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100
The Birth of Jesus
In the future Protestants will believe in adherance to both the Old and New Testiments. Additionally faith in Jesus Christ will be deemed crucial for salvation. Note: No exact date is known for the birth of Jesus, but it is estimated between 6 and 4 B.C. However due to timetoast restrictions it wiill be shown as 100 A.D. -
312
Constantine's Vision
Constantine sees a vision from the Christian God promising his victory at Milvian Bridge. This was the begining of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. -
Jul 16, 1054
Great Schism
Political disputes within the Catholic Church led to disputes over who was teh true Pope. These non theological internal issues were the begininng of teh corruption taht led to the Protestant Reformation. -
Oct 1, 1347
The Black Death
Diseased rats entered Sicily from eastern trade ships. This led to a devestation of the European population especially within the lower classes. As a resolt the peasant revolts followed in teh form of religious, social and econmic upheavals. -
Dec 31, 1384
John Wycliffe Dies
John Wycliffe was the first to translate teh Bible into English. By doing so he was going against teh Catholic Church's position taht it should remain in Latin, of which only a few could read. While he was excommunicated from the Church he further set the stage for Luther. -
Jan 1, 1440
The Printing Press
Around 1440 Gutenberg invented teh printing press. This allowed for mass production of written works at a relatively low cost. Without the printing press Luther would not have been able to spread his teachings through Germany so successfuly. -
Aug 3, 1492
Columbus Sets Sail for New World
While on searching for a quicker route to Asia Columbus discovered America. This discover would lead to teh Establishment of many European colonies, often in order to spread religious domain. -
Jan 1, 1516
Zwingli Becomes Pastor in Switzerland
Sometiem in 1516 Ulrich Zwingli began preaching his version of reformist gospel. He has an Evangelical interpretaion of the scriptures and challenges practices of teh Catholic Church. His followers would eventually give rise to the Anabaptists, Mennonites, and Quakers. -
Oct 31, 1517
95 Theses Posted
Luther wrote and posted the 95 Theses as a reaction to The Catholic Church'es corruption, specifically in reference to the sale of indulgences. Luther believed taht teh rightousness of God is a free gift and not a result of merit staking. His ideology was helped spread through the use of the printing pressa and German translated documents. -
Jan 28, 1521
The Diet of Worms
Luther was declared a herotic because he would not recant. Fredrick of Saxony hid Luther in Watburg Castle for his protection. Here Luther translated teh New Testiment into German. This was a trying times for Luthers's followers. -
Jan 19, 1523
Sixty-Seven Articles
Zwingli pubished teh Sixty-Seven Articles which outiled a basis for reformation from The Church. While he was not in complete agreement with Luther they did agree on 15 essientle reform elements. However there view of Eucharist as a symbolic act was too much for Luther. Thus causing them to go in seperate directions instead of on a unified front. -
Jan 1, 1525
Anabaptist Movement Begins
The Anabaptist denomination began when Grebel and Blaurock were the first to perform adult baptismis on each other. They saw infant baptism as a human misinterpretation of biblical doctirine. Other views that would have a lasting impact was tehir stance on pacifism, leading to the thirdway. -
Jan 1, 1527
Henry VIII Marriage Problems
In the year 1527 Henry VII wanted an enullment from Catherine because she did not produce any male heirs. He would need the Popes help to renounce the marriage. However Pope Clement VII refused to do so because he already made concessions to allow Henry VIII to marry his brothers widow. Since Henry VIII yerned for a male heir he would go on to break away from the Church. This pleased many Luthern followers in England. These acts paved the way for Henry VIII to start the Church of England. -
Apr 19, 1529
Second Diet of Spire
During the second Diet of Spire Lutheren leaders protest teh edict of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and demanded full enforcment of teh Edict of Worms. Catholics used teh term Protestant as a degratory term yet it became the term linked to teh entire reformation. -
Jun 25, 1530
Augsburg Confession
The Holy Roman Empire asked for the German rulers to explain their religiuous convictions in an attemot to restore unity and rally against an imoending Turkish invasion. The German rulers stated their articles of faith and in so the Luthern Church was founded. -
Jan 1, 1534
Act of Supremacy
Henry VIII establishes the Church of England making him head of the Church in England, once again making a strong tie between Church and State. The act of Supremacy made this clear by law. -
Jan 1, 1536
Institutes of the Christion Religion
Sometime in 1536 John Calvin published the Institutes of the Christian Religion. In it he attacked unorthodox teachings and supported his stance on such things as justification by faith alone. This statement became an important reformist doctorine and influenced many Protestant traditions including Baptist and Anabaptist denominations. -
Jan 1, 1536
Mennonites
In 1536 Menno Simons consolidates first generation Anabaptist doctrines. Among his chief principles was that of pacifism. Followers of Menno Simons came to be called Mennonites -
Dec 13, 1545
Council of Trent
