Differences between Christianity and Protestantism

Protestantism and Christianity

Protestantism is a major branch of Christianity. It originated in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began as an attempt to reform the Catholic Church. Figures such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Huldrych Zwingli initiated challenges to church doctrines and practices. This article outlines the principal distinctions between Protestantism and other Christian traditions, chiefly Roman Catholicism.

The term Protestantism covers a wide range of denominations with diverse practices, including Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, and Pentecostals, among others. While these groups have differences among them, they share a common theological foundation that emerged from the Reformation.

Key theological principles

Two core principles that distinguish Protestant theology are Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide.

• Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) is the principle that the Bible is the supreme source of authority for Christian faith and practice. This view holds that the Bible is the sole infallible rule for faith. While tradition, reason, and experience can be considered, they are subordinate to the authority of Scripture. In contrast, Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy uphold sacred tradition as being on par with scripture as a source of divine revelation.

• Sola Fide (faith alone) is the doctrine that justification—being pardoned for sin—is received through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and is not dependent on good works. This doctrine asserts that salvation is a gift of God's grace. While good works are seen as a necessary evidence of genuine faith, Protestants believe they are a result of salvation, not a cause of it. The Catholic view, in contrast, teaches that both faith and works formed by charity are necessary for salvation.

Comparison of Beliefs and Practices

The theological differences stemming from the Reformation led to distinct practices and church structures. The following table compares some of these key areas as they generally exist between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.

Category	Protestantism	Roman Catholicism
Ultimate Authority	The Bible (Sola Scriptura)	The Bible, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church)
Head of the Church	Jesus Christ is considered the sole head of the church; leadership structures are diverse and decentralized.	The Pope is considered the visible head of the church on Earth, as the successor to Saint Peter.
Justification	By faith alone (Sola Fide); works are evidence of faith but do not contribute to salvation.	By grace, through faith which is active in charity and good works.
Sacraments	Typically recognizes two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper (Communion).	Recognizes seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
The Eucharist (Communion)	Views vary; often seen as a symbolic memorial of Christ's sacrifice, though some (like Lutherans and Anglicans) hold to a real spiritual presence.	Belief in transubstantiation, where the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ.
Clergy	Ministers or pastors who can typically marry. Upholds the "priesthood of all believers," which minimizes the hierarchical distinction between clergy and laity.	Only celibate men are ordained as priests, who act as intermediaries and have a distinct sacramental role.
Saints and Mary	Christ is the sole mediator; saints and Mary are respected but not venerated or prayed to for intercession.	Saints and especially the Virgin Mary are venerated and can be asked to intercede with God on behalf of believers.

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Christianity and Protestantism