The Protestant Church is an umbrella term that refers to Christian churches that have accepted the beliefs and practices preached by such 16th century reformers as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli, who ushered in a large schism in the Catholic Church, resulting from the Protestant Reformation. Members of a Protestant Church are called Protestants.
The variety of Protestant churches is vast, covering a wide range of beliefs. Protestant denominations that began in the early days of the Reformation (Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Reformed), as well as those who began in Europe and America during the 17th and 18th centuries (Congregationalists, Methodists, Baptists), are found throughout the world today. Although the Pentecostals and independent Protestant churches are the product of the 19th and 20th centuries, they make up a significant portion of Protestants. Even in Europe, where traditional churches hold considerable influence, some of the most active congregations are Pentecostal. The American megachurch phenomenon appeals to contemporary consumer culture, with little emphasis on tradition. Although a few of the megachurches are Lutheran, Presbyterian or Methodist or Baptist, the majority of them are Pentecostal, non-denominational or independent, often based around the ministry of a charismatic senior pastor.
Historically, Protestantism is an all-inclusive term for religious movements that originated directly or indirectly from the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. Some religious scholars, including some Anabaptists, consider the Anabaptist movement to be part of the Protestant Reformation, while others consider the Anabaptists (Mennonites, Hutterites, Amish) to be part of a separate movement known as the Radical Reformation, which took place at roughly the same time and for the same reasons.
For the purposes of categorization here, we are considering Anabaptist, Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant to be separate divisions of the larger Christian Church.
While there are sharp differences between the various Protestant church bodies, Protestantism tends to share a common message, a characteristic standard of authority, and similar forms of organization and activity. The message is that salvation is a gift from God that brings reconciliation between Christians and God. The authority is the Bible. The Protestant form of organization tends to be local and participatory, while activities feature individual responsibilities rather than a dependence upon clergy. Protestants tend to believe that the message of salvation was taught authoritatively in the Christian Bible, which had been obscured through the corruptions of Roman Catholicism.
In 1910, 58% of Protestants were in Europe, 31% in the United States and Canada, and 11% in the rest of the world. One hundred years later, only 12% of Protestants were in Europe and 15% in the United States and Canada, while 73% were in other parts of the world. By 2010, Protestantism had become a largely non-Western religion.
Since the middle of the 20th century, Protestantism has become more global, diverse, multiform, and complex than ever before, largely because of the different ways in which the various denominations and congregations have mingled practices and beliefs rooted in Protestant tradition with innovative responses to contemporary circumstances. Other influences have included the de-Christianization of Europe, the United States and Canada during this time period. While church attendance has declined everywhere in the West, Protestantism has experienced the greatest drop-offs, particularly within traditional Protestant churches.
The composition of American Protestantism has changed significantly over the past fifty years. The once dominant mainstream churches (Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal, Congregational) have given way to a variety of evangelical, fundamentalist, Pentecostal, sectarian, Holiness, independent, and immigrant churches, many of which claim no denominational status.
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Recommended Resources
Generally considered to be the primary leader of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther is the subject of this site, which includes a biography, legends about the man, the times into which he was born, a timeline in the life of Martin Luther, and biographies and information about people who were important in his life. Links to other related sites are also provided. Some sections of the site are in German.
http://www.luther.de/en/
ABR is a Christian apologetics ministry designed to equip Christians with the results of research into issues that may otherwise undermine or challenge the Christian faith. Answers to specific questions are provided, as well as on a variety of faiths and doctrines, including Baha'i, Calvinism, Catholicism, and Christian Science, along with issues such as the Da Vinci Code, the deity of Christ, evolution, freemasonry, and others.
http://www.alwaysbeready.com/
Articles on various topics of Christianity are presented here, authored by Tim Challies, who describes himself as being an evangelical Protestant Christian, of the Reformed tradition, generally conservative or traditional in his beliefs. He is also a web designer, and author of "The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment". Several book reviews and other topics are presented and discussed on his site.
http://www.challies.com/
Christian Leadership Institute
CLI is the educational arm of Christian Leaders NFP, offering accredited ministerial training regardless of the applicant’s economic or educational status, which may lead to non-denominational Christian ordination through the Christian Leaders Alliance. Its admissions policies, a course catalog, degrees and programs of study, the ordination process, and a partner directory are included. Student achievements and certifications may be verified through the site.
https://www.christianleadersinstitute.org/
With a focus on Christian apologetics, articles on a wide variety of topics are presented here, including Bahai, Buddhism, Catholicism, Freemasonry, Hinduism, Humanism, Islam, Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormonism, New Age, Scientology, Unitarian Universalism and Wicca, as well as a course in miracles, evolution, and other subjects. Interested visitors may sign up for a newsletter.
http://contenderministries.org/
Presented and maintained by Protestant Reformation Publications, the site presents arguments in favor of Protestantism and in opposition to Roman Catholicism. A variety of topics are featured here, including a discussion of true Christianity as opposed to false Christianity, heretics, false and true prophets, hypocrites, Catholic clergy sex crimes, and other topics. Recommended publications are listed.
http://www.iconbusters.com/
Offering an introduction to Protestantism, this site is part of the Christianity in View series of web sites that examines the Christian faith. The history of Protestant Reformation, information about the Reformers, the Five Solas, and the formation of the various Protestant bodies are told, and a historical timeline is included, along with a photo gallery. Demographics related to Protestant denominations are presented.
http://protestantism.co.uk/
Protestant Apologetics and Theology
Authored by Jim Elliot, this site contains arguments in favor of Protestant positions and in opposition to those considered by the author to be apostate. Topics include suggestions for identifying a cult, with specific information about several belief systems believed to be that of a cult, as well as rightly interpreting the Bible, and many others. A mission statement and statement of faith are included.
http://www.ovrlnd.com/
Maintained by a group of traditional Catholics, the site offers a Catholic perspective of Protestantism, including the Protestant Reformation, and discussions of what the authors view as illogical or false doctrines that originated with the Protestant Reformation, including references to the writings of Saint Francis de Sales. Tips for those considering converting to Catholicism and testimonials from those who have are included.
http://www.protestanterrors.com/
The PTS operates a Bible book store in central London, near St. Paul's Cathedral, and publishes a bi-monthly print publication, selections of which are available here. The focus of the organization is on the Protestant faith, as opposed to Roman Catholicism, which its members consider contrary to the word of God. A calendar of events and a history of the organization are included.
http://protestanttruth.com/
With a focus on the Protestant Reformation, several articles on a variety of topics related to the events that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but turned into its greatest schism, are presented here, along with several photographs and illustrations, and information about other Christian reformation projects and attempts, news items, and recommendations for further information.
http://www.reformation.org/
