Changes

Martin Luther was not the first to protest against the Catholic Church, and to break away from it.  Wycliffe in England, discussed earlier in this lecture, was nearly 200 years before Luther.  Then, 100 years before Luther, John Huss (or Jan Hus) (1372-1415) was a preacher in Prague who picked up on Wycliffe’s views and spread them in northern and eastern Europe.  Born in southern Bohemia, Huss harshly criticized immorality in the clergy and preached a doctrine concerning the Eucharist that was considered to be heretical.  He was excommunicated by the Catholic Church in 1411.  A Council of Constance was convened under an “antipope” (not the official pope), and this Council tried Huss in 1414 and burned him at the stake, making him a martyr.  His followers, known as Hussites, successfully fought battles against the Holy Roman Empire.

Martin Luther was not the first to protest against the Catholic Church, and to break away from it.  Wycliffe in England, discussed earlier in this lecture, was nearly 200 years before Luther.  Then, 100 years before Luther, John Huss (or Jan Hus) (1372-1415) was a preacher in Prague who picked up on Wycliffe’s views and spread them in northern and eastern Europe.  Born in southern Bohemia, Huss harshly criticized immorality in the clergy and preached a doctrine concerning the Eucharist that was considered to be heretical.  He was excommunicated by the Catholic Church in 1411.  A Council of Constance was convened under an “antipope” (not the official pope), and this Council tried Huss in 1414 and burned him at the stake, making him a martyr.  His followers, known as Hussites, successfully fought battles against the Holy Roman Empire.

There was even internal strife within the Catholic Church in Italy in the late 1400s, before the Reformation.  A Dominican friar in Florence named Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) challenged the authority of the pope with fiery sermons and, after his excommunication, saying Mass without authority to do so.  His outspokenness against immorality in the Catholic Church and in the powerful Medici family won Savonarola many supporters at first, but eventually the people of Florence turned against him, stormed his monastery, took him prisoner, and then tried, convicted and hanged him.   

There was even internal strife within the Catholic Church in Italy in the late 1400s, before the Reformation.  A Dominican friar in Florence named Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) challenged the authority of the pope with fiery sermons and, after his excommunication, would provide Mass without authority to do so.  His outspokenness against immorality in the Catholic Church and in the powerful Medici family won Savonarola many supporters at first, but eventually the people of Florence turned against him, stormed his monastery, took him prisoner, and then tried, convicted and hanged him.   

There was a Reformation in Switzerland started by Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) and continued by John Calvin (1509-1564), who emphasized justification by faith alone and also predestination.  Predestination is a doctrine stating that the decision about who goes to Heaven and who to Hell was made before the creation of the world, and this differentiates Calvinism from other Christian denominations.  It is not obvious how predestination can be reconciled with free will, and most Christians reject predestination, but Calvinists say that both free will and predestination exist.  Calvin established a theocracy in Geneva, Switzerland.

There was a Reformation in Switzerland started by Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) and continued by John Calvin (1509-1564), who emphasized justification by faith alone and also predestination.  Predestination is a doctrine stating that the decision about who goes to Heaven and who to Hell was made before the creation of the world, and this differentiates Calvinism from other Christian denominations.  It is not obvious how predestination can be reconciled with free will, and most Christians reject predestination, but Calvinists say that both free will and predestination exist.  Calvin established a theocracy in Geneva, Switzerland.

Another denomination called “Anabaptists” developed based on adult baptism and a strict separation of church and state.  The Quakers, Baptists, Amish and Mennonites, including many in this country, are from the Anabaptists.  The Quakers are essentially “protestant” of any Christian denomination that has a paid clergy, because the Quakers reject the concept of a paid clergy.  In a sense, Quakers are "Protestant Protestants," protesting against even organized Protestant denominations.  Another denomination, the Presbyterian Church, arose in Scotland, founded by John Knox.

Another denomination called “Anabaptists” developed based on adult baptism and a strict separation of church and state.  The Quakers, Baptists, Amish and Mennonites, including many in this country, are from the Anabaptists.  The Quakers are essentially “protestant” of any Christian denomination that has a paid clergy, because the Quakers reject the concept of a paid clergy.  In a sense, Quakers are "Protestant Protestants," protesting against even organized Protestant denominations.  Another denomination, the Presbyterian Church, arose in Scotland, founded by John Knox.

Today, there are over 33,000 Protestant denominations in 238 countries, increasing at a rate of about 270 to 300 new denominations each year.<ref>''See'' the World Christian Encyclopedia (2001) by David B. Barrett, et al.</ref>  Protestants total 590 million today, about 27% of the worldwide Christian population, though it is not always clear whether a Christian denomination should be labeled as “Protestant”.  Is the Anglican Church, which has 73 million adherents, properly called “Protestant”?

Today, there are over 33,000 Protestant denominations in 238 countries, increasing at a rate of about 270 to 300 new denominations each year.<ref>''See'' the World Christian Encyclopedia (2001) by David B. Barrett, et al.</ref>  Protestants total 590 million today, about 27% of the worldwide Christian population, though it is not always clear whether a Christian denomination should be labeled as “Protestant”.  Is the Anglican Church, which has more than 10% of the total, properly called “Protestant”?  Many Anglicans would answer, “no”.  Are Mormons “Protestant”?

A majority of the United States has always been Protestant, as has nearly every president except John F. Kennedy (who was Catholic).  Nearly every Founder of the United States was Protestant.

A majority of the United States has always been Protestant, as has nearly every president except John F. Kennedy (who was Catholic).  Nearly every Founder of the United States was Protestant.