Protestantism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Protestantism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Certain Protestant denominations including the Quakers and the Shakers, do not practice baptism
sacramentally. [9] These denominations view baptism as part of a process on ongoing renewal.
Antecedents of these beliefs may be found in Strigolniki theology. Normatively, the Salvation Army
does not practice baptism.
There are many independent, non-aligned or non-denominational Trinitarian congregations that may take
any one of these or no particular position on baptism.
Other groups rejecting Protestant label
Some religious movements, such as the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nontrinitarian
movements, and New Religious Movements are often included in lists of Protestants by some outsiders.
However, neither mainline Protestants nor the groups themselves would consider the designation
appropriate. Some groups associated with the Restoration Movement also do not consider themselves to be
Protestant. In addition, many groups within the Emerging church do not cleanly fit the moniker and would
not consider themselves part of this movement (or rather, would consider themselves to have transcended
or fulfilled the movement).
Denominations
Main article: Protestants by country
Protestants refer to specific groupings of churches that share in
common foundational doctrines and the name of their groups as
"denominations". They are differently named parts of the whole
"church"; Protestants reject the Roman Catholic doctrine that it is the
one true church. Some Protestant denominations are less accepting
of other denominations, and the basic orthodoxy of some is
questioned by most of the others. Individual denominations also
have formed over very subtle theological differences. Other
denominations are simply regional or ethnic expressions of the same
beliefs. Because the five solas are the main tenets of the Protestant
faith, Non-denominational groups and organizations are also
considered Protestant.
Various ecumenical movements have attempted cooperation or
reorganization of the various divided Protestant denominations,
according to various models of union, but divisions continue to
outpace unions, as there is no overarching authority to which any of
the churches owe allegiance, which can authoritatively define the
faith. Most denominations share common beliefs in the major
aspects of the Christian faith, while differing in many secondary
doctrines, although what is major and what is secondary is a matter
of idiosyncratic belief.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Church
Passional Christi und Antichristi, by
Lucas Cranach the Elder, from
Luther's 1521 Passionary of the
Christ and Antichrist. The Pope as
the Antichrist, signing and selling
indulgences.
There are about 800 million Protestants worldwide, [10] among approximately 2.1 billion Christians. [11][12]
These include 170 million in North America, 160 million in Africa, 120 million in Europe, 70 million in
Latin America, 60 million in Asia, and 10 million in Oceania.
Protestants can be differentiated according to how they have been influenced by important movements
since the magisterial Reformation and the Puritan Reformation in England. Some of these movements have
a common lineage, sometimes directly spawning later movements in the same groups. Only general families
are listed here (due to the above-stated multitude of denominations); some of these groups do not consider
themselves as part of the Protestant movement, but are generally viewed as such by the public at
large. [citation needed]
29/04/2012 09:25
Page 6 of 24