The Protestant Reformation, which grew out of widespread dissatisfaction with the greed of the Roman Catholic Church, was started by Martin Luther in Germany in 1517. It was an attempt to change some of the beliefs and practices of that institution, such as the selling of indulgences for the remission of sins, the sacrament, and the belief that salvation was sought by doing good works.
The five main branches of the Protestant Reformation come about through their different beliefs about salvation. They are:
(1) Anglicanism- The belief that God has chosen only an elect few to receive salvation and salvation is not available to all others regardless of their good works. They believe that Christians should follow the 39 articles of religion and practice the Sacraments.
(2) Methodism- The belief that salvation is sought by grace through faith.
(3) the Baptists- The belief that salvation was sought through baptism (full immersion, not sprinkling).
(4) the Calvinists- The belief in the sovereignty of God in salvation and in all of life. Thus, God knew beforehand who would be saved (predestination) or damned. Examples of the Calvinists are the Presbyterians, the Huguenots, the Puritans and the Pilgrims.
(5) the Pentecostals- The belief that salvation is sought by baptism with the Holy Spirit.
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