Protestantism Began as reform movement in

Catholic church in early 1500’s in EU

Martin Luther objected to “sale of indulgences,” questioned celibacy of priests, & doctrine of transubstantiation Ex-communicated in 1521 & lead reform

movement

End of 1500’s: Protestant churches in N. EU & Catholic churches in S. EU

Protestantism & politics

Anglican church emerged in England & Scandinavia, monarchs headed churches

John Calvin = controlled reform movement in Geneva

Anabaptists = shunned worldly politics

17th & 18th c. colonialism = N. Am. refuge from repressive policies of EU churches

Early North America 1630: Massachusetts Bay Colony ,

theocratic state

Rhode Island = religious tolerance

Baptists = Calvinist, Arminian, Seventh Day

1720’s: revival movement in New England (emotional tie to divine); camp meetings; “Great Awakenings”

1776: post-revolution = religious freedom opened opportunities for more Protestantisms

Common Beliefs Jesus Christ = 1st c. messianic leader

in Palestine, son of God, sent to earth to sacrifice self for sake of humans

Belief in Jesus’ divinity = resurrection into eternal life in heaven

Holy Spirit = power to communicate divine favor & energy to believers

Trinity = Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Satan = fallen angel, rules Hell, tempts humans to sin

Common Beliefs cont. Life’s task = achieve salvation by

believing in Christ’s divinity & forgiveness

No confession or clerical celibacy (not in scriptures)

Bible = revealed word of God: Old Testament = Jewish holy scriptures New Testament = accounts of Jesus’ life,

letters, & histories from early followers Studying scriptures is essential to

religious devotion

Characteristics & themes

No single theology, church organization, ritual

Over 17,000 denominations worldwide, millions of followers

Individual faith & personal experience are most important

Salvation achieved = personal faith & awareness of Jesus’ benevolence

Pentecostal Revival Early 1900’s: US, Scandinavia, W. EU,

E. EU

Mid-1900’s = worldwide & continues to be fastest spreading form of Christianity

Syncretic churches emerged in nonwestern socieities (eg. Aladura churches in Nigeria)

Trance, possession, healing by Holy Spirit compatible with indigenous systems of belief

Protestant denominations Baptists Methodists Pentecostalists Amish Mennonites Hutterites Episcopalians Presbyterians Congregationalists Unitarians Fundamentalists Mormons Christian science

Anthropological Studies

1. Tshidi Methodists in South Africa(Jean Comaroff)

religion offered forum for symbolic statements of dissent

2. Falwellian Fundamentalism in US politics(Susan Harding)

Fundamentalist language draws people in: “jeremiads” = laments spiritual condition of world, disastrous reckoning to come, call for profound transformation of society

Enemy is secular humanism Unfaithful are excluded

Anthropological Studies cont.3. Colombian Pentecostalists &

gender roles (Elizabeth Brusco) Prohibits drinking, gambling, infidelity

(improves women’s standard of living) Condemns violence, pride, self-

indulgence (anti-machismo) Women & men = shared value system

4. Danish Protestants & community (Andrew Buckser)

Changes in religious groups directly related to how people think about community

Why are Prostestant churches losing popularity in Germany, England, & Denmark?