Protestantism

Protestantism is a form of Christianity that emphasizes justification of sinners through faith alone, the teaching that salvation comes by unmerited divine grace, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice. The five solae summarize the basic theological beliefs of mainstream Protestantism.

Protestants follow the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began in the 16th century with the goal of reforming the Catholic Church from perceived errors, abuses, and discrepancies. The Reformation began in the Holy Roman Empire in 1517, when Martin Luther published his Ninety-five Theses as a reaction against abuses in the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church.

Lutheranism spread from Germany into Denmark–Norway, Sweden, Finland, Livonia, and Iceland. Calvinist churches spread in Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Scotland, Switzerland, France, Poland and Lithuania, led by Protestant Reformers such as John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli and John Knox. The political separation of the Church of England from the Catholic Church under King Henry VIII began Anglicanism, bringing England and Wales into this broad Reformation movement, under the leadership of reformer Thomas Cranmer.

Protestantism is divided into various denominations on the basis of theology and ecclesiology. Protestants adhere to the concept of an invisible church, in contrast to the Catholic, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Ancient Church of the East, which all understand themselves as the only original church—the "one true church"—founded by Jesus Christ. A majority of Protestants are members of a handful of Protestant denominational families; Anglicans/Episcopalians, Baptists, Calvinist/Reformed, Lutherans, Methodists and Moravians. Furthermore, Adventists, Pentecostals, Quakers, Plymouth Brethren, independent churches also known as Nondenominational Christianity, and Charismatic Christianity can also be considered part of Protestantism broadly speaking.

Terminology

The term Protestant started in 1529 when six princes and fourteen city rulers in the Holy Roman Empire a protest against a church decision. At first, it was a political term, but it later came to mean anyone who followed the main ideas of the Protestant Reformation.

People in the Reformation often called themselves evangelical, meaning followers of the gospel. Today, evangelical can mean different things in different places. In German-speaking areas, it usually just means Protestant. In English, it often refers to a specific group within Protestantism. The word Lutheran came later to describe followers of Martin Luther, while reformed describes followers of John Calvin and similar thinkers.

Theology

The Protestant Reformation, led by figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin, emphasized a return to the Bible as the main guide for faith. Protestants believe that the Bible is the highest authority for Christian teaching, a idea known as sola scriptura. They also believe that salvation comes through faith alone (sola fide), not by good works alone.

Protestants hold to the concept of the universal priesthood of believers, meaning all Christians have a direct relationship with God. They also follow the teachings of the Trinity, believing in one God who exists as three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and the God the Holy Spirit. The Five Solae—sola scriptura, sola fide, solus Christus, sola gratia, and soli deo gloria—summarize key Protestant beliefs.

History

Main article: History of Protestantism

The history of Protestantism begins with efforts to reform the Catholic Church in the 16th century. Many ideas that later became part of Protestantism had earlier supporters, though they often held beliefs that differed in important ways from what would become Protestant theology.

The Protestant Reformation officially started in 1517 when Martin Luther shared his Ninety-five Theses in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther criticized practices within the Catholic Church, such as the sale of indulgences, and questioned certain teachings. This act sparked widespread discussion and led many others to challenge the Catholic Church’s authority.

As the movement grew, it spread across Europe. In England, King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, forming the Church of England. In Scotland, John Knox led a reformation that established Presbyterianism. In Switzerland, Huldrych Zwingli and later John Calvin developed their own reformist ideas, influencing many across Europe.

The Reformation led to many changes in how people practiced their faith and in the structure of Christian churches. It emphasized the importance of the Bible as the main source of religious guidance and the idea that each person could have a direct relationship with God through faith. These ideas continue to shape Protestant Christianity today.

Radical Reformation

Main article: Radical Reformation

The Radical Reformation was a part of the Protestant movement that began in the 16th century. Unlike other Protestant groups, the Radical Reformation did not receive support from kings or governments. They believed that the church should not be controlled by rulers or money, and that people should choose to follow Christianity by themselves.

Early groups called Anabaptists thought that Christians should live by their beliefs in everyday life. They did not believe in baptizing babies, thinking instead that people should be baptized when they could make their own decisions. Many different groups came from the Radical Reformation, including the Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites.

