Post by pitbull on Aug 23, 2007 20:17:30 GMT -5
PROTESTANTS
Origins
As a movement traces its origin to the work of Martin Luther, a German priest and theologian who sought to reform the practices of the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. The symbolic beginning of the Reformation occurred on October 31, 1517 when he posted his 95 theses on the church door to encourage debate.
Name
The term is derived from the Protestatio delivered by a minority of delegates against the (1529) Diet of Speyer, which passed legislation opposed by the Lutherans. Here is what it stated:
"Those that until now have followed the Edict of Worms should continue to do so [ i.e., where Lutheranism has been forbidden, it remains forbidden]. In the areas where this has been deviated from, there shall be no further new developments and no-one shall be refused Mass [i.e., where Lutheranism has been permitted, Catholicism must be at least permitted]. Finally, the sects which contradict the sacrament of the true body and blood, shall absolutely not be tolerated, no more than the Anabaptists [i.e., anything beyond Lutheranism or Catholicism is outlawed everywhere]."
Doctrines/Beliefs
The doctrines of the Reformation can be summarized as
a) The rejection of papal authority
b) Rejection of some fundamental Roman Catholic doctrines
c) The priesthood of all believers
d) The primacy of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth
e) The belief in justification by faith alone
Subdivisions/Splinter Groups
The following is a list of the three largest international denominations
Į Lutheran World Federation (LWF), which contains 140 member church bodies in 78 countries
Į International Lutheran Council (ILC)
Į Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference
The following have Lutheran roots:
Į Evangelical Church in Germany
Į Protestant Church in the Netherlands
Origins
As a movement traces its origin to the work of Martin Luther, a German priest and theologian who sought to reform the practices of the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. The symbolic beginning of the Reformation occurred on October 31, 1517 when he posted his 95 theses on the church door to encourage debate.
Name
The term is derived from the Protestatio delivered by a minority of delegates against the (1529) Diet of Speyer, which passed legislation opposed by the Lutherans. Here is what it stated:
"Those that until now have followed the Edict of Worms should continue to do so [ i.e., where Lutheranism has been forbidden, it remains forbidden]. In the areas where this has been deviated from, there shall be no further new developments and no-one shall be refused Mass [i.e., where Lutheranism has been permitted, Catholicism must be at least permitted]. Finally, the sects which contradict the sacrament of the true body and blood, shall absolutely not be tolerated, no more than the Anabaptists [i.e., anything beyond Lutheranism or Catholicism is outlawed everywhere]."
Doctrines/Beliefs
The doctrines of the Reformation can be summarized as
a) The rejection of papal authority
b) Rejection of some fundamental Roman Catholic doctrines
c) The priesthood of all believers
d) The primacy of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth
e) The belief in justification by faith alone
Subdivisions/Splinter Groups
The following is a list of the three largest international denominations
Į Lutheran World Federation (LWF), which contains 140 member church bodies in 78 countries
Į International Lutheran Council (ILC)
Į Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference
The following have Lutheran roots:
Į Evangelical Church in Germany
Į Protestant Church in the Netherlands