2.4.3 New forms of Protestantism Other forms of Protestantism soon emerged. In Switzerland, John Calvin formed a church that replaced bishops and priests with elected ministers. Calvinists believed only some people were chosen to be saved, while the rest were doomed to hell. Calvinism spread to parts of France, Germany, the Netherlands and Scotland. Among other Protestants were the Anabaptists, who rejected the baptism of children, reasoning it would make more sense for them to choose whether they wanted to be baptised as adults. The Church of England also broke away, not due to Protestant ideas but because the Pope refused King Henry VIII a divorce. Henry declared himself head of the English Church, and after his death, Protestant ideas began to dominate it. 2.4.4 The Catholic Reformation From the twelfth century, the Catholic Church used the Inquisition to punish heretics. As Protestantism spread in northern Europe, Catholic leaders realised persecution alone wouldn’t stop it. Starting in 1545, the Church worked to end corruption and promote Catholic beliefs. The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) became one of its strongest defenders, focusing on converting heretics and non-believers. Jesuit priests set up missions, schools and colleges in Africa, Asia and the New World (the Americas), where they converted many Native Americans. This reform is called the Catholic Reformation by Catholics and the Counter-Reformation by Protestants.
2.4 SkillBuilder activity HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Identify the perspectives, attitudes and values of the past based on Luther’s pamphlet (the front cover is shown in SOURCE5 ).
SOURCE5 The front page of Luther’s writings Against the Storming Peasants , 1525, left, and An Open Letter on the Harsh Book Against the Peasants (right)
30 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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