Protestantism established from "summary" of The Reformation by Diarmaid MacCulloch
Protestantism was not simply a negative reaction to the Catholic Church, but a more profound change in the way that Christians understood their faith and organized their communities. The Protestant Reformation was not just a series of protests against abuses in the old Church; it was a positive assertion of new beliefs and new forms of religious life. The Reformation had a lasting impact on the theological landscape of Europe. The reformers rejected many of the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church, such as the authority of the Pope, the veneration of saints, and the practice of indulgences. Instead, they emphasized the authority of the Bible as the ultimate source of truth, the priesthood of all believers, and salvation by faith alone. The Protestant reformers also sought to establish new patterns of worship and community life. They translated the Bible into vernacular languages so that ordinary people could read and understand it for themselves. They simplified the rituals of the Church and emphasized preaching as a central part of worship. They also promoted new forms of church government, such as congregationalism and presbyterianism, that gave more power to ordinary b...
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