What are Protestants?

Question

All I know about Protestants is that they are people who believe in a certain kind of religion. I want to learn more about them. What are their beliefs? What are their practices? Any cool facts?

Answer 1

Protestantism
Protestantism encompasses the Christian churches that separated from Rome during the Reformation in the 16th century. This movement was initiated by an Augustinian monk, Martin Luther. The term Protestant was originally applied to followers of Luther, who protested at the Diet of Spires (1529) against the decree that prohibited all further ecclesiastical reforms. Other influential reformers included John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Knox. Protestantism rejected attempts to tie God's revelation to earthly institutions and strictly adhered to the Word of God as sole authority in matters of faith and practice (sola scriptura). Central in the reformers' understanding of the biblical message is the justification of the sinner by faith alone. The church is understood as a fellowship, and the priesthood of all believers is stressed.

The Augsburg Confession (1530) was the principal statement of Lutheran faith and practice. It became a model for other Protestant confessions of faith. Major Protestant denominations include the Lutheran, Reformed (Calvinist), Presbyterian, and Anglican (Episcopalian). Innumerable sects and denominations sprang from these roots, including Quakers, Baptists, Pentecostals, Congregationalists, Methodists, and nondenominational assemblies.

Since the latter part of the 19th century, national councils of churches have been established in many countries, for example, the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America in 1908. Churches of a particular denomination have joined in federations and world alliances, beginning with the Anglican Lambeth Conference in 1867.

Protestant missionary activity, particularly strong in the 19th century, resulted in the founding of many churches in Asia and Africa. The ecumenical movement, which originated with Protestant missions, aims at unity among Christians and churches.

Answer 2

Protestantism is one of three main groups within Christianity, whose beliefs are centered on Jesus. The term "Protestant" represents a diverse range of perspectives, denominations, individuals, and related organizations. It is derived from "Protestors". While no particular belief or practice can be said to define this branch of Christianity (indeed, a commonly given definition is merely "any Christian denomination which is not Roman Catholic or Orthodox Christian"), those denominations considered to be well within the realm of Protestantism mainly have firm roots in the Protestant Reformation initiated by Martin Luther's 95 Theses during the sixteenth century, although some such as the Hussites and Waldensians pre-date it.

Protestantism is currently the dominant religion of many first-world countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Protestantism - in particular, evangelicalism - is also currently the fastest growing branch of Christianity today[citation needed], with significant growth in countries such as China (Christian News Service), India and many nations in Europe as well as Africa.

Answer 3

Christians.
Their forefathers 'Protested" against the highhanded attitude of the church. Wanted certain rights and freedoms for eg. the common man be able to possess and read the Bible. The Bible to be translated to enable the different linguistic groups read it etc.,
Martin Luther was the leader of the movement that started in Germany after Martin nailed his ninety five thesis on the gates of Witternberg ( 16 th C ? )
Others followed suit as did Zwingli in Switzerland.
Since this was a Protest movement against the Church the breakaway group came to be known as Protestants.
In European History you'd get all the details under the topic The Reformation movement.

Answer 4

Protestantism is a movement within Christianity. The term encompasses many different theological and social perspectives, churches and other religious organizations, which have arisen outside of the Roman Catholic Church since the Protestant Reformation. It is commonly considered one of the three major branches of Christianity, along with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

Answer 5

Protestantism is a movement within Christianity. The term encompasses many different theological and social perspectives, churches and other religious organizations, which have arisen outside of the Roman Catholic Church since the Protestant Reformation. It is commonly considered one of the three major branches of Christianity, along with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

Answer 6

>>Any cool facts?<<

Yes -- Martin Luther was mentally ill:

"A 16th-century Augustinian monk named Luder for some reason left a very detailed diary. This is a man who grew up with an extremely brutal father, had a very anxious relationship with him, was very psychosomatic-illness-oriented... One day he was out walking in the field. There was a thunderstorm, and he got a panic attack, and vowed, 'If I'm allowed to survive this, I will become a monk and devote the rest of my life to God.' He survives, becomes a monk, and throws himself into this ritualism with a frenzy. This was an order of monks that was silent 20-some hours a day. Nonetheless, he had four hours worth of confessions to make every day: 'I didn't say this prayer as devoutly as I should have. My mind wandered when I was doing this, doing that.' The first time he ran a mass, he had to do it over and over because he got the details wrong. He would drive his Father Superior crazy with his hours and hours of confession every day: 'God is going to be angry at me for doing this, because I said this, and I didn't think this much, and I didn't do this the right way, and I...' until the Father Superior got exasperated with him and came up with a statement that is shockingly modern in its insight. He said, 'The problem isn't that God is angry with you. The problem is that you're angry with God.' The most telling detail about this monk was, he washed and washed and washed. As he put it in his diary: 'The more you wash, the dirtier you get.' Classic OCD. The reason why we know about this man Luder is because we know him by the Anglicized version of his name: Martin Luther." -- Robert Sapolsky, a professor of neurology at Stanford University

Answer 7

A Protestant is someone who is "Protesting Catholicism". So they try to stay away from Catholic traditions like Christmas, Sunday Sabbath, and Easter because those pagan holidays are not commanded by God to follow... oh wait, never mind, protestants still follow all those holidays. I think Protestants have forgotten what they are protesting against.

Answer 8

Protestantism came about during the Reformation Period...they're still Christian, it's just that they split from the Catholic Church! So all non-Catholics are known as Protestants!

Answer 9

I happen to be a Seventh Day Adventist Christian, Seventh Day because the fourth commandment says the seventh day is the Sabbath which is saturday not sunday the first day and IF you email and ask i will tell you why you go to church on the first day its not because of anything saying so in the bible, and Adventist because we are looking foward to our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ learn more free bible lessons www.itiswritten.com bible questions www.bibleinfo.com email me at [e-mail] God bless

Answer 10

A Protestant is any Christian religion that is not Catholic.