Protestantism

Christianity

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Protestantism is one of the three major divisions in Christendom that traces their heritage back to the Western Church. Other divisions include Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The founding of Protestantism has its origins in the European Reformation and its rejection of the doctrines and malpractices within the Roman Catholic Church. Those included the teaching and sale of indulgences, the buying and selling of church positions and the systemic corruption, devotion to Mary and the saints rather than inward devotion to faith and God, and rejection of the authority of the Pope on the basis that the only true authority is the Bible.

Protestants made the Bible available to all by publication of the Bible in the common language and universal education. The mandatory celibacy of the clergy (including monasticism) was also rejected.

Notable events:

Martin Luther's nailing of The 95 Theses to the church doors in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517

In England, by decree of King Henry VIII in 1533.

John Knox, inspired by John Calvin and aided by many martyrs, liberated Scotland from the yoke of Rome in 1560.

Protestants are the largest Christian division in the United States of America.

In the United States, denominations in the Protestant division include:

• Lutheran
• Presbyterian
• Reformed
• Anabaptist
• Baptist
• Episcopal Church in the United States of America
• Mennonite
• Amish
• Methodist
• Brethren
• Society of Friends ("Quakers")

Denominations within the Restoration movement, are generally not regarded as Protestant, however, some within this m ovement may see themselves as Protestant. These include:

• Pentecostal
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• Holiness
• Adventist

Anglicans are generally not regarded as Protestant, either.

Web links

The European Institute of Protestant Studies