Dear Friends in Christ:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father/Mother and the Lord Jesus Christ.
How’s your Reformation history? Here’s a quiz of 10 questions to check out your Reformation knowledge. No peeking at Wikipedia or other resources. Just try and answer these 10 questions as best as you can. Even if you’re not sure you still have a 50% chance of getting it right! Have fun. How’d you do? Let’s see.
1. Martin Luther was born 9 years before Columbus began his journey towards the West Indies.
a. True b. False
True. Luther was born November 11, 1483. Columbus made his trip August 3, 1492.
2. Jan Hus was burned at the stake 100 years before the Reformation. Hus promoted many of the reforms that Luther later accomplished during the reformation.
a. True b. False
True. Hus believed parishioners should receive both elements from communion and wanted worship to be in the language of the people. As an aside Hus’ name in Czech means “Goose.” Some suggest this is where the phrase “His goose is cooked” is derived.
3. Henry the VIII wrote to Luther seeking support for his annulment from Catherine of Aragon.
a. True b. False
True. However, Luther said that Henry should not seek an annulment but it was better that he take another wife as polygamy was practiced in the Old Testament. There were no further correspondence after Luther’s response.
4. King James is credited in establishing the first English Bible Translation.
a. True b. False
False. John Wycliff’s English translation appeared in 1382. The King James version was produced in 1611.
5. John Wesley was an Anglican priest when he died.
a. True b. False
True. Though he founded the Methodist societies, he died a priest of the Church of England.
6. Dioceses (Roman Catholic & Episcopalians); Presbyteries (Presbyterians); Conferences (United Methodists & United Church of Christ) and Synods (Lutherans) are all names indicating geographical territories within each denomination.
a. True b. False
True.
7. Anabaptists (people who believed in adult baptism) were persecuted by the early reformers.
a. True b. False
True.
8. Luther’s writings about the Jewish people in his later years were used by the Germans in WWII to justify the Holocaust.
a. True b. False
True. In his early years Luther supported the Jewish people. Unfortunately, in his later years he believed the Jews would convert to Christianity and when they didn’t, he suggested their synagogues and homes be set on fire. That they shouldn’t be allowed to travel freely and that their writings be taken from them. The ELCA has denounced his writings regarding the Jewish people.
9. Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish aristocrat is considered the leader of the Roman Catholic
Counter Reformation Movement.
a. True b. False
True. Ignatius was the founder of the Society of Jesus. The Counter Reformation (1545-1648) was Rome’s response to the Reformation. It addressed many of the abuses noted by the Reformers but also rejected any compromises with the reformers.
10. The first Archbishop of Canterbury was Augustine.
a. True b. False
True. Considered the founder of the English Church and the Apostle to the English, Augustine became archbishop in 597.
Hope you enjoyed this little Reformation quiz. Have a blessed Holy Week.
Blessings,
Father Dave+