Protestantism

By Katie Zheng, Naveena Karusala,

and Amanda Richards

1517-1900 C.E.

Martin Luther (1483 CE-1546 CE)

John Calvin (1509 CE-1564 CE)

John Knox (1505 CE-1572 CE)

King Henry VIII of England (1491 CE-1547 CE)

Oliver Cromwell (1599 CE-1658 CE)

Dr. David Livingstone (1813 CE-1873 CE)

People of Protestantism

Protestant Statistics

U.S. Religious Denominations, 1948-2004 (GALLUP)

More Protestant Statistics

Branch Number of Adherents

Catholic 968,000,000

Protestant 395,867,000

Other Christians 275,583,000

Orthodox 217,948,000

Anglicans 70,530,000U.S. Religious Denomination, 2004 (GALLUP)

Number of Adherents to Different Branches of Christianity, 1995 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Maps of the Spread of Protestantism

Europe before Lutheran Revolution (1517) Europe after Lutheran Revolution (1560)

Maps Continued…

Different Christian Religions in Europe, 1550 (Nazareth College)

Regional Impact - Europe

Politics

The Reformation forced the Catholic Church to adjust itself in order to regain control of the public.

Wars of religion often started between Catholics and Protestants for secular or religious reasons.

Intellectual Innovation

In the book The Institutes of the Christian Religion¸ John Calvin explained how the Bible portrayed the nature of theology.

Public debates became prominent as a means for Protestants to spread their ideas.

Religion

The Protestant Reformation, spearheaded by Martin Luther, encouraged people to focus on their belief God rather than be devoted to the popes’ authority.

Arts and Architecture

Calvinists worshiped in churches that lacked musical instruments, stained-glass windows, and other adornments.

In most countries (with England and Germany as later exceptions), religious art was not tolerated.

Technology

The printing press was key in the spread of Luther’s ideas, as it helped to gain the support of German leaders as well as spread the religion around the world.

Economy

King Henry VIII of England followed in the footsteps of other Protestant rulers, taking down convents and monasteries and selling their land to fund his navy.

Society

John Calvin’s followers lived simply, wearing unadorned clothes and worshiping in plain churches.

Protestants advocated marriage and ignored the tradition of celibate nuns and priests.

Male dominance was still prevalent.

Regional Impact – North America

Politics

The Protestant Reformation helped further the French and the English settlements in North America.

Since were founded by immigrants, North American churches were more conservative than those in Europe.

Intellectual Innovation

The Second Great Awakening (1790-1840) in North America resulted in the promotion of religious education in schools.

Religion

Europeans brought their religions with them when they began to colonize North America. In the 17th century, Protestants began organizing missions in America.

Arts and Architecture

For a long time, the cross was considered a perverted symbol rather than one of redemption because of its association with the Catholics.

Technology

Protestantism’s spread to North America was made possible by an improvement in shipbuilding and other maritime technology.

Economy

Europeans colonized America for the purpose of obtaining natural resources or labor, and justified their actions by doing them in the name of Jesus Christ.

Society

Protestants disrupted the extended family structure of the Native Americans in their attempt to teach the natives European customs.

The First Great Awakening (1730s) in North America influenced new groups, including slaves, to adopt Protestant beliefs.

Regional Impact – Africa

Politics

 European and American slaves were freed for the purpose of traveling to Africa and spreading Protestantism; this was only mildly successful.

Intellectual Innovation

Livingstone’s expeditions were notable because he was generally unobtrusive, and usually welcomed warmly. Other expeditions were comparably larger and less peaceful.

Religion

Despite the roles of the missionaries in Africa, the Protestant population remained relatively small until much later than 1900.

Arts and Architecture

 Around the 18th century, blacks were able to be ordained, after which they built and led their own churches.

Technology

  David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary who intended to spread religion in Africa, is responsible for mapping the Zambezi and Congo Rivers and naming the Victoria Falls.

Economy

The discovery of the mouth of the Niger River encouraged Europeans to trade in Africa, especially slave traders.

Areas in Africa with more Protestants seem to have had greater economic growth rates.

Society

Protestants made a point of educating the blacks in South Africa because all humans’ souls had equal value in the minds of the missionaries.

Regional Impact – India

Politics

Anti-colonialist organization formed in response to the cultural changes the Protestants were attempting to make in Indian society.

Intellectual Innovation

The Serampur mission, one of three important Protestantism missions to India, emphasized the importance of education and journalism in the area.

Religion

Protestantism became more popular in India because missionaries decided to translate the Bible into several Indian languages.

Arts and Architecture

 Indian churches were characterized by their altars and statues, as well as other important additions.

Technology

 Missionaries’ use of the printing press allowed it to gain prominence in India as well as other areas.

Economy

 Because they were not funded by any state churches in India, Protestants helped give rise to voluntary work.

Society

Missionaries considered themselves above the notice of the lower castes and only concerned themselves with the wealthier people.

Protestants tried to change society by banning widow-burning and improving behavior toward “Untouchables”.

