Protestantism is a term for new churches that broke away from the Catholic Church in Western Europe. The start of the Protestant Revolution is credited to Martin Luther in the 16th century. Protestantism includes diverse groups such as Lutherans, Calvinists, Baptists, and Quakers. Protestant theology has different beliefs about the key tenets of the Christian faith, including the Eucharist, nature of salvation, and sacraments. All churches believe in the primacy of the Bible, while the Catholic Church posits Church tradition as equal to scripture.
Protestant theology is an umbrella term for new churches and religious groups that broke away from the Catholic Church in Western Europe. The start of the Protestant Revolution is credited to the German theologian Martin Luther in the 16th century, although it is not at all marked by people rebelling against Catholicism, but rather because it was so successful. The term Protestant dates back to the “letter of protest” sent to the Diet of Speyer by Lutheran princes in 16. Since Luther, the term has come to include all practicing non-Catholic as diverse as Lutherans, Calvinists, Baptists and Quakers.
While the Catholic Church had looked inward through the Jesuits and the humanist leanings of Erasmus, the first split occurred in 1517 when Luther posted his 95 theses on a church door. Luther began by protesting the sale of indulgences, whereby the wealthy could purchase certificates that shortened the time spent in purgatory and, thus, eased their path to heaven. Luther believed that only God could grant salvation.
Luther was able to prosper and develop his theologies thanks to the protection of the Elector Frederick of Saxony. His success allowed other theologians such as Jean Calvin, the Anabaptists and Huldrych Zwingli to develop their own theologies. Protestantism’s long-term survival is due to the willingness of states such as England to break away from the Catholic Church, even if such breaks were for non-religious reasons.
Due to the diversity of origins and beliefs, there is no singular Protestant theology. On the contrary, there are different ideas about the key tenets of the Christian faith. They focus on the Eucharist or Mass, the nature of salvation, and the sacraments.
The Catholic Church believes in the idea of transubstantiation during mass. This means that the bread and wine are literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ. Protestant theologians almost universally disagree with this. Luther and Calvin believed in consubstantiation, whereby the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ only when they are consumed. Zwingli, on the other hand, believed that Christ was symbolic at the Last Supper.
All the original Protestant theologians believed that St. Augustine of Hippo was right in his belief in original sin. Luther believed that all a person needed to reach heaven was faith alone or sola fide in Latin. He also believed that good works were essential to gaining God’s grace. Some Protestants, such as Calvin, believed in predestination. This meant that God had already decided the elect and life’s choices made no difference to who was saved and who was damned.
The Catholic Church believed there were seven sacraments, including baptism, confirmation, holy eucharist, and penance. The other three were extreme unction or last rites, holy orders, and marriage. Anglican Protestant theology often holds all seven, but places extra importance on baptism and the Holy Eucharist because they were ordained by Christ.
Luther, on the other hand, was more flexible and believed that a sacrament absolved sin, so only baptism, the Eucharist and the last rites should count. Other traditions hold that there are no sacraments or that they are only symbolic. Others, such as Baptists and Anabaptists, created new sacraments for their churches.
While there are numerous minor ideas and controversies in Protestant theology, it is worth noting that all churches believe in the primacy of the Bible. This is known in Latin as sola scriptura. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, posits Church tradition as equal to scripture.
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