A Brief Guide to Protestantism

  1. Definition of Protestantism
    1. In reference to a group of princes who signed a protestation against the edit of Worms forbidding Lutheran teachings
    2. Any Christian religion group of Western European origin that broke with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1500s
      1. Examples of Protestant groups:
        • Anabaptist
        • Anglican
        • Baptist
        • Calvinist
        • Lutheran
        • Methodist
        • Pentecostal
  2. The origins of Protestantism
    1. The 14th century Renaissance encouraged secularisation in education
    2. This led to theoretical debates with radical perspectives on the religion
      1. Jan Hus was executed by the Roman Catholic Church
      2. John Wyclif was burned as a heretic (one who believes in a doctrine contrary to a prevailing religion)
    3. Protestant movements were initiated but separated because of difference in beliefs
    4. The eventual separation from the Roman Catholic Church is called the magisterial Reformation
    5. The work of John Calvin unified the Protestants to a loose consensus
    6. The separation of the Church of England in 1536 resulted in the English adopting the Reformation as well albeit at a slower rate
  3. The basic theological tenets of Protestantism
    1. Sola scriptula (sole script)
      1. The Catholics decided orthodoxy through the writings and decisions by bishops and other councils
      2. The Protestants believe that the Bible is the only word of God and should not be represented by people
    2. Sola fide (faith alone)
      1. The Catholics have various ceremonies, masses and priesthoods
      2. The Protestants believe that every believer is a priest and that conciliation with God is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ alone
    3. Sola gratia (grace alone)
      1. The Catholics believe that one can be salvaged from sin through merit
      2. The Protestants believe that salvation is a gift to people by Jesus Christ and no one deserves salvation regardless of merit
  4. Credit
    1. Wikipedia