Protestant Reformation
- Date Submitted: 01/28/2010 06:29 AM
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In the 16th century the Protestant Reformation divided the Roman Catholic
Church. This reform was led by Martin Luther whose original intentions
were to reform the church, but resulted in a split between Protestant and
Catholic. Soon the Protestant Church itself divided resulting in two more
churches, one Protestant, and the other reformed church. The Reformed
Church is better known as Presbyterian, whose conspicuous leader was John
Calvin.
John Calvin had many beliefs which had been adopted by the
Presbyterian Church. His ideas were modified from those in the Catholic
Church. Presbyterians do believe in the Trinity as Catholics do but
differ from Catholicism when dealing with ideas like original sin,
salvation, and the idea of penance. Presbyterians believe that original
sin is rooted in faithlessness which brought man to fall. The idea of
salvation to Presbyterians is that salvation is reached through the grace
of God, rooted in the deep faith of a person. Catholics believe in
penance for sins through reconciliation. Presbyterians believe that
penance is dealt with directly with God. Ultimately, Presbyterians
believe that God’s truth was and is embodied in Jesus Christ, Lord, and
Savior.
One of Calvin’s beliefs included that of which God is God of state
and nation and the state must be guided by his word. This idea is
embodied in the idea of civil government. The Presbyterian government was
originally formen when John Calvin was in Geneva. In a Presbyterian form
of government there are four different officers. There are pastors,
teachers, 12 elected elders, and deacons. The elders are seen to be equal
to the clergy. Through this government the Presbyterian belief in total
life of the community is displayed and put into practice.
The...
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