The Church

• Martin Luther was alive from 1483-1546
• Martin Luther was a catalyst in the reformation when he nailed 95 points for discussion to a church door
• Martin Luther said that the Bible is the only source of religious authority- sola sriptura
• Sola Scriptura- means 'scripture alone', which is the view of protestant denominations
• Martin Luther said that the bible should set the standard for the church and that christians should accept the bible as fact
• Martin Luther said that salvation comes through faith and is available to all through prayer
• Most evangelicals are fundamentalists
• The Baptist church is a branch of evangelicals
• Baptists combine the sola scriptura approach with the use of individual reason and conscience: special revelation and general revelation
• Baptists prioritise the new testament over the old testament
• Baptists reject the church as an institution
• Special revelation

  • how God makes himself known at specific times
  • E.g. The bible and religious experience
• General revelation

  • the way God makes himself known through nature, reason and conscience
  • God's knowledge may be obtained in this way and is available to all
• The Catholic Church follows apostolic tradition; emphasise hierarchy and structure
• The pope is the leader of the catholic church
• Catholics believe that the pope's authority can be traced back to Peter
• In the catholic church, the passing on of the bible and traditions is over seen by the magisterium
• Some believe that Jesus's authority is God's authority, others view Jesus's authority as only human