I still don’t see anyone answering the question. As for the Anglicans, they are considered Protestant, and even if they don’t want to be considered Protestant they would not have developed without the Reformation, which would not have happened had Henry VIII not broke from Rome. As for to idea that if Henry would have made the break if he had 5 sons from Catherine of Aragon or would have broke from Rome anyway for other political reasons, now that’s a stretch. The fact is that he didn’t have 5 sons from Catherine of Aragon, that he was very open with the fact that he wanted a legitimate son, he asked the Pope for the annulment and only after the Pope refused him did he break with Rome making one of the key moments in history called the Reformation. True their were Reformers prior to England’s break with Rome but they did not have the political support to flourish until England, one the most powerful European countries at the time, gave it it’s backing. What I am seeing clearly from this post is that so many people don’t want to acknowledge a key fact in the history of Western Civilization. In the 16th century King Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church which lead to Reformation, and out of the Reformation came the Protestant faith, or faiths that would not exist had it not been for the Reformation, which again was the result of King Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church. Plane and simple, a common fact in any high school or college history text book. It would be difficult to find any student of history or historian who will disagree with this statement. This is not HBO talking, this is a reference to historical fact. So now here is my issue, why and how on earth are so many people of Protestant faith attempting to disregard this historical fact or re-shape it to fit their needs. I’m sorry, you just can’t do that to history, no matter how creepy it makes one feel. Do you even understand that doing this make you appear to lack credibility? Honestly, I entered this thread to find a truth that I had been missing. I had come here with the thought that, “No, that Presbyterian aunt who married into my family was just ignorant and short sited for not having an answer to my question, I’m sure there are intelligent, well educated Protestants out there who have dealt with this issues. After all, it is a 500 year old question and I’m sure if they have made themselves one of the main religions of the planet then they surely must have thought this through, I mean I’m not the first one to pose this question in the last 500 years. I’ll just ask on a forum and someone will show my how it’s been reconciled.” And now I’m thinking I was just naive. Because every answer I have gotten either outright disconnects with Henry VIII’s actions saying they have no bearing which just blatantly ignores historical facts that I mentioned above, or they say the Presbyterians or Anglicans are not Protestant, even they would not exist had it not been for the Protestant Reformation and the ideas and philosophers who came out that, which is another way denying history by making a subtle distortion. That would be like Mexicans saying that Columbus landing on the Americas has nothing to do with them because they’re not Italian and they didn’t decided to make the voyage. Sound ridiculous huh? All I am going to say is that I tried. Truth be known it looks like most Protestants haven’t made their peace with Henry VIII and how their religion was started. And have chosen to conveniently ignore and distort historical fact, and in doing so actually believe the rest of the world has done the same in order to acomadate them. But no one has, just because you’ve conveniently forgotten history doesn’t mean anyone else has. Please don’t take our kindness for not mentioning it for ignorance of not knowing history. I’m not trying to be mean but all your lack of facts and excessive denials of historical facts is just irritating, no wonder people have issues with you. Sadly, as a result of the answers to my question (or lack there of) I am walking away from this forum less opened minded about Protestant religions, or religions that deny they are Protestant but still came forth due to the Reformation. And sadly I can say I made an educated attempt to gather information, but the result of trying to give people the opportunity to make me more understand has turned and made me more judgemental, and that is very sad. And it’s not because I didn’t try, it’s because after 500 years after Henry’s break from Rome, the people who took up the beliefs from that Reformation have not thought about what he means to the origins of their religion. I mean, really. I mean this has been like talking to someone who had an alchoholic father and seeing them looking you in the eye and say “No, my dad’s alcoholism doesn’t effect me at all” or “No, he’s not my real father we just kinda look alike”. And then they expect you to buy it. At least if they admitted it and dealt with it in some way you could respect them. But since they don’t you just feeling like you’re talking to a fraud.
That looks like something out of Beneath the Planet of the Apes!
…or Romulan headquarters!
…and you.