What is a Protestant?

[B-A-C]

I see a lot of debates here on TalkJesus, about Protestants vs Roman Catholics.

Usually side B claims to be an expert on side A, even though they aren't part of side A.

Then many other people jump in and everyone tells everyone else how wrong they are. These conversations and debates tend to be unfruitful.
So then rather, than try to be an expert on what Roman Catholics believe or don't believe. And rather than bashing them because of their beliefs.,
many we can try to discuss what makes someone a Protestant.

The classic argument is simply someone who isn't a Roman Catholic.
Protestants don't believe in a Pope as the head of the church.
Protestants don't believe in a sinless perpetual virgin Mary.
Protestants don't believe Mary is a prayer intercessory or mediator.
Protestants don't believe in purgatory.
Protestants don't believe in indulgences.

After that, it gets trickier. There are people who say they are Christians, even though most Christians would say they aren't.
By the same token, there are people who would say they are Protestants, even though the majority of Protestants would say they are not.

The CoE/Anglicam/Episcopalian church comes to mind here. They consider themselves to be Protestant, because they aren't under
the Roman Catholic Papacy/Political hierarchy. However in just about every other way, they are still 99% Roman Catholic which is
why other Protestant denominations don't consider then to be Protestant.

Then you have the great schism, the reformation. Martin Luther's 95 Thesis.
A condensed summary breaks this down into four parts.

1. Critique of Indulgences: Luther argued that indulgences, which were sold to reduce punishment for sins, undermined true repentance and faith. He believed that salvation could not be bought and was only attainable through faith and God's grace.

2. Authority of the Bible: He emphasized that the Bible, not the Church or the Pope, was the ultimate religious authority. This challenged the Church's control over interpreting religious texts.

3. Repentance and Forgiveness: Luther asserted that genuine repentance and inner spiritual transformation were essential for forgiveness, rather than external acts or payments.

4. Papal Power: He questioned the Pope's authority to grant indulgences and criticized the Church's wealth, suggesting that the Pope should use his own funds to build St. Peter's Basilica instead of exploiting believers.

Item #3 is debated by some denominations that call themselves Protestants.

... to be continued.

 

[B-A-C]

Of course there is always more...

Then we have the five solas. Of course many protestant denominations don't follow this belief either.
So while these beliefs don't make you a Protestant, it seems that only ( some ) Protestant denominations
follow them.

1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): The Bible is the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice, above church traditions and teachings.

2. Sola Fide (Faith Alone): Salvation is received through faith alone in Jesus Christ, not by any human efforts or works.

3. Sola Gratia (Grace Alone): Salvation is a gift of God's grace alone, not earned by any merit on our part.

4. Solus Christus (Christ Alone): Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and humanity, and salvation is through Him alone.

5. Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone): All of life and salvation is for the glory of God alone

Now items 1, 3, 4 and 5 are generally uncontested by most protestant denominations, there is very little debate about these.
Ahhh, but that item #2. This splits a lot of Protestant denominations.
Now we get into Aminian/Calvinist discussions, but I am hoping to avoid that here. That has been discussed at length
in ( who knows the number ) of other threads here.

... to be continued.

 

[B-A-C]

Infant baptism is another big difference. Protestants don't believe in Infant baptism, but they do believe in infant dedication.

What's the difference? Well, some believe if you're baptized as a bay into the church, you're saved at that instant. The ELCA
Lutheran church practices this, as well as the Roman Catholics and Anglican/CoE churches. You then get "confirmed" later when
you are older, generally in your teenage years. You yourself never make a conscious self induced decision to come to Jesus.
Your parents made that decision for you.

In a baby dedication, this is really more for the family, than for the baby. It's a promise by the immediate family ( usually the mother and father, but sometimes grand-parents and older siblings ) to raise the baby according to the Bible as the best of their ability, and to teach
them about God/Jesus and the biblical way of living.

