7.9.1 Script
The Origins of the Reformation
Narrator 1: Hey! I'm Narrator 1... and anyways, Martin Luther's protests against the corruption of the Catholic Church attracted followers throughout Europe. He was an important leader of the Reformation. Here is Martin Luther to tell you everything himself! Martin?
Martin Luther: Hello. I'm Martin Luther. I was born in 1483 in Germany. When I was young, I was caught in a severe thunderstorm. I promised myself that if I survived the storm, I would become a monk. I ended up surviving the thunderstorm, and kept my promise on becoming a monk. That is my story. Now to you Narrator 2.
Narrator 2: When Martin Luther visited Rome, he noticed many priests poorly trained. The Catholic Church had high taxes on its people. The church also raised money by selling indulgences. Indulgences are pardons for sins. That's it from me, Narrator 3?
Narrator 3: The 95 Theses was originally written in Latin, but soon became written in German as well as other languages. Many copies of the 95 Theses spread quickly across Europe. Many Church leaders saw the 95 Theses as an attack on the Church itself. Narrator 1?
Narrator 1: The Holy Roman Emperor summoned Luther before a diet, or an assembly, in the city of worms. The Diet of Worms declared Luther an outlaw. This made it a crime for anyone to offer him with food or shelter. Thousands of people hailed Luther as a hero for his strong stand against the abuse of the Church. Narrator 2?
Narrator 2: John Calvin and other Reformation thinkers helped spread the ideas throughout Europe. John Calvin was one of the most influential of the new Protestant leaders. John?
John Calvin: Hello. I'm John Calvin. I was born in France in the year 1509. I studied to be a priest at the Roman Catholic Church. I published a few Institutes which became the major authority on Protestant thought. I believed that salvation was gained through faith. The predestination was my greatest teaching. The predestination was the idea that God had long ago determined who would gain salvation. I taught that salvation was not a choice, but God's decision from the very beginning. Now back to you!
Narrator 3: Calvin applied his ideas to the government. His goal was to create a "city of God." Later on, William Tyndale printed an English translation of the New Testament. His translation helped bring Reformation ideas to England. That's it from me!
Narrator 1: Thanks for reading! :)