Denominations

See also: List of Christian denominations § Protestant, and List of the largest Protestant churches

Protestants have different groups of churches called denominations, which share common beliefs and practices. These groups are part of larger traditions like Methodism or Lutheranism. For example, the United Methodist Church is a denomination within the Methodist tradition.

Protestantism began during the Reformation in the 16th century, and only includes groups that started at that time. Later groups, like Pentecostalism or non-denominational churches, are not always considered part of traditional Protestantism. Many Protestant countries have national churches, such as the Evangelical Lutheran churches in Nordic countries like Denmark and Iceland.

United and uniting churches

Main article: United and uniting churches

See also: Continuing churches

United and uniting churches form when two or more Protestant denominations join together. This happens for many reasons, including organizing religion better or bringing traditions closer together. Examples include the Church of North India, the United Protestant Church of France, and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. The Protestant Church in Germany is one of the oldest united churches, formed in 1817 from Lutheran, United, and Reformed churches.

Major branches

Protestants differ based on movements that shaped them after the Reformation. Major branches include Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Calvinism (Reformed Christianity), Methodism, Hussitism, Adventism, Pentecostalism, Quakerism, Plymouth Brethren, and Baptists. The Anabaptism branch is also important historically.

Each branch has its own beliefs and practices. For example, Lutheranism follows the teachings of Martin Luther, emphasizing faith and grace. Anglicanism includes the Church of England and related churches. Calvinism stresses God’s control over all things. These branches show the rich diversity within Protestantism.

Interdenominational movements

There are Christian movements that cross denominational lines and branches, and cannot be classified in the same way as other forms. Evangelicalism is a prominent example. These movements can be active within Protestantism or across all of Christianity. For instance, the Charismatic Movement aims to incorporate beliefs and practices similar to Pentecostals into various branches of Christianity. Neo-charismatic churches are sometimes seen as a subgroup of the Charismatic Movement. Both are grouped under Charismatic Christianity, along with Pentecostals. Nondenominational churches and house churches often adopt ideas from these movements.

Megachurches are usually influenced by interdenominational movements. These large congregations have become an important part of Protestant Christianity around the world. In the United States, the number of megachurches has grown quickly over the past two decades and has since spread globally.

Evangelicalism

Main article: Evangelicalism

Evangelicalism is a worldwide movement that emphasizes salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Evangelicals believe in the importance of personal conversion, the authority of the Bible, and sharing their faith with others. This movement gained strength in the 18th and 19th centuries with events like the Great Awakenings in Britain and North America. Today, there are about 285 million Evangelicals worldwide, with many living in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The United States has the largest number of Evangelicals.

Charismatic movement

Main article: Charismatic movement

The Charismatic movement involves mainstream churches adopting practices similar to Pentecostals, such as using spiritual gifts. This movement began around 1960 and has influenced many Protestant churches. It started in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has since spread to other parts of the world.

Neo-charismatic churches

Main article: Neo-charismatic churches

Neo-charismatic churches are part of the Christian Renewal movement and believe in the ongoing presence of gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as healing and prophecy. They are now more numerous than Pentecostals and charismatics combined, with about 295 million followers worldwide. These churches vary widely in style and structure.

Protestant offshoots

Arminianism

Main articles: Arminianism and Remonstrants

See also: History of the Calvinist–Arminian debate

Arminianism is a group of beliefs started by the Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius in the 1600s. It keeps the main ideas of Protestant Reformation but differs from other Protestant leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin. Arminius believed that people could choose to follow God's grace, unlike some other Protestant views that said God's choice was final and cannot be changed. This idea influenced many churches, including the Baptists, Methodists, and Seventh-day Adventists.

Pietism

Main articles: Pietism and Haugean movement

Pietism was a movement inside Lutheranism that began in the late 1600s. It focused on personal faith and living a strong Christian life. This movement helped shape Lutheran churches and also influenced other Protestant groups, including the Methodists.

