presented in the letter
and instead focused on fact that his position was under attack. In
1519, Luther openly spoke out against church doctrine and
condemned. (Bulliet 461).
Luther had three major doctrines that changed the face of faith
Europe.
Predestination--or the idea that some were chosen to go to
heaven before birth
Salvation not through good deeds but faith
 The bible as the "only infallible (Incapable of failing; certain)
source of knowledge about God" (Richard 7-13).
These ideas would eventually be perpetuated and championed by
John Calvin in France with slight modification.
John Calvin
John Calvin served more as a "popularizer" of the reformation idea
than an originator (To bring into being; create or start). Calvin
believed humans could not reject God's gift of grace. Those who
appeared to backslide had never received grace in the first place
(Richard 18).
Calvin saw man a "regenerating" creature, perpetually under siege
their own sinful nature. "....though members of the elect were
regenerated by faith, they did not cease to be plagued by fleeting
moments of doubt and sin.[...] in the regenerated man, there is still
spring of evil which is perceptible sending forth desires that allure
and stimulate him to sin[...] The seething spring of sin is so deep an
abundance that vices are always bubbling up from it to bespatter a
stain what is otherwise pure. (Richard 18)

English Reformation
Eventually even one time supporters of the church let personal
desires undercut RCC doctrine. King Henry VIII once defended the
Catholic doctrine against Luther's attacked, earning the title
"Defender of the Faith," but marital problems eventually led him to
break with the church
England had broken ties with the Roman Catholic Church and
creating the Anglican Church/Church of England(Richard 22). As
head of the Anglican Church he used his authority to over the chur
and government making them even more entangled.
Several rulers also flipped flopped on sides of denomination, but T
English Civil War between Charles and Cromwell lead many
Protestants to flee to the American Colonies. (Richard 23). Charles
used "unconstitutional taxes and religious persecution" to attack
Catholics (Richard 23). "Charles ended up fighting a civil war again
Oliver Cromwell who was a Puritan (a very strict Protestant who
wanted to get rid of ritual in church services and lead a plain and
simple life)" ("The Reformation)

Summary of all of the notes