What percentage of Protestant theology is based on the Bible?

[Vonsalza]

JonNC:

7_Sorrows:

Why do you say the term Protestant is meaningless

Because it is used to encompass broad and often unrelated groups of Christians

But it also identifies those groups as non-Catholic or not Catholic.

For the most part, in the west, this is true. But there are a few Christians out there that are neither Protestant nor Catholic. The Eastern and Oriental Orthodox communions contain most of them. And whether the Church of England and its Anglican umbrella are “protestant” is a topic worthy of debate.

“Protestant” typically indicates a faith that descends from the European Reformation and thus “protests” Catholic/Papal authority.

Some folks will try to tell you that the term originated in reference to a specific protest at Speyer and that’s true; but that point has been irrelevant for centuries and is only really useful for impressing people at cocktail parties. The term has obviously grown and this growth took place well before any of us drew breath.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I agree. Protestant to me means coming from the Reformation and protesting Catholicism and Papal authority.

 

[JonNC]

But it also identifies those groups as non-Catholic or not Catholic.

Yet not all of them.
Otherwise, if that is the specific meaning of it, I’m okay with it. But if it is used to group on theological grounds, it is almost always inaccurate

 

[JonNC]

I agree. Protestant to me means coming from the Reformation and protesting Catholicism and Papal authority.

Except that this is a Catholic spin on the meaning. I know scant few n-C’s (particularly those who have a generational affiliation with their communion) who actually care about what the CC teaches, much less take the time to
Protest

 

[JonNC]

“Protestant” typically indicates a faith that descends from the European Reformation and thus “protests” Catholic/Papal authority.

Some folks will try to tell you that the term originated in reference to a specific protest at Speyer and that’s true; but that point has been irrelevant for centuries and is only really useful for impressing people at cocktail parties. The term has obviously grown and this growth took place well before any of us drew breath.

What is irrelevant is the idea that most or even some Protestants actually are protesting the Catholic Church. The average n-C in the pew doesn’t care

 

[Vonsalza]

7_Sorrows:

I agree. Protestant to me means coming from the Reformation and protesting Catholicism and Papal authority.

Except that this is a Catholic spin on the meaning.

As someone who spent some time at an evangelical seminary, this is also how we described it there.

So no, no it is not a “catholic spin”. It is, roughly, the given definition as it is routinely encountered; at least in America. I even think Oxford’s definition of the term is similar.

Just because you don’t like that doesn’t mean you get to change it.

I know scant few n-C’s (particularly those who have a generational affiliation with their communion) who actually care about what the CC teaches, much less take the time to
Protest

Truly, most don’t even know the theology of the congregation they attend, in my frequent experience. But most still protest the pope. Just ask them about him.

 

[7_Sorrows]

But I think many of them do care because they choose NOT to be Catholic.

 

[TheButler]

If it isn’t in the Bible it aint true?

There is no mention of Indulgences in the Bible and that was one of the sticking points for Thomas Cromwell during Henry VIII’s reign. He was Henry’s First Minister and responsible for the dissolution of most of the monasteries.

The idea that one could pay for a loved one to leave purgatory and go to heaven, for example, is not in the Bible. The same went for spending money to view and hopefully benefit from holy relics. Thomas Cromwell viewed it all as a misappropriation of trust and application of superstition for monetary gain. This is why he commissioned a report on the monasteries which included revenue streams. He knew what was happening as he had previously helped a guild in Boston, Lincolnshire to extend its licence to collect indulgences in its chapel in the main Boston church building, the main source of the guild’s revenue.

As Henry’s First Minister in order to gain public support he therefore had the Bible translated into English so that people could see for themselves. It worked.

As a result Protestants prefer to refer to the Bible first and foremost so that they can determine for themselves the path they are on is correct.

 

[JonNC]

As someone who spent some time at an evangelical seminary, this is also how we described it there.

So no, no it is not a “catholic spin”. It is, roughly, the given definition as it is routinely encountered; at least in America. I even think Oxford’s definition of the term is similar.

When it is used the way you and some others use it, to imply something of a monolithic, that shares the same doctrines but doesn’t, etc. , that is a Catholic spin.

 

[JonNC]

But I think many of them do care because they choose NOT to be Catholic.

