Definition of a protestant

[drblank1]

Baptized Catholics, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, are not Protestants. Protestants are those Christians of communities begun by the European Protestant reformers of the 16th Century.

Paul, good way to start by declaring who is not Protestant. But I would not consider groups like Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses Protestant. And the church of England is technically considered Protestant but Its split was not from doctrinal differences (AFAIK).

But very accurate and succinct.

 

[JonNC]

Paul, good way to start by declaring who is not Protestant. But I would not consider groups like Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses Protestant. And the church of England is technically considered Protestant but Its split was not from doctrinal differences (AFAIK).

But very accurate and succinct.

And The Church of England was not part of the formal protest at the Second Diet of Speyer.

 

[po18guy]

Since the definition began devolving at its inception to the realm of impossibility, it seems to be: an individual who claims belief in Christ, but chooses to remain outside of both Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Christ is somehow involved, but to what degree, it is impossible to define.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

Christ is somehow involved.

Woah… For believing and practicing Christians, that seems to be rather strange and unsettling language.

 

[ltwin]

Paul, good way to start by declaring who is not Protestant. But I would not consider groups like Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses Protestant.

True. I’ve seen such groups often listed separately from Protestants, Catholics,and Orthodox under headings such as “Other Christian.”

And the church of England is technically considered Protestant but Its split was not from doctrinal differences (AFAIK).

The “legal” split was over the Pope’s refusal to grant Henry VIII an annulment, so he had Parliament abolish the Pope’s ecclesiastical authority in England. Essentially, he nationalized the English church as an institution, but theologically Henry was not an innovator. Yet, Henry’s break with Rome gave English Protestants the chance to push the church in a more Reformed direction.

And after his death the Church of England did undergo further theological reform. The 39 Articles are a good indication of how far the Elizabethan church had been influenced by continental Reformed theology.

 

[snowwolf0111]

Baptized Catholics, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, are not Protestants. Protestants are those Christians of communities begun by the European Protestant reformers of the 16th Century. The Protestant communities continue to schism into new groups as they generally do not view schism as a sin.

True !! it is also hard to define it, because there are so many forms of protestanism. Most of them do not believe in the holy eucharist, and our statues. In some protestant bibles there are minor differences being refered as ’ worshipping statues ’ where the catholic bibles says ’ worshipping idols or other forms ( an animal or something similar as God ).

 

[benhur]

I’m curious about who is an actual protestant or what defines one as being protestant. Are cafeteria catholics really protestants? Are they protesting Catholicism by picking and choosing what to follow which is in essence what “protestant” traditions do isn’t it?
Am I a protestant? I left or fell away or drifted away from the catholic tradition 4 decades ago due to poor catechism(my fault not the priest’s) and being reared in a family that is pretty lukewarm on the subject of religion or spirituality. I’m not protesting anything in particular I just have no interest in following any particular tradition be it Christian or anything else.
The more I read on any tradition the less I feel compelled to be more than “spiritual” but again I’m not protesting anything. Is a protestant really only someone claiming to be Christian yet not catholic? Thank you for any help with understanding any distinction if there is one.

Hi pt,

Seems like all the bases covered…good question.

I can only help think that the question eludes the “heavenly” perspective. True there has always been a religious tradition since the garden, of how to deal with, “what hath God really said”. Yet behind any tradition, God ordained or not, is hopefully reality of a regenerated spirit. Such that there are only two kinds of people on this earth : children of the promise (beginning with Adam and Eve ,and Abel) and children of the serpent. This is evidenced when we get to the pearly gates. As the story goes the approaching pilgrim asks St. Peter who is up there. Long story short, there are no Catholics up there, nor Orthodox , nor Lutherans or Baptist, for those names are “unknown” up there. The only people up there are souls washed in the blood of the Lamb (regenerated, born of the spirit, born again).

HIStory is beyond religion, but in His personhood. Narrow is the Way, and broad and easy is the path that leads to where God is not ( and many who are dead in spirit thru trespasses and sin find it…the serpent seed).

