The Protestant Reformation

• Doctor Faustus reflects contemporary controversies of faith as during the Renaissance, there was a great upheaval within the Roman Catholic Church called the Protestant Reformation
• During the Renaissance, the Catholic Church dominated and governed the lives of people, heresy or disagreement with the Church was harshly punished
• Individuals in the Roman Catholic Church were starting to question doctrines and teachings including German Theologian Martin Luther
• Martin Luther was disgraced by the Church as they were selling 'indulgences' - economic remission for those who have sinned
• In 1517, Martin Luther wrote the '95 Theses' to spread ideas with the Printing Press. His protest created a zealous call that split the Church into fractions called Protestants & Catholics
• The major split of Religion was majorly felt in England - especially when the Pope excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I in 1570 for Heresy
• The Protestant Reformation was initiated by Martin Luther who wrote the '95 Theses' in 1517
• Martin Luther challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to significant religious & cultural transformations across Europe
• Martin Luther's critique of Catholic Practices, particularly the sale of 'indulgences' sparked widespread debate and led to the dismantling of Christianity into various Protestant denomination
• Dr Faustus reflects the cultural & religious tensions of the Protestant Reformation as the protagonist embodies existential dilemmas and moral ambiguities in the Renaissance
• Martin Luther emphasised on individual faith and this reflects Faustus's quest for knowledge as it represents a desire for personal enlightenment and autonomy and how Faustus seeks to transcend traditional religious and intellectual boundaries, much like Luther challenged the authority of the Catholic Church
• Both Luther and Faustus rebel against established authority figures, Luther challenges the Pope and the Catholic hierarchy, advocating for a direct relationship between individuals and God and Faustus rejects conventional moral and religious norms, defying the warnings of theologians and embracing his pact with the devil