Catholics reacted to reformation through counter reformation. At the council of trent they outlined protestant herosies. This led to HRE military action against German principalities. While the HRE and Charles V won teh military conquest they still had problems forcing Lutherns to return to Catholicism. -
Jan 1, 1549
Book of Common Prayer
In 1549 Anglican Archbishop Thomas Crammer published teh first Book of Common Prayer. It was a key document for moving teh Church of England away from Catholic tradition into Protestant tradition. -
Sep 25, 1555
Peace of Augsburg
Peace treaty between Lutheran princess and Charles V, which allowed for a legal division of Christendom. States were now able to set their own religions and peopel who did not follow the religion were allowed to peacably emigrate. -
Jan 1, 1557
Geneva Bible
51 years before the Kings James version teh Geneva Bible was teh first study Bible and was the primary transalation used during the Protestant Reformation. -
Jan 1, 1559
Act of Supremacy 1559
Elizabeth I reinacted the Act of Supremacy which was repealed in 1554 by Henry's Catholic Daughter Mary I. This made it so that anyone who wanted to sever in a church or state office must swear allegiance to the Monarch as both teh head of State and Church. Elizabeth also successfuly brought te hChurch to a middle ground between staunch Catholocism and Protestantism. This idea of Via Media is what makes the Anglican denomination what it is today. -
Jan 1, 1560
Presbyterianism
John Calvin's student John Knox lays teh foundations of Presbyterianism. Impotartant documents he authored were Scots Confesion and the First Book of Discipline. -
Jan 1, 1563
39 Articles
The 39 articles were written as defining statements and doctorines of the Church of England. It formed a bridge between extreme Calvinist doctrine and Roman Catholic practice. -
Jan 1, 1576
Lutherans Codify Beliefs
After Luthers death in 1546 there were differences of opinions. However in 1576 the Formula of Concord was developed through compromises which along with other doctrines formed Lutherans current beliefs. -
KIng James Version
While rulinh over an Anglican majority mixed with Catholic, Puritan, Presbyterian, and Calvinist minorities King James authorized a new English translation of teh Bible in 1604. From 1607 to 1611 the Bible was collaborated on by 54 scholars to replace teh Geneva Bible which he disliked. -
Immigrant Separatists
A group of seperasts immigrate to America to practice religious freedom. These Pilgrams later combined with teh Puritans to form teh Massachusetts Colony in 1691. -
Galileo Recants
Sometime during 1633 Galileo was summoned to Rome and forced to recant his position that the earth is not the center of the universe or else be declared a herotic. This act shows that church and state still held power over independant thought. However a time of enlightenment and science would soon blow a devestating blow to such actions. -
Quakerism
George Fox organized a Society of Friends in England. They became known as Quakers to describe teh way teh quaked with God's spriit. Later tehy would emmigrate to America. -
The Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia recognized the right for Reformed churches to exist within the Holy Roman Empire. Yet under certain circumstances many still emigrated to avoid individual prince's ideals. -
Edict of Nantes Revoked
When Louis XIV revoked teh Edict of Nantes Protestant prosecution re emerged in France. This led to wave of emigration of Protestant Huguenots to many lands including America. -
Methodism
John Wesley forms teh Society of Methodists within teh Church of England with his brother as a result of a revelatory experience. The experience gave Wesely personal assurance that his sins are forgiven. Thus froming the beginings of teh Methodist denomination. -
Methodists break from teh Church of England.
John Wesely established teh Deed of Declaration, establishing Methodist rules of government. He also ordained 3 ministeres for service in America. In 1795 Methodists officially seperated from teh Church of England. -
The National Assembly
After the French Revolution the Monarchy was replaced by the National Assembly who affirms religion as a French liberty. -
Seventh-Day Adventists
Ellen G. White led a new denomination from informal Protestant groups. Followers believe she was a prophet and that tehy should return to Old Testiment laws. -
Salvation Army
William Booth, former Methodist minister, founded missions in London to help the poor. His missions spread across teh world and became known as the Salvation Army in 1878. The Salvation Army follows many Protestant doctrines, but they do not believe any sacraments are necessary for salvation. -
First Vatican Council
As a result of teh rise of Nationalism and teh continued growth of Protestantism Pope Pius IX conveyed teh council to address these issues. They re-affirm that teh Pope is teh highest authority in Christianity. -
Weimar Republic
After WW1 Germany acknowledged a seperation of Church and State. This ended Lutheransims long reign as Germany's state religion. -
The World Council of Churches
Founded as a group of Christian Churches taht accept Jesus Christ as God, and savior of mankind. Major part of Ecumenical movement which seeks unity among Christian denominations. -
USSR Collapses
The USSR collapses allowing the newly independent republics to practice religious freedom. -
Now What?
If history has taught me anything it's that we don't always learn from are mistakes. With that said hopefully we will continue with a progression of religious freedom of expression as well as unity as opposed to reverting back to struggles between denominations which have charactarized our last 2000 plus years.
