Learning Objectives
A student completing this lesson should be able to:
  1. Analyze the factors leading to Martin Luther’s decision to publish his Ninety-Five Theses;
  2. Describe the response to Luther’s call for reform;
  3. Explain the basic teachings of Protestantism and how they differed from those of the Roman Catholic Church;
  4. Describe the reaction of the Roman Catholic Church to Luther’s criticisms; and
  5. Trace the spread of Protestantism to other parts of Europe.

Reading Assignment

TOPIC

 REQUIRED READING SUPPLEMENTAL READING

Topic 1 The Call for Reformation

 González 6-13 Wycliffe; Hus

Topic 2 Martin Luther: Pilgrimage to Reformation

 González 14-28 Christie-Murray 123-138

Topic 3 Luther's Theology

 González 29-37  

Topic 4 An Uncertain Decade

 González 38-45  
Topic 5 Ulrich Zwingli and the Swiss Reformation González 46-52 Christie-Murray 139-140
Topic 6 The Anabaptist Movement González 53-60 Christie-Murray 161-163; McGoldrick 86-122
Topic 7 John Calvin González 61-69 Ball 102-131
Topic 8 The Reformation in Great Britain González 70-85 Ball 46-101; Christie-Murray 148-159;
Topic 9 Further Developments within Lutheranism González 86-93  
Topic 10 The Reformation in the Low Countries González 94-101  
Topic 11 Protestantism in France González 102-109  
Topic 12 The Catholic Reformation González 110-121  
Topic 13 A Convulsed Age González 122-124  

Viewing Assignment
The University is in process of arranging for a license to include selected historical videos relative to church history. If this can be arranged in a timely fashion then a viewing assignment will be posted here.

 Forum Assignment (due January 28)

Complete your icebreaker assignment. For credit, you will need to post three comments consisting of your short autobiography and two comments on the autobiographies of other students. The purposes of this icebreaker assignment are for you to introduce yourself to your classmates, to verify your enrollment in this course, and to promote student interaction. The icebreaker assignment is due by the eighth day of the semester (Wednesday, January 28). Post your autobiography as a reply to the "Bios" topic on the course forum. You can earn 25 bonus points in this course by doing so “on time.” On this assignment there is no credit granted for postings made after January 28.

Exam 1 (due February 6)
This is a closed book multiple choice exam, with no time limit, worth 100 points.

Writing Assignment (due February 6)

Prepare an analysis of one significant individual from the Protestant Reformation Period. Include the context of where and when this person lived, contemporary impact, and long-term influence. Read a sampling of the person’s writings in order to have a better feel of his or her ideas. Also include the impact that this person has had, if any, on your life. This paper should be four to six pages long.

This assignment is worth 150 points. Post your assignment using the Assignment Page on your course toolbar. Note that you can post a paper in Microsoft Word as an attachment. Some prefer to submit their papers in this manner to preserve the format.