Protestantism
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 1.3.27
Protestantism
Protestantism is a form of Christianity that started in the 16th Century. It is a separate form of Christianity from Catholicism.
The Pope
- Early on in the history of the Christian Church, its leaders settled in Rome.
- Rome was the centre of the powerful Roman Empire at the time.
- Soon the leader (the Bishop) of the Christian community in Rome came to be the leader of the whole Christian Church.
- This leader later got the title ‘Pope’, coming from a word meaning father.
Challenges to the Pope
- The Pope's authority as leader of the Christian Church was widely accepted.
- But, there were two periods of history when this leadership and authority was challenged.
- In the 11th Century, the Church leaders in the East broke away from the Pope's leadership in Rome.
- This is called the Great Schism (or split).
- In Europe, there was another breakaway movement called Protestantism. This happened in the 16th Century.
Martin Luther
- Martin Luther was a German priest. He was one of the leaders of the Protestant movement.
- Luther argued that the leadership of the Church in Rome had moved away from the true teaching of Jesus.
- He also argued that Jesus had never intended to create such a hierarchical organisation.
- Hierarchical here means that the Church was ruled by senior priests. Ordinary people in the Church did not have much status or power.
Test yourself on Protestantism
What Christian movement was lead by Martin Luther?