Only He can give you the desire, the interest, for Him. He has put an end to religious works, save visiting the widows and orphans and sick etc., so there can be no religious excuse. Now i pray He shows you the need for such an “interest”.

Blessings

 

[MichaelP3]

What makes them all Catholic lite is their love for a Catholic book, imo.

I’m sure some would be offended by that statement, but not my intent. I just think many aren’t aware that the Bible is a Catholic book.

Hi LA

Well this kinda gets back to my big problem with assumptions on here. You make that assumption and then have an opinion based on that.

Some of us hard headed Protestants actually did look very extensively into the history and would dispute that claim on various points.

Regards

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I’m sure some would be offended by that statement, but not my intent. I just think many aren’t aware that the Bible is a Catholic book.

Perhaps our Jewish brothers and sisters might take offense with that statement. I believe that the majority of the Bible is theirs.

 

[puzzledtoo]

This certainly has been an interesting read for me on the different beliefs of who a Protestant is or isn’t. Thank you all for sharing your views and insight.
As for whether I’ve renounced or denounced the church. I’m not sure what that means so I doubt it very much.
As for the prayers offered on my behalf. Thank you. Prayers for my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are always welcomed and appreciated. Blessings to all.

 

[benhur]

This certainly has been an interesting read for me on the different beliefs of who a Protestant is or isn’t. Thank you all for sharing your views and insight.
As for whether I’ve renounced or denounced the church. I’m not sure what that means so I doubt it very much.
As for the prayers offered on my behalf. Thank you. Prayers for my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are always welcomed and appreciated. Blessings to all.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Hi LA

Well this kinda gets back to my big problem with assumptions on here. You make that assumption and then have an opinion based on that.

Some of us hard headed Protestants actually did look very extensively into the history and would dispute that claim on various points.

Regards

Greetings

There’s the exception and then there is the rule.

From my experience, if you pop quizzed typical Protestants on the street, they couldn’t name even 2 Church councils for you, and most definitely have no idea about the formation of the Christian canon/NT. Seriously, I’ve been told that the King James, 1611 is the first ever bible and that John the Baptist started the Baptist Church.

Posters like yourself and many others on this website are the exception.

And, in the interest of fairness, Protestants have stated here that the Catholics on this website are not typical either. Meaning we are much more informed than the typical Catholic, especially scripturally as many of us are converts.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Perhaps our Jewish brothers and sisters might take offense with that statement. I believe that the majority of the Bible is theirs.

Greetings.

Right, so if they rip 7 more books out of ‘their’ canon, will Protestants Christians follow their lead since it’s ‘theirs’ to decide upon?

 

[MichaelP3]

Greetings

There’s the exception and then there is the rule.

From my experience, if you pop quizzed typical Protestants on the street, they couldn’t name even 2 Church councils for you, and most definitely have no idea about the formation of the Christian canon/NT. Seriously, I’ve been told that the King James, 1611 is the first ever bible and that John the Baptist started the Baptist Church.

This is very true!. But you can hardly put this against some people purely because that is the way they were informed? I told you about Pastor Steve. A some while ago after I had my laugh.

/QUOTE]

Posters like yourself and many others on this website are the exception.

Thank You

And, in the interest of fairness, Protestants have stated here that the Catholics on this website are not typical either. Meaning we are much more informed than the typical Catholic, especially scripturally as many of us are converts.

I need to tell you this. So I actually frequent our local Catholic Church. Actually some there started to call me a closet Catholic. Anyway. So I read on CAF about people believing in the Immaculate Conception but not knowing it was actually Mary the whole thing was about… So I am actually not joking. At 1 of the after-mass coffee get togethers I asked people about this. I am not joking, on 2 occasions I was informed they do believe in this. Well After some questioning this was not Mary they were thinking of. So yea, I was actually proved right. (I actually tried to correct the one person at that time in a very Catholic way).

Greetings.

Right, so if they rip 7 more books out of ‘their’ canon, will Protestants Christians follow their lead since it’s ‘theirs’ to decide upon?

Hi LA

But taking Catholic understanding in this, the Jews never established their Canon in the first place?