What is Protestantism?

[With_Questions]

Since that word is bandied about quite a bit here, I thought I might ask a stupid question. What exactly is Protestantism?

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Since that word is bandied about quite a bit here, I thought I might ask a stupid question. What exactly is Protestantism?

What is protest the One Holy Catholic Apostolic church;

 

[SIA]

What is protest the One Holy Catholic Apostolic church;

It is an over used overrated word that many Catholics use to describe what they either deny or do not understand.

 

[With_Questions]

What is protest the One Holy Catholic Apostolic church;

Huh?

So Protestantism is protesting the Catholic church?

What if you are not protesting? Does that mean you are not Protestant? Who decides whether you are protesting or not? Do you have to agree to protest the Catholic church in order to be Protestant?

What about the Orthodox? Do they protest against the Catholic church? If so, do they believe in Protestantism.

“Ism” normally refers to a belief system. For example Methodism is the belief system of Methodists. Catholicism is the belief system of Catholics.

So what is the belief system of Protestants? Who enforces this belief system? What statement of faith must a church adhere to in order that its belief system be called Protestantism?

 

[Syele]

Since that word is bandied about quite a bit here, I thought I might ask a stupid question. What exactly is Protestantism?

It depends entirely on whom you choose to ask.

Its kind of like saying “Define American.” Does the asker mean people from the USA? People from North America? What about people who are technically United States Citizens but don’t live there? Or what about illegal immigrants? And If they manage to sort all that out tell me what Americans think about _______. (Insert anything in the blank)

Protestant is a word like that. In a vague sort of way, a Protestant is someone who is a Christian or is similar to a Christian but is not Catholic. Some will point only to those who protest against the Catholics or at Denominations of Christianity that descended from the reformation. Others will point you to all Religions that seem remotely like Christians but are not Catholic and may or may not actually BE Christians. While some will say you must be Christian to be Protestant at all. Some have some definition in between. and If you manage to sort it out for yourself, (there will still be plenty who disagree with you) Good luck figuring out what said undefined “Protestants” believe about ________. (Insert anything in the blank)

 

[linuxgeek71]

I would call protestant any heretical (not just schismatic) group, proclaiming themselves to be Christians and deny sacred Tradition as a divine, infallible, source of inspiration.

 

[1edyson]

Non-Catholic Christianity that branched out from the Protestant Reformation. The Orthodox Church calls itself the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church.

 

[With_Questions]

The word Protestant I understand.

Protestant is a classification word. Branches of Christianity that are not Catholic or Orthodox and at the same time retain certain essentials such as the trinity are classified as Protestant. I got it.

The word that I do not understand is Protestantism.

Since that word is bandied about here, I need to know what it means.

When you add the suffix ism to a word, you are changing that word from either an adjective or a noun referring to a person to a belief system.

For example consider the word Catholicism. Catholicism is the belief system of the Catholic faith. It consists of all of the dogma that a Catholic must believe.

So what is the belief system that you must uphold in order to correctly be called a Protestant that is unique only to Protestants.

Since this is a word that Catholics seem to use all of the time, you should be able to tell me what this is.

 

[reteeks21]

I would call protestant any heretical (not just schismatic) group, proclaiming themselves to be Christians and deny sacred Tradition as a divine, infallible, source of inspiration.

Well, since you have defined “protestant” please define “heretical” for me so I can get a better picture of what you consider me to be. Thanks.

 

[Lujack]

A term used to mean that the denomination in question is not a part of the Catholic Church. Generally it is used to describe denominations that can, in some way, be traced back to the Reformation. Older churches like the Eastern Orthodox are not referred to as Protestants.

Groups like the Jehova’s Witnesses and the Mormons who don’t have links back to the Reformation aren’t generally called Protestants, either.

 

[leopolis1]

Protestantism means:
Rebellion against the Vicar of Christ, free interpretation of the Scripture (that’s why some protestants say gay “marriages” are ok, some of them sometimes don’t mind the abortion), no priesthood, no Real Presence, no confession, divisions among them - there are thousands of protestant denominations (while Jesus wants us to be one), no miralces like those of Fatima or Guadalupe.

