Key Ideas from L6: Monastic Renewal and Crusades

•    Characteristics of renewal movements:
o    a drive for a deeper, more authentic Christian life usually on the part of a small group leading to a broader concern for changing society
o    the gap btw. clergy and laity decreases and the gifts of the people are affirmed and the people are encouraged to use them- the church was a movement of laymen and women from the outset
o    concern for the reform of the broader church often happens to a degree
o    influence on broader society and a desire for social transformation and a desire to reach beyond the society to evangelize other cultures
•    Cluniac movement (909)
o    Context ripe for renewal: western europe nominally xn, roman empire collapsed, viking invasions, europe in chaos, feudalism, papcy at lowest point
o    Monastery at Cluny began movement that lasted for 2 centuries
o    Distinctives: an order tied together, family of monasteries, free from local control of bishop, Bendectine rule adopted
o    Other monasteries came under rule and renewed larger church btw. 994-1058; formed a new structure alongside papacy
o    Aimed to reform 2 major issues in church: clerical celibacy and church/state relations
o    Became institutionalized, scandal, Hilldebrand (1073-1085)- Cluniac Pope that said Pope universal leader, can depose emperor, Roman church never erred and never will
o    In 1100- Abbot of Cluny scandal, deposed, came back and slaughtered people
•    Cistercian movement (1098)
o    Robert of Champagne- left Cluniac monastery with 20 others, formed Cliteaux house
o    Distinctives: more disciplined, zealous, ate simple diet, slept in common dorm, each house autonomous
o    Bernard of Clairvaus: people could be sure of salvation if went to monastery, called for crusades (monastery at alcobaca symbolizes what happens when lose vision)
•    Reasons for the Crusades:  restlessness in a crowded Europe, Adventure, religious freedom for Holy Land pilgrimages, Eternal security from a plenary indulgence
•    Legacy of the Crusades: crusading spirit, military monastic orders, launched a militaristic, institutional, and intolerant form of Christian mission, reversal of the Early Christian attitude toward war, stimulation of cities and trade, growth of middle class and nationhood
•    Early 12th century Renewal movements:
o    Basic themes: attacked structure of church and Papacy, attacked the wealth of the Church, rejected some of the sacraments, especially sacraments by unworthy priests, biblicism in venacular, popular with people
o    Leaders:  Henry of Lausanne (switzerland), Tanchelm of Utrect (Holland), Peter of Bruys (belgium), Arnld of Brescia (Italy)
•    Waldensian movement: most impt. Movement in west btw. Celts and Friars
o    Peter Waldo (114-1218)- led people movement, sent out 2 by 2 to preach, condemned heretic in 1184
o    Distinctives:  very biblical, bible as law, memorized large portions of scripture, rejected all sacraments but baptism and Lord’s supper, criticized use of Latin in hierarchy, church and papacy corrupt, both laymen and women preached and gave sacraments
o    Two groups: itinerant ministers as cloth merchants, normal life
o    Spread rapidly- austria, moravia, germany, poland
o    Persecution- 1211- 80 burned in strassburgs, 15th-17th cents- terrible persecution and nearly exterminated
•    The Wycliffe and Lollard student movement (14th cent):
o    Context: three popes at once within 1378-1417
o    Emphases of movement: every believer is called to be a part of the people of God and gifts reside in the whole body of Christ
o    Empowered them to read and interpret the Bible for themselves
o    Missionary: sent them out 2 by 2 to preach the word
o    Theology: Bible is only rule of faith, those who do not keep God’s law lose their right to office including the Pope, rejects transubstatiation, veneration of relics, saints, and pilgrimages, salvation depends on election not on the mediation of the church
o    Connection: continued to preach underground and his ideas spread to John Huss (1373-1415)- the Czech reformer—Luther called a Saxon huss—Moravian movement (18th century) became a catalyst for modern mission movement
•    If we forget our history, we forget our mission:  the Christian movement was a movement of laymen and women from the beginning
•    The Early Christian mission was from the powerless to the powerful