And many choose not to be Lutheran, or Anglican, or Baptist, or Methodist.
Usually, however, it is more about choosing to be what they are, whatever that may be.
My choice not to be Catholic is no different than my choice not to be Baptist. The teachings I disagree with are different, but the mindset is the same.

 

[JonNC]

Truly, most don’t even know the theology of the congregation they attend, in my frequent experience. But most still protest the pope. Just ask them about him.

The first part is correct. On the second, most don’t care about the pope. And one rarely sees anyone protest the pope except Catholic women who want female priests, secularists who want to destroy the Christian Church starting with the biggest one.
Some n-Cs do oppose the pope. Some oppose the Catholic teachings regarding him. I’m one. But most wouldn’t know ex cathedra from national cathedral. And most of them couldn’t care less, hence one rarely sees them protesting

 

[Vonsalza]

Vonsalza:

As someone who spent some time at an evangelical seminary, this is also how we described it there.

So no, no it is not a “catholic spin”. It is, roughly, the given definition as it is routinely encountered; at least in America. I even think Oxford’s definition of the term is similar.

When it is used the way you and some others use it, to imply something of a monolithic, that shares the same doctrines but doesn’t, etc. , that is a Catholic spin.

I’ll inform Oxford of their egregious mistake…

Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words

 

[Vonsalza]

The notion that these folks are neutral or ambivalent on the concept of papacy in most cases is a false one, Jon.

I was a member of that ilk for decades. The papacy was not and is not a topic over which “they couldn’t care less”. My old church had very strong notions about the Catholic papacy. We were not at all unique in that regard as it pertained to wider evangelical Christianity…

 

[JonNC]

_NOUN

A member or follower of any of the Western Christian Churches that are separate from the Roman Catholic Church in accordance with the principles of the Reformation, including the Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran Churches.
Example sentencesSynonyms

Protestants are so called after the declaration (protestatio) of Martin Luther and his supporters dissenting from the decision of the Diet of Spires (1529), which reaffirmed the edict of the Diet of Worms against the Reformation. All Protestants reject the authority of the papacy, both religious and political, and find authority in the text of the Bible, made available to all in vernacular translation_

Actually, they are rather spot on. Note they use the plural, churches. And a specific clarification regarding the Diet of Speyer.
And not a single mention of protests other than the actual one

 

[JonNC]

Then we’ve had different experiences.

 

[Vonsalza]

_NOUN

A member or follower of any of the Western Christian Churches that are separate from the Roman Catholic Church in accordance with the principles of the Reformation, including the Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran Churches.
Example sentencesSynonyms

Protestants are so called after the declaration (protestatio) of Martin Luther and his supporters dissenting from the decision of the Diet of Spires (1529), which reaffirmed the edict of the Diet of Worms against the Reformation. All Protestants reject the authority of the papacy, both religious and political, and find authority in the text of the Bible, made available to all in vernacular translation_

Actually, they are rather spot on. Note they use the plural, churches. And a specific clarification regarding the Diet of Speyer.
And not a single mention of protests other than the actual one

If you’re comfortable with the inclusion of “separate from the Roman Catholic Church in accordance with the principles of the Reformation”, then good enough for me, Jon!

 

[Vonsalza]

Then we’ve had different experiences.

Differences in paradigm, obviously. Like what we mean when we say “Anglican”.

 

[JonNC]

If you’re comfortable with the inclusion of “separate from the Roman Catholic Church in accordance with the principles of the Reformation”, then good enough for me, Jon!

That’s sort of obvious. And the Catholic Church is separated from them. It goes both ways.

 

[JonNC]

Differences in paradigm, obviously. Like what we mean when we say “Anglican”.

Or when we talk about Catholics that ordain women.

 

[Vonsalza]

Vonsalza:

If you’re comfortable with the inclusion of “separate from the Roman Catholic Church in accordance with the principles of the Reformation”, then good enough for me, Jon!

That’s sort of obvious. And the Catholic Church is separated from them. It goes both ways.

Well, not according to history. I don’t see any Lutherans or Anglicans in the 11th century. Plenty of Catholics though…

Or when we talk about Catholics that ordain women.

This word “Catholic”, me thinks you don’t actually know what it means…