Water baptism usually comes later, when you are old enough to make the choice for yourself after you reach a age of accountability and responsibility. Most Protestant denominations would say water baptism doesn't save you, but you should do it.

... to be continued.

 

[B-A-C]

There are also Pentecostal denominations, such as the Assemblies of God, Foursquare church, Church of God, Calvary Chapel and the Bethel churches. The main difference between these and other Protestant churches is Spiritual gifts such as healing, tongues, prophecy, and
other miracles. These churches would all consider themselves to be Protestants, as they follow at least most of the 5 solas, and all of Luther's main four 95 thesis tenants.

 

[B-A-C]

TULIP a theological system developed by John Calvin. Here’s what each letter stands for:

1. Total Depravity: This doctrine asserts that as a result of the Fall, every part of human nature is tainted by sin, making people incapable of coming to God on their own.

2. Unconditional Election: God has chosen certain individuals for salvation based on His will alone, not on any foreseen merit or action on their part.

3. Limited Atonement: Jesus Christ's atonement is sufficient for all, but it was intended only for the elect, those whom God has chosen to save.

4. Irresistible Grace: When God calls His elect to salvation, they cannot resist His grace. The Holy Spirit works in their hearts to bring them to faith.

5. Perseverance of the Saints: Those who are truly chosen by God and saved will persevere in faith and will not permanently fall away.

For whatever reason, some believe these are the beliefs that make someone a Protestant. However most Protestants denominations do not believe all of them, this is at varying degrees. There are some zero point Protestants who don't believe in any of these tenants, ( most Pentecosal and Arminian denominations )
But there are some 5 point denominations such as many Southern Baptist churches. Almost everyone else is somewhere in the middle with 2 or 3 points.

 

[B-A-C]

Here are some key differences between the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church:

1. Authority and Leadership
Roman Catholic Church: The Pope, based in Rome, is considered the supreme authority and the Vicar of Christ on Earth. He has the final say on doctrinal matters and is believed to be infallible when speaking ex cathedra (from the chair of St. Peter) on issues of faith and morals1.
Eastern Orthodox Churches: They do not recognize the Pope's authority. Instead, they operate with a conciliar model, where decisions are made collectively by bishops. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is considered "first among equals" but does not have the same authority as the Pope.

2. Theological Differences
Filioque Clause: The Roman Catholic Church includes the "Filioque" clause in the Nicene Creed, stating that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Eastern Orthodox Church rejects this addition, maintaining that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone12.
Original Sin: While both traditions believe in original sin, the Orthodox Church does not accept the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

3. Liturgical Practices
Roman Catholic Church: The Mass is the central liturgical service, and it has undergone significant changes, especially after the Second Vatican Council, which allowed for the use of vernacular languages instead of Latin.
Eastern Orthodox Churches: The Divine Liturgy is the primary worship service, characterized by its use of ancient liturgical languages (like Greek or Church Slavonic), extensive use of icons, and a more mystical approach to worship.

4. Sacraments
Both traditions recognize seven sacraments, but there are differences in their understanding and practice:
Baptism: In the Orthodox Church, baptism is usually by full immersion, while the Catholic Church often practices pouring or sprinkling1.
Eucharist: Both believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but the Orthodox Church does not define the change in the elements as transubstantiation, as the Catholic Church does.

5. Clerical Celibacy
Roman Catholic Church: Priests in the Latin Rite are required to remain celibate.
Eastern Orthodox Churches: Priests can marry before ordination, but bishops must remain celibate.
These differences highlight the distinct theological, liturgical, and organizational aspects of each tradition. Despite these differences, both share a rich heritage and many core beliefs, such as the Trinity, the resurrection of Jesus, and the importance of the sacraments.

The Eastern Orthodox churches would not consider themselves to be Protestants, although they also would not consider themselves to be Roman Catholics.

 

[B-A-C]

Protestants do not believe in transubstantiation of the elements of Communion/Mass the Eucharist.
Protestants do not believe the birth of Mary was the immaculate conception, but rather the birth of Jesus was.

