The Encyclopedia of World Religions

Protestantism S 359

Further reading: Rodney R. Hutton, Fortress Introduction to the Prophets (Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 2004); David L. Petersen, The Prophetic Literature: An Introduction (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002); John F. A. Sawyer, Prophecy and the Biblical Prophets, rev. ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993). Protestantism One of the three major branches of C HRISTIANITY . Protestantism resulted from the R EFORMATION . That event produced several dis tinct churches and traditions: the Lutheran, the Reformed and Presbyterian, the Anabaptist, and the Anglican or Church of England ( see L UTHERAN ISM , P RESBYTERIAN AND R EFORMED CHURCHES , M ENNO NITES , A MISH , and A NGLICANISM ). Later events added more churches to Protestantism. These include Q UAKERS , Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, the Pentecostal churches, and groups about which “mainline” Protestants have some suspicion, for example, the L ATTER - DAY S AINTS , also known as Mormons and the J EHOVAH ’ S W ITNESSES ( see C ON GREGATIONALISM , B APTIST CHURCHES , M ETHODISM , and P ENTECOSTALISM ). In the 19th century, Protestants became intensely interested in missionary work. As a result, many Protestants now live outside the traditional Protestant homelands of northwestern Europe and nations made up of European settlers. In the 20th century, Pentecostals were especially successful in spreading their faith in Latin America and Africa. Protestants differ widely in their beliefs, prac tices, and ways of organizing churches. That is why there is no single Protestant church. But they share some general features. During the Reformation, Protestants rejected the PAPACY . They insisted that the ultimate authority in religion was the B IBLE . Some insist that the Bible is entirely without error, but others disagree. Many Protestant churches also acknowledge the ancient Christian CREEDS . With the creeds, they conceive of G OD as a TRINITY , Father (or Creator), Son, and Holy Spirit. Many Protestant groups have also writ ten specific summaries of their own beliefs. These summaries are known as “confessions.”

During the Reformation, Martin L UTHER insisted that human beings could not earn their own SALVA TION . Salvation was a gift given freely by God. This may be the central Protestant insight. But inter pretations of it vary. Strict Calvinism teaches that God chooses to save some people but condemn others ( see John C ALVIN ). Methodism stresses that all may be saved; once saved, a person should pur sue moral perfection. Almost all Protestants gather for WORSHIP on Sunday. But there are exceptions. Seventh-Day Adventists worship on Saturday ( see S EVENTH -D AY A DVENTISM ). The heart of Protestant worship has always been the sermon ( see PREACHING ). During Protestant services congregations sing psalms or hymns together. They also listen to readings from the Bible and recite PRAYERS . Most but not all Protestants recognize two SACRAMENTS : BAPTISM , or the RITUAL for joining the church, and the E UCHA RIST , a sharing of bread and wine or grape juice. Unlike Sunday services in the Catholic and Ortho dox churches, Protestant Sunday services do not always include the Eucharist. Protestants organize their churches in many different ways. Some churches have bishops. Pres byterian churches are governed by assemblies of elders. Congregationalist churches insist that each individual congregation be self-governing. Most Protestant churches have ordained clergy. The more liberal churches ordain women. During the 20th century, many smaller Protes tant churches merged to form larger bodies. Some mergers joined different groups who shared a com mon heritage. Examples include the Presbyterian Church in the United States and the United Pen tecostal Church. Other mergers joined Protestants who had different heritages. Examples include, in the United States, the United Church of Christ, which combined Congregationalist and Reformed churches, and the Church of South India, which combined Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and Congregationalist churches. During the 20th century, many Protestants also took part in the “ecumenical movement.” This movement tried to overcome the divisions separat ing not just Protestant groups but all Christians. In