 

[With_Questions]

Protestantism means:
Rebellion against the Vicar of Christ,

Is this true? The Orthodox do not recognize the Bishop of Rome as the Vicar of Christ. Do they believe in Protestantism?

free interpretation of the Scripture (that’s why some protestants say gay “marriages” are ok, some of them sometimes don’t mind the abortion),

Many Protestant denominations have statements of faith. That means you must believe certain things in order to be a member of good standing in this denomination. Are these denominations not protestant since they don’t apparantly believe in “Protestantism”.

no priesthood,

I think the Anglicans refer to their clergy as priests. Are they not protestant since they don’t believe in Protestantism.

no Real Presence,

The Lutherans, Anglicans and Methodists believe in a Real Presence. Apparantly they are not Protestant either if I understand you correctly.

no confession,

Anglicans have confession. So for many reasons they do not believe in Protestantism apparantly.

divisions among them - there are thousands of protestant denominations (while Jesus wants us to be one),

Remember that the suffix “ism” changes the root from either an adjective or a noun referring to a person to a noun that refers to a belief system. Catholicism for example is the belief system of the Catholic faith. Divisions are not a belief unless the belief is that divisions are a good thing.

no miralces like those of Fatima or Guadalupe.

Again, miracles are not a belief system unless the belief is that miracles can / do not occur today. I know that some strains of Protestants believe that. But for example the Pentecostals do believe in miracles. Are they not Protestant since they do not believe in Protestantism?

 

[Drilling4Truth]

Historically, the term protestant is more specific. If I remember my notes from History of Christianity (taught in a large secular university), what was actually being protested was the Second Council of Spire. This council overturned the First Council of Spire, which had allowed non-Catholic forms of worship.

Today, the term protestant can mean any number of things. Non-Catholics see it as standing against anything they see as incorrect or contrary to their own faith tradition. But, if many of these protestants knew their history better, they would be surprised to learn what they claim to protest today was at one time part of their own faith tradition. John Wesley, the founder of what would become Methodism, believed and taught the True Presence in the Eucharist. Martin Luther was perhaps less than certain about his own actions. When his dear mother, a lifelong Catholic, was on her deathbed she asked her son if she should be buried protestant or Catholic. Martin Luther insisted she be buried a Catholic with a funeral Mass.

When I was growing up, I had it in my head that as a Methodist, I was pretty much just like a Catholic except that I did not recognize the authority of the Pope. It wasn’t until later that I began to wonder why that was. Had John Paul II ever done anything I personally disagreed with? In Methodism we had bishops and the Book of Discipline, which was supposed to govern the denomination. But, why was it that far to often the Book of Discipline was completely ignored? Methodist preachers had done some things that I knew were contrary to the denomination’s rules, but the bishops failed to act according to their supposed authority. It was then that I realized that these bishops had only as much authority as the people gave them. Apostolic Succession was a foreign phrase in the Methodist church. Oh, the bishops might use it from time to time among themselves, but the average Methodist saw their bishop as little more than a name on a letter head.

I think today, modern protestantism is rooted in the American rebel attitude. Standing up against the Church of Rome and it’s foreign ways just like the Pilgrims (who were actually protesting the Church of England, but hey, who’s keeping score?). Now you have protestants protesting themselves. If you’re from the south, you will no doubt notice how many types of Baptists there are. The big news this week is that the Episcopalians in North America have finally split. Time will tell if Westminster will recognize this new church, but does it really matter if they do or not?

A protestant will tell you that the greatest strength in protestantism is that you can believe whatever you want. As a former protestant, it is my opinion that this sense of religious relativism is it’s greatest weakness.

 

[Tomster]

Since that word is bandied about quite a bit here, I thought I might ask a stupid question. What exactly is Protestantism?

I posted this on another thread yesterday. If we would define Protestantism by a short formula, we might call it subjective Christianity, whose positive contents are derived from Catholicism and whose radical error is a denial that faith belongs essentially to the intellect.

 

[Contarini]

Since that word is bandied about quite a bit here, I thought I might ask a stupid question. What exactly is Protestantism?