Most Protestant denominations do not have Priests. They believe in something called the Priesthood of all believers.
They believe everyone who is saved is now a Priest. But Jesus is the high-priest. Therefore the office of Priest is no longer
needed as a position in the church.

 

[B-A-C]

The Protestant Reformation was largely driven by the desire to return to what reformers saw as the original teachings and practices of the early Christian church, rather than creating a completely new form of Christianity.

Key figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin sought to address what they perceived as corruptions and abuses within the Roman Catholic Church. They emphasized principles such as sola scriptura (Scripture alone) and sola fide (faith alone), which they believed were foundational to early Christianity. Luther, for instance, criticized the sale of indulgences and other practices that he felt distorted the true message of the Gospel.

The reformers aimed to strip away what they saw as unnecessary additions and return to a purer form of Christian faith and practice, rooted in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. This movement was not about creating a new religion but about reforming the existing church to align more closely with its original principles.

The reformation movement was not to create a new movement, but rather a "get back to basics" movement.

 

[B-A-C]

Protestants don't really have a concept of "church fathers". They recognize some people such as...

Apostolic Fathers (1st and 2nd centuries)
Clement of Rome: Known for his letters to the Corinthians, he emphasized church order and discipline.
Ignatius of Antioch: Wrote letters on his way to martyrdom, stressing church unity and the role of bishops.
Polycarp of Smyrna: A disciple of John the Apostle, known for his letter to the Philippians and his martyrdom.

Apologists (2nd century)
Justin Martyr: Defended Christianity against Roman accusations and wrote "Apologies" and "Dialogue with Trypho."
Irenaeus of Lyons: Wrote "Against Heresies," combating Gnosticism and emphasizing the importance of apostolic tradition.

Later Church Fathers (3rd to 5th centuries)
Tertullian: An early Christian apologist and theologian, known for coining the term "Trinity."
Origen: A prolific writer and theologian who contributed to biblical exegesis and Christian philosophy.
Augustine of Hippo: One of the most influential theologians, known for works like "Confessions" and "The City of God."
Athanasius of Alexandria: Defended the doctrine of the Trinity against Arianism.

..and while some of their teachings have some value. No major Protestant doctrine is built exclusively on any of their teachings.

Matt 23:9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

Now obviously we all had human biological fathers. But Jesus says we only have one spiritual Father.

 

[Rhema]

Usually side B claims to be an expert on side A, even though they aren't part of side A.

Never claimed to be an expert, @B-A-C. Who here did? (Oh.. him? ) But one doesn't need to be "part of side A" in order to understand the basic principles and doctrines taught. I was never a Buddhist, but I can teach Buddhism in five minutes because I've read the three core texts of their religion that explain the underlying principles. In the same way, I can speak to the Catholic mindset, because I've read the catechism.

... many we can try to discuss what makes someone a Protestant.

When introduced, the term Protestant was first applied to the electors of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (of the Germanic Nations) who protested against the authority of the emperor to establish a singular religion empire wide. Certain electors felt that they had the political authority to decide whether their kingdoms would adopt Catholic or Reformation theology. Of course it didn't help that the sale of indulgences was destroying the economy of the Germanic kingdoms.

Later, as time morphs all definitions, the term was applied by Catholics to those who adopted Reformation doctrines. In that various reformers started to create varied and divergent Reformation doctrines, the word "Reformed" started to mean something particular to the Lutheran and Calvinist branch of theology, and other groups (denominations) accepted the term Protestant without (uh..) protest.

The classic argument is simply someone who isn't a Roman Catholic.
Protestants don't believe in a Pope as the head of the church.
Protestants don't believe in a sinless perpetual virgin Mary.
Protestants don't believe Mary is a prayer intercessory or mediator.
Protestants don't believe in purgatory.
Protestants don't believe in indulgences.

