I do not consider the Evangelical Christians as Protestants

[Taverner]

They are instead descendants of the Anabaptist movement that hit Europe at the same time. The whole "personal relationship with god" and exclusivity of the elect place them much more in camp with the Anabaptists than of anything Calvin or Luther said.


Although Calvin's predestination doctrine fits perfectly with evangelicalism, the whole "hate the world" and "not of this world" stuff is pure Anabaptist.

[darkstar3]

1. And the Anabaptists would be...

Oh, right, Protestants.

[Taverner]

2. No - I've always felt there was a definite difference between the two

Granted, there were some similarities between Calvinism and the Anabaptists - but the Anabaptists were around before the Protestant Reformation, and their philosophy differs in some key ways.

They just happened to show up at the same time as Protestants

[darkstar3]

3. They "happened to show up"?

The Anabaptists emerged from the Reformation just like so many other denominations that exist today. Just because they didn't descend directly from Luther or Calvin doesn't make them something other than Protestants. During the time of their formation, they based their belief on protestations against certain items in Catholic doctrine. That would kinda be the very definition of Protestantism.

[Taverner]

4. But they are a radical shift from Luther and Calvin

And I doubt they were even aware of what was going on

[darkstar3]

5. Which doesn't matter,

since due to their origins they are still most definitely Protestants.

Point out all the differences you like, but don't try to split hairs on a label that's accepted by both sides of your mostly imaginary divide.

[Taverner]

6. Look - I'm just saying. Personally, I'm Atheist

When I look back - I was raised in a Calvinist/Wesleyan church. Had to deal with the Evangelicals in Jr. High and will never want do deal with them, even in a work situation, ever.

[Igel]

7. Keep it simple.

Evangelicals evangelize.

My churched claimed the Anabaptists as forebears. It was not evangelical. Quakerism are derived from Anabaptists; I don't consider Quakers to fit your definition of "evangelical."

Yet my brother, not in an Anabaptist-derived church, is evangelical. He's out doing some sort of Bible-outreach most Saturdays. Evangelizing. He has no "hate the world" thinking.

You're confusing the actual trait that the adjective denotes with other, more salient traits commonly found in evangelical churches. A dictionary would help.

[DeSwiss]

8. Meh.

It's still all BS.

"The Halo Over Jesus' Head
Is The Sun"
http://www.archive.org/stream/biblemythsandthe00doanuoft#page/n3/mode/2up">
"Because From The Start That Is
What Mankind Has Always Worshiped"




Atheism: All of the Mardi Gras, none of the Lent