Puritanism, English dissenters and nonconformists

Main articles: Puritans, English Dissenters, Independent (religion), Nonconformism, English Presbyterianism, Ecclesiastical separatism, and 17th-century denominations in England

The Puritans were English Protestants in the 1500s and 1600s who wanted to clean up the Church of England. They believed the church was not fully reformed and tried to remove practices they thought were too Catholic. When they could not change the church from within, many Puritans moved to other places, like the Netherlands and New England, taking their beliefs with them.

Neo-orthodoxy and paleo-orthodoxy

Main articles: Neo-orthodoxy and Paleo-orthodoxy

Neo-orthodoxy is a way of thinking in Christianity that started in the 20th century. It reacted against ideas that tried to mix Christian beliefs with modern science. Paleo-orthodoxy is similar but focuses more on old Christian beliefs from the first thousand years.

Christian fundamentalism

Main article: Christian fundamentalism

Christian fundamentalism began in the 20th century, mostly in the United States. It stresses that the Bible is completely true and should be taken literally. This group formed in reaction to other Christian ideas that they felt did not respect the Bible enough.

Modernism and liberalism

Main article: Liberal Christianity

Modernism and liberalism in Christianity try to fit Christian ideas with modern thinking and science. This caused debates with groups who believed the Bible should be taken literally, like the fundamentalists.

Protestant culture

Main article: Protestant culture

The Protestant Reformation, which began in the 16th century, influenced many parts of life beyond religion. It changed ideas about marriage, education, science, politics, the economy, and the arts. Protestant churches allowed their clergy to marry, unlike some other Christian groups. Many Protestant families became important in their countries.

Protestants helped encourage education for everyone, which led to higher literacy rates. They founded many colleges and universities. For example, the Puritans established Harvard College in 1638 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Protestants also played key roles in politics, business, science, and education in many countries.

The Protestant belief in using reason helped support the growth of science and the arts. Many famous scientists and artists came from Protestant backgrounds. Protestants also believed in democratic ideas, which influenced the development of modern democracies in places like England, the Netherlands, and the United States. They supported religious freedom and the separation of church and state, ideas that shaped many countries' laws and governments.

Catholic responses

Main articles: Anti-Protestantism, Counter-Reformation § Politics, Council of Trent, and Criticism of Protestantism

The Catholic Church believes that Protestant groups are not full churches because their beliefs and practices differ from Catholic traditions. Both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church share this view. During the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin aimed to reform the Catholic Church, which they felt had become corrupted. They maintained that they were part of the one true Church but had moved away from certain Catholic practices and teachings.

Protestants often speak of an "invisible church" — a spiritual community of believers united by faith in Jesus Christ, rather than by a single organization's rules or traditions. This idea helped them explain their separation from the Catholic Church while still believing they were part of a larger Christian family. Some Protestant groups prefer names like "Reformed" or "Evangelical" over "Protestant" because of negative feelings associated with the term.

Ecumenism

Main article: Christian ecumenism

The ecumenical movement aims to bring different Christian churches closer together. It began with early attempts like the Marburg Colloquy in 1529, where leaders tried to agree on important beliefs but did not succeed. Later, in 1910, the Edinburgh Missionary Conference marked the start of modern efforts to work together, especially for missions in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

Since 1948, the World Council of Churches has played a big role in these efforts, though it has not managed to unite all churches. There are many regional and local groups working toward unity as well. Some churches have joined together, like the Church of South India and the United Church of Canada, though their numbers have been decreasing. Orthodox churches have also taken part, though not all agree with these efforts.

Demographics

See also: Christianity by country

Protestants make up a large part of the world's Christian population, with estimates ranging from 600 million to 1 billion people. They are found all over the world, but especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and parts of Europe. In places like the Nordic countries and the United Kingdom, Protestantism is still the most common religion.

Over the past century, Protestantism has grown a lot in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. This growth started after World War II, especially when countries gained independence and restrictions on Protestants were lifted. Today, many Protestants live in countries like Nigeria, Brazil, and China. Even though Protestantism is declining in some places like North America and Europe, it is still growing in many other parts of the world. Experts believe that Protestants might become the largest group of Christians by the year 2050.