I find it troubling that one would categorize the development of the Protestant branch of the Christian Church as a list of don'ts. Reformed theology (branching into the broader epithet of Protestant) was not a list of anti-Catholic doctrines, but more so a list of basic doctrines that happened to differ - the chief of which is how one gets saved. The "don'ts" are pretty much afterthoughts.

And it should be mentioned at this point (though I see you've touched on it) that Martin Luther never thought himself to be creating a different branch of the Christian Church, but was indeed intent on reforming the Roman Catholic Church itself, to rid it of the dross and bring it to a spiritual purity. This is why Luther fought greatly against the Anabaptists who denied the validity of baptism by the Roman church, teaching that one must be baptized again after embracing Reformation beliefs.

2. Authority of the Bible: He emphasized that the Bible, not the Church or the Pope, was the ultimate religious authority.

In rejecting the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Pope, it would be hardly politic for Luther to then declare himself to be the new Ecclesiastical Authority, (meet the new boss... the same as the old boss... -The Who). But Luther had to do something, and so elevated the Bible to fill this new vacuum. And here is where Luther made his BIG Mistake:

It was not possible for Luther to conceive that other people could read the exact same scripture passage and arrive at a different conclusion than he did. Luther did NOT translate the Bible into the common language of his people (German) in order for y'all to read the Bible and figure out what it said for yourselves. He created his German Bible to prove that he, Martin Luther, was RIGHT !!!

As spiritual chaos spread throughout the land about what was True, Luther could point to his Bible and say, "Here... read it for yourself!" Of course the common folk or even the nominal scholar of the church couldn't quite grasp that Luther added one word in Romans, and removed one word in Ephesians to bolster his novel theological views.

The obvious fallout is that instead of one highly educated and vetted individual (the Pope) who was supposed to oversee and protect the body of true doctrine, there were now thousands of highly uneducated individuals reading the Bible and inventing all kinds of bizarre doctrines for themselves. (The Puritans come to mind, along with the Civil War of Britain, a mere 30 years after the KJV Bible, that led to the beheading of the son of King James.)

Infant baptism is another big difference.

As I referenced elsewhere, Baptism (whether infant or not) is believed by the Catholic Church to wash away Original Sin, hence automatically conferring salvation. The whole Protestant bugaboo that Catholics believe one is saved by works is rather mind blowing, in that a baby, when saved by having the Sacrament of Baptism performed upon him, hardly could do "works." If need be, a discussion about how works "fits in" could held later.

Your parents made that decision for you.

I find this to be somewhat of a misrepresentation. The CHURCH makes this decision for you. Parents can only reject that decision, not make that decision. Perhaps it's a fine point, but the Church is the governing authority that administers the sacraments.

You yourself never make a conscious self induced decision to come to Jesus.

As it should be (according the Catholic view), but you yourself can make a conscious self induced (inflicted even) decision to reject Jesus (by which they mean the Church).

The Eastern Orthodox churches would not consider themselves to be Protestants, although they also would not consider themselves to be Roman Catholics.

When pressed, though, the Orthodox church should consider the Roman church to be the first Protestant (protester). The Great Schism of 1054 is a fascinating study. The simplistic view is that the Roman church was shaped by the fall of the Western Roman Empire, while the Orthodox Church was still part of the Roman Empire (Eastern) until its ultimate decline circa 1354. The Roman Empire (East), what is typically called the Byzantine Empire, never went through the Medieval dark ages.

Matt 23:9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

Now obviously we all had human biological fathers. But Jesus says we only have one spiritual Father.

Sometimes Protestants are just clueless. When Jesus uttered the teaching about not calling anyone Father, he meant FATHER ABRAHAM. There weren't any Catholic Fathers at the time. And yet Paul seemed to like that idea.

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.​

(1 Corinthians 4:15-16 KJV)

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,​

(1 Thessalonians 2:10-11 KJV)

And while Protestants wrongfully weaponize Matthew 23:9 they are