AP European History
            Contrasting Protestant and Catholic Doctrine
Protestants
Catholic
Role of Bible emphasized Bible + traditions of Middle Ages + papal pronouncements
"Priesthood of all believers" – all individuals equal before God. Sought clergy that preached. Medieval view about special nature and role of the clergy.
Anglicans rejected pope’s authority – monarch 
          became Supreme Governor of the church.

Lutherans rejected authority of the pope but kept 
         bishops.

Most Calvinists governed church by ministers 
      and a group of elders, a system      
      called Presbyterianism.

Anabaptists rejected most forms of church 
     governance in favor of congregational 
     democracy. 

 Medieval hierarchy: believers, priests, bishops and pope.
Most Protestants denied efficacy of some or all 
      of sacraments of the medieval church – the 
      Eucharist (communion) most controversial.		 All seven sacraments 
Consubstantiation – Lutherans: bread and wine 
     did not change but believer realizes presence 
     of Christ is in the bread and wine. (Real 
     Presence)

Zwingli saw the event of communion as 
     only symbolic – memorial to the actions of 
     Christ, or thanksgiving for God’s grant of 
      salvation (main reason for break with Luther)

 Transubstantiation – bread and wine retain 
     outward appearances but are transformed into 
     the body and blood of Christ.
Lutherans believed in Justification by faith – 
     salvation cannot be earned and a good life is 
     the fruit of faith.

Calvinsts: predestination; a good life could 
     provide some proof of predestined salvation – 
     "visible saints" or the "elect."

 Salvation through living life according to Christian 
    beliefs and participating in the practices of the 
    church -- good works
Lutherans and Anglicans believed state controls 
    the Church.

Anabaptists believed church ignores the state.

 Catholics and Calvinists believed church should 
     control and absorb the state – theocracy.
Services emphasized the sermon Services emphasized the Eucharist