With more than 400 million followers, Protestantism is the second largest branch of Christianity in the world. The other main branches are Roman Catholicism, the largest branch, and Eastern Orthodoxy. Protestantism is divided into many different churches. The first Protestant churches were the Lutheran church, the Church of England, and the Reformed, or Presbyterian, churches. Later Protestant groups include Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, Pentecostals, and many more. BeliefsAlthough many Protestant churches have different beliefs, all Protestants reject Roman Catholicism and the power of the pope. They base their beliefs on the Christian Bible. Most believe that getting to heaven requires only faith in God, not any specific actions. They think that each believer, not just priests, can spread God's teachings. Most Protestants follow the beliefs of Martin Luther, John Calvin, or other historical Protestant leaders. The Protestants known as Fundamentalists have more extreme beliefs. They believe that the Bible is completely true. They reject scientific theories, including evolution, that they believe disagree with the Bible. PracticesMost Protestant churches hold worship services on Sundays. Some also have meetings during the week. During worship services Protestants perform only two of the sacraments, or rituals, practiced by Roman Catholics: baptism and Communion. During some Protestant services people play instruments and sing hymns, while other services do not include music. Some Protestant churches are more decorated with pictures and art than others. OrganizationProtestant churches do not have a single leader like the pope, and they do not have a single type of organization. Bishops lead some Protestant churches, including the Anglican church. Groups of representatives lead other Protestant churches, such as the Presbyterian church. Many Protestant groups, including Baptists, are organized around each local congregation. The local congregations sometimes join together to decide religious issues. Some Protestant groups, including the Quakers, have no formal ministers. HistorySince the beginning of Christianity there have been individuals or groups that have disagreed over various religious issues. In 1054 this led to an official schism, or split, of Christianity into the churches in the Eastern Roman (or Byzantine) Empire, based in Constantinople, and the church in the western empire, based in Rome. These became the two branches of Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. ReformationIn the 16th century, religious leaders in the West began to openly disagree with the Roman Catholic church. At first they only wanted to change, or reform, parts of Roman Catholicism. That movement became known as the Reformation. Soon some Christians went further and broke away from the Catholic church to form new churches based on the ideas of the Reformation. Members of the new churches became known as Protestants. Three early leadersMartin Luther, a German priest, began the Reformation in 1517. At the time, the Catholic church allowed people to pay money to have their sins forgiven. Luther disagreed with that practice. The Lutheran church, named after Luther, grew from his ideas. John Calvin, a French religious reformer of the 16th century, organized Protestant beliefs in an important book. In the 17th century some of Calvin's followers, called Calvinists, traveled to North America, where they spread his ideas. The Reformed and Presbyterian churches grew from Calvin's beliefs. Henry VIII, the king of England from 1509 to 1547, was another important figure in the early years of Protestantism. He wanted to end his marriage, but the pope would not allow it. In response, Henry separated England from the Catholic church. In 1534 he made himself the head of the new Church of England, or Anglican church. The Church of England combined Catholic and Protestant traditions. Spread and growthCatholics and Protestants fought wars over religion in the 16th and 17th centuries. Protestantism remained strong, however, and spread throughout Europe and its colonies. English colonists brought the Church of England to the American colonies. Its followers there eventually formed a related branch of the Anglican church called the Protestant Episcopal church. In the 17th and 18th centuries some Protestants wanted to reform the Protestant churches. They thought that Protestantism was still too close to the Roman Catholic church. For example, the Puritans disagreed with the Church of England. Some migrated to North America for religious freedom. Other reformers formed new Protestant groups, including Congregationalists, Baptists, Quakers, and Methodists. In the 19th century missionaries spread Protestantism further in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The original Protestant churches remained, but new churches continued to form—for example, Seventh-Day Adventists, Mormons, and Christian Scientists. Even in the 20th century some Protestants formed new groups—for instance, Pentecostals, Fundamentalists, and Evangelicals. At the same time, some Protestants worked to build unity with all Christians, even members of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. (See also Christianity.) |