The wide differentials of Protestantism

goz
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The wide differentials of Protestantism Aug 17, 2019 21:09:35 GMT

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Post by goz on Aug 17, 2019 21:09:35 GMT

Discussing this on another thread.

Protestantism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Protestantism

Protestantism is the second largest form of Christianity with collectively between 800 million and more than 900 million adherents worldwide or nearly 40% of all Christians.[1][2] It originated with the 16th century Reformation, a movement against what its followers perceived to be errors in the Roman Catholic Church.[4] Protestants reject the Roman Catholic doctrine of papal supremacy and sacraments, but disagree among themselves regarding the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.[5] They emphasize the priesthood of all believers, justification by faith alone (sola fide) rather than also by good works, and the highest authority of the Bible alone (rather than also with sacred tradition) in faith and morals (sola scriptura).[6] The "five solae" summarise basic theological differences in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church.[7]

Protestantism is popularly considered to have begun in Germany[c] in 1517 when Martin Luther published his Ninety-five Theses as a reaction against abuses in the sale of indulgences by the Roman Catholic Church, which purported to offer the remission of the temporal punishment of sins to their purchasers.[8] However, the term derives from the letter of protestation from German Lutheran princes in 1529 against an edict of the Diet of Speyer condemning the teachings of Martin Luther as heretical.[9] Although there were earlier breaks and attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church—notably by Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, and Jan Hus—only Luther succeeded in sparking a wider, lasting, and modern movement.[10] In the 16th century, Lutheranism spread from Germany[d] into Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Iceland.[11] Reformed (or Calvinist) denominations spread in Germany,[e] Hungary, the Netherlands, Scotland, Switzerland and France by reformers such as John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, and John Knox.[12] The political separation of the Church of England from the pope under King Henry VIII began Anglicanism, bringing England and Wales into this broad Reformation movement.[f]

Protestants have developed their own culture, with major contributions in education, the humanities and sciences, the political and social order, the economy and the arts, and many other fields.[13]

Protestantism is diverse, being more divided theologically and ecclesiastically than either the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, or Oriental Orthodoxy.[14] Without structural unity or central human authority,[14] Protestants developed the concept of an invisible church, in contrast to the Roman Catholic view of the Catholic Church as the visible one true Church founded by Jesus Christ.[13] Some denominations do have a worldwide scope and distribution of membership, while others are confined to a single country.[14] A majority of Protestants[g] are members of a handful of Protestant denominational families: Adventists, Anabaptists, Anglicans, Baptists, Reformed,[h] Lutherans, Methodists, and Pentecostals.[1] Nondenominational, evangelical, charismatic, independent and other churches are on the rise, and constitute a significant part of Protestant Christianity.[16][17] Proponents of the branch theory consider Protestantism one of the three major divisions of Christendom, together with the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodoxy (both Eastern and Oriental).

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Of all the denominations in Christianity, it seems to me that within 'Protestantism' there is the widest divergence of beliefs and world views and how they manifest themselves.

I am guessing this is both historical and regional, however it is amazing that some of the most evangelical fundamentalists AND some of the most progressive of all Christian denomination BOTH fall under this banner.

Last Edit: Aug 17, 2019 21:12:33 GMT by goz

The Lost One
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The wide differentials of Protestantism Aug 18, 2019 11:30:06 GMT via mobile phludowin likes this

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Post by The Lost One on Aug 18, 2019 11:30:06 GMT

Protestantism has never been a united movement, it just referred to different groups who for one reason or another dissented from Catholicism. These reasons varied from considered theological and philosophical misgivings (eg Calvinism) to wanting to pretty much replicate the Catholic Church but with the king heading it rather than a foreign Pope (eg Anglicanism).

Last Edit: Aug 18, 2019 11:30:58 GMT by The Lost One

goz
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The wide differentials of Protestantism Aug 18, 2019 20:42:48 GMT

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Post by goz on Aug 18, 2019 20:42:48 GMT

Aug 18, 2019 11:30:06 GMT The Lost One said:

Protestantism has never been a united movement, it just referred to different groups who for one reason or another dissented from Catholicism. These reasons varied from considered theological and philosophical misgivings (eg Calvinism) to wanting to pretty much replicate the Catholic Church but with the king heading it rather than a foreign Pope (eg Anglicanism).

Whilst this is true, I wanted to discuss the absolutely wildly divergent manifestation of just the one common thread ie as yu said dissent from Catholicism, particularly regional and the reasons for it.

Another poster in the thread that prompted this independent one, has been telling me about some 'American versions' of Protestantism, that have very extreme dogma and traditions.

Here in my country, the mainstream protestant religions are known to be the most progressive, humanist and in accord with secular life.

There are fringe ones like the Folau's belong to ( which hark back to Pacific Island missionary traditions) and some Baptists, American style and a biggish movement of happy clappies, called 'Christ Church' I think, however the predominant ones here are Anglican and Uniting Church ( which is a blend of Presbytarianism and Methodist ).

Last Edit: Aug 18, 2019 20:44:43 GMT by goz