Introduction to the Protestant Reformation: Varieties of Protestantism

There are 4 videos in this series:

Learn about the varieties of Protestant religion that emerged from the Reformation. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

[peterrefermat]

these comments are annoying asl just appreciate the vid

[frankdsouza]

Raymond Mullholland, Your contribution herein will take some digesting. However, I have no doubt that it, like this video (all the better for its dialogue), will prove to be, for this viewer / reader at least, a valuable stepping-stone towards the greater knowledge and understanding we seek. Thank you 😊

[MathewStone]

Im not religious but this is extremely interesting.

[raymondmulholland]

Again, very good. So much given in so little time. I spoke about faith versus good deeds in the 2nd video (remember, John 3:36 says they are the same, can't have one without the other). The issue of scripture alone is bad theology, but it doesn't look like it is because it is an insidious evil. It basically falls in the same trap as spiritualism: to believe in a truth without context will ultimately mean truth has no real meaning. This is why the Catholic Church is very similar today as it was 2000 years ago after the Pentecost, while the Protestants have been splitting almost non-stop. By my research, there is approximately 2000 different "flavors" of Christianity in the US alone, but only 1 Catholic Church in the US (the 2010 Census identified about 1500 independent and non-denominational Christian Churches). To truly understand the Bible, one must think like a 1st Century Jewish Fisherman, not a 15th (or later) Century Western Elitist. Without exception, every Minister or Preacher I have heard that attempted to get into the 1st Century Jewish frame of mind spoke much like a Catholic Priest, and I know others who have witnessed the same thing. To take a case in point, let's look at the third point of everyone being a priest. Nowhere in the Bible is this the case. Before the golden calf incident, every male Hebrew head of the house was a priest. As a result of the golden calf incident, this right was taken away and given to the males of the house of Levi, as that was the only house not to worship the calf. Jesus identified himself as a priest in the lines of David (Mark 2:25-26), and David is identified as a priest in the line of Melchizedek by God (Psalm 110:4). At the Last Supper, Jesus anoints the faithful 11 to be a new order of priests (for example, John 17:17-19). We see in Acts and several letters how this new priesthood grows. It was not just anyone who heard the gospel, but those who were approved by the existing priesthood (take St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:9 for example). The debate over the Transubstantiation of the Eucharist is very complicated but a very 1st Century Jewish idea (I recommend Dr. Bryant Pitre and his book "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist" for the full argument FOR transubstantiation). Again, to ignore the context of how the Bible is written will produce no end of interpretations. The Nicean Creed proclaims "one baptism for the forgiveness of sins", and was around at least since 381 A.D., so it is clear that the earliest Christians believed in only one baptism and that it was for all ages (Acts mentions no less than four separate occasions where the entire household was baptized, and St Paul claims he baptized an entire household in 1 Corinthians). The problem with Calvin and predestination is that he claims God determines our fate whereas Catholics believe God knows what our choices will be but does not control them. Think of it like this: an engaged couple will normally tell the caterer to fix a certain number of meals for the wedding feast because they have a good idea of how many people to expect. They have a good idea of how many people will show up, not because they forced people to come, but because of RSVPs that were returned. The couple did not force anyone to show up, but they still have the foresight necessary to properly plan for the feast. Of course, the wedding couple is limited to the responses of the invitations whereas God knows perfectly. Finally, I would like to state that, by the time Henry VIII came along, the "reformation" was no longer about theology as it was about politics. Any effort to "make a better church" by separating from the Catholics at this time was thinly veiled politics.

[ModestHandmaidens]

Excellent series! Very well done and accurate.

[Mr.Big-Gunz]

Thank you for this lesson.., , i now have have some answers to some of the Religious questions i had, , this is a wonderful & valuable resource, , it's much more than just art...

[lindadelosreyes]

Thank you for creating & sharing your videos, it helped me a lot to understand church history.. Amazing how the Lord works in the lives of His people.. Praise Him.=)

[Erlo]

I’m pretty “fussy” about church history—alert to any errors and quick to pounce when historians are inaccurate. But this series of videos is very solid (I’ll point out a few tiny mistakes or omissions later)

Moreover, I’m very fond of these videos on the Protestant Reformation not only because they’re ACCURATE but also because they’re CONCISE (they use time efficiently) and use VISUALS very well

The only downside: my students say these videos are more informative and interesting than I am!

[liafigueirinha]

Excelente!! Legendas em Português! Obrigada!!

[Sasha]

I can see Jesus face-palming over the different interpretations of the Eucharist:
"That's not the point. Just remember me and remain unified in love, that's what matters."
I LOVE the image of Jesus' baptism. John is so spicy in that one with his luscious curls (lol), but Jesus' deference touches me. I remember the awkward exchange between the two of them before the baptism took place...

"It's not like God woke up on Monday and said, 'You're damned and you're going to hell.'"
😂🤣💀 This made me laugh way too hard.

[GreenNetizen]

I'm tracing my ancestry during this time (17th century). My family became Labadists who was a group that followed Jean de Labadie. He was hailed as the second Calvin, but he became a threat to the Protestants because he condemmed them for many of their practices. Trying to find a 7th Great Grandfather. Do you know anything about their naming conventions? His name was Lege Bouchelle. Traces of him drop off as soon as we get back to Europe. (France, Germany and Belgim). Did they sometimes take the location where they lived to become part of their name? There is a Liege, Belgium and a Buchel, Germany. I wonder what do you use as your source to research obsure people who might have tried to hide their identify because of this persecution? 

[credoutintelligam]

How is the Bible the sole authority when there are many interpretations? Isn't the "authority" of the Bible really whoever is interpreting it at that moment? So Protestants are all individual priests and popes? Is that the logic? I wanna be my own authority then. Cool. No need for God then, right?