By my definition, Protestantism is that stream of Christianity deriving from the split with Rome in the 16th century. Hussites and Waldenses later identified themselves with Reformation-derived churches and thus can be considered Protestants.

Edwin

 

[reteeks21]

Protestantism means:
Rebellion against the Vicar of Christ, free interpretation of the Scripture (that’s why some protestants say gay “marriages” are ok, some of them sometimes don’t mind the abortion), no priesthood, no Real Presence, no confession, divisions among them - there are thousands of protestant denominations (while Jesus wants us to be one), no miralces like those of Fatima or Guadalupe.

Please keep in mind that many catholics fit this bill as well. The election statistics prove this point. Either way, it’s a crying shame.

 

[With_Questions]

By my definition, Protestantism is that stream of Christianity deriving from the split with Rome in the 16th century. Hussites and Waldenses later identified themselves with Reformation-derived churches and thus can be considered Protestants.

Edwin

OK. Good to get a definition.

But wouldn’t the word really be Protestant as opposed to Protestantism. I can understand the word Protestant.

It seems to me that by adding the suffix “ism” to Protestant you are changing the meaning to a belief system. Just as Catholicism is the belief system of the stream of Christianity known as Catholic.

I am just trying to think of parallels where we add the suffix “ism” to existing nouns and or adjectives.

 

[With_Questions]

I posted this on another thread yesterday. If we would define Protestantism by a short formula, we might call it subjective Christianity, whose positive contents are derived from Catholicism and whose radical error is a denial that faith belongs essentially to the intellect.

Really?

Which Protestant denominations have these tenets in their statements of faith?

Since I afford you the courtesy of defining your beliefs for yourself and not turning to Jack Chick to tell me what you believe, I would insist that you do the same.

 

[With_Questions]

Historically, the term protestant is more specific. If I remember my notes from History of Christianity (taught in a large secular university), what was actually being protested was the Second Council of Spire. This council overturned the First Council of Spire, which had allowed non-Catholic forms of worship.

Today, the term protestant can mean any number of things. Non-Catholics see it as standing against anything they see as incorrect or contrary to their own faith tradition. But, if many of these protestants knew their history better, they would be surprised to learn what they claim to protest today was at one time part of their own faith tradition. John Wesley, the founder of what would become Methodism, believed and taught the True Presence in the Eucharist. Martin Luther was perhaps less than certain about his own actions. When his dear mother, a lifelong Catholic, was on her deathbed she asked her son if she should be buried protestant or Catholic. Martin Luther insisted she be buried a Catholic with a funeral Mass.

When I was growing up, I had it in my head that as a Methodist, I was pretty much just like a Catholic except that I did not recognize the authority of the Pope. It wasn’t until later that I began to wonder why that was. Had John Paul II ever done anything I personally disagreed with? In Methodism we had bishops and the Book of Discipline, which was supposed to govern the denomination. But, why was it that far to often the Book of Discipline was completely ignored? Methodist preachers had done some things that I knew were contrary to the denomination’s rules, but the bishops failed to act according to their supposed authority. It was then that I realized that these bishops had only as much authority as the people gave them. Apostolic Succession was a foreign phrase in the Methodist church. Oh, the bishops might use it from time to time among themselves, but the average Methodist saw their bishop as little more than a name on a letter head.

I think today, modern protestantism is rooted in the American rebel attitude. Standing up against the Church of Rome and it’s foreign ways just like the Pilgrims (who were actually protesting the Church of England, but hey, who’s keeping score?). Now you have protestants protesting themselves. If you’re from the south, you will no doubt notice how many types of Baptists there are. The big news this week is that the Episcopalians in North America have finally split. Time will tell if Westminster will recognize this new church, but does it really matter if they do or not?

A protestant will tell you that the greatest strength in protestantism is that you can believe whatever you want. As a former protestant, it is my opinion that this sense of religious relativism is it’s greatest weakness.

This is nice but I still don’t understand what Protestantism is.

Maybe I am dense or something like that.

 

[reteeks21]

Really?

Which Protestant denominations have these tenets in their statements of faith?

Can you please give an example or two of postive tenants? I think helping us out might help narrow the focus. Thanks.