Protestantism

Protestantism arose out of the religious upheavals in sixteenth-century Germany. It began as a movement for religious reform in the Catholic Church and eventually affected all aspects of life in western and central Europe. Today, the ideas presented through Protestant theology continue to affect political, social, and economic conditions throughout the world.

Reform movements of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries that became permanent in the sixteenth century are the roots of Protestantism. Early reformers hoped to encourage the Catholic Church to allow translation of the Bible from Latin into local languages and to end the corrupt practices of its clergy. In the sixteenth century, the Catholic Church's power and corruption had increased enough to spark a massive movement led by men like Martin Luther (1483–1546) in Germany and John Calvin (1509–1564) in Switzerland.

Protestants argued that the Catholic Church had elevated its own power, traditions, and ceremonies over biblical guidance and God's authority. They sought to create a Christian church built on the divine guidance of the Bible rather than on church power and hierarchy. The Protestant movement seeded reform movements throughout Europe. Theological differences between the movements spawned different denominations of Protestantism. Similarities included the importance of biblical authority rather than the experience of Mass, the shared power of the laity (people who belong to a faith but are not clergy) instead of a powerful church hierarchy, and the free gift of grace given by God rather than by clergy.

The resulting loss of Christian unity and the establishment of rivalry among traditions led to important historical events. Theological differences between Protestants and Catholics generated civil wars in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Scotland. Even as Protestantism caused political upheaval throughout Europe, many Protestants immigrated to the New World in search of religious freedom. Early colonies in New England and the mid-Atlantic were built to nurture specific Protestant denominations. As a result, many aspects of the character and history of the United States are deeply rooted in the history of Protestantism in Europe.