Regional Impact – East Asia

Politics

Counter-Protestantism organizations emerged in places like China, Korea, and Japan in the same way they did in India.

Intellectual Innovation

 Just as they did in India, Protestant missionaries developed schools in countries such as China.

The missionaries educated students in religious texts as well as history and science.

Religion

Protestantism led to voluntary organizations being formed among other religious groups in areas such as China and Japan.

Arts and Architecture

 Portuguese missionaries used Chinese images and symbols to express their ideas.

Technology

Mass printing was extremely important, as the Protestants believed that the Bible could be translated to any language without losing its original message.

Missionaries introduced Western medicine to the Chinese.

Economy

 The Protestant Reformation in Europe was accompanied by increased trade opportunity in the East.

Society

 Protestant fundamentalists generally followed the tradition of remaining separated from social gatherings or celebrations, which sometimes clashed with other religions such as Buddhism.

Protestants helped to dispel the tradition of foot binding among Chinese women.

Girls were also offered an education.

Chronology

Early 1500’s- Ideas of Humanism first began questioning the nature and scope of the church and its leaders.1517- Protestant Reformation begins with Martin Luther opposing the Catholic Church by writing the 95 Theses in protest against false doctrine and simony (buying positions in church). 1518- Luther is able to explain his views at Heidelburg Disputation, gaining more followers, especially in Germany1519- Huldrych Zwingli begins reformation against Catholic church in Switzerland1520- Luther gains substantial support through his 3 famous treaties.1521- Luther is finally excommunicated by the papacy . 1528- The Reformation takes hold of Denmark-Norway, where Lutheranism is now official.1530- Augsburg Confession , a definition of Lutheran doctrine, is composed by Philipp Melanchthon, another major reformer alongside Luther. 1536- John Calvin develops Calvinism, starts Second Reformation

Chronology Continued…

1545-1563- Council of Trent formed by Catholics to oppose Reformation by defining Christianity 1553-1558- Reformers face opposition from Queen Mary I of England, reversed later by Elizabeth I1562-1598- French Wars of Religion between Catholics and Protestants, St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre1649-1650- Oliver Cromwell justifies military campaign in Ireland by emphasizing their massacre of Protestants.1655-1677- Peak of “Lutheran Scholasticism”- a method used to teach the Lutheran faith1800’s- Oppressed German Lutherans emigrate to U.S., where numerous Lutheran churches were organized. The first African- American reform church is founded by Richard Allen. 1968- 450 years later, 6 million visitors of all religions, including Protestantism, travel across the world to see the Virgin Mary in Egypt.

Change over Time

The official Protestant Reformation was started in 1517 by Martin Luther as a movement against the already established Catholic Church. In 1534, Protestants and Catholics had to set aside differences to address the issue of the Melchiorites, an inflammatory religious sect that invaded Munster, Germany. This resulted in more cooperation between Catholics and Protestants. By the 1540’s, the Reform had triggered the Counter Reform focused on changing the Church itself from within. Its policies conflicted with Protestant doctrine, undoing any compromises made so far. Europe was no longer unified by religion.By the turn of the 16th century, John Calvin had started the Second Reformation by developing the doctrine of Calvinism in The Institutes of the Christian Religion. He was the one who rallied Swiss and French reformers, propagating the Reform throughout Europe.

Comparisons

Whereas the Roman Catholics in the early 16th century (1500s?) based their beliefs around the pope and his authority, Martin Luther wanted people to remain focused on God’s word in the Bible.Despite their differences, both Protestants and Catholics shared local customs and traditions, as evidenced by the witch-hunts in which both groups participated.While Lutherans retained some aspects of Catholic religion such as altars and the clergy’s vestments, Calvinists rejected anything that suggested the importance of a pope.In the early 18th century, England, the United States, and India were all influenced by Protestant missionaries who were independent of a state church.

Comparisons Continued…

Many countries, including India, China, and Egypt, spawned activist groups in order to combat the Protestant reforms that were being made to their cultures.In both India and East Asia, the appearance of Protestant missionaries who were not connected to a state-funded church caused an increase in voluntary organizations in other religions.A public sphere emerged in both America and in Europe as a result of the Protestants’ frequent theological debates.Protestant churches in America, Asia, and Africa tended to be more conservative than the liberal European churches.

Protestantism’s Role in Society Today

There are four “mainline” forms of Protestantism today: Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians.Today, there are about 500,000,000 Protestants in the world.There is much debate amongst Protestants over controversial social issues (i.e. gay marriage, abortion, capital punishment, etc.), leading to “liberal” Protestants and “conservative” Protestants.“Liberal” and “conservative” Protestants can also refer to differing views on religious ceremony and meaning.For a while, there has been a misconception of modern-day Protestantism being an aging religion, with an older demographic. However, younger people are also part of the Protestant demographic.

The Roles

Katie Zheng: Part 3: Maps, charts, and images Part 5: Role of Protestantism in today’s world

Naveena Karusala: Part 2: Chronology Part 4: Change over Time

Amanda Richards: Part 1: Spread and impact of Protestantism on regions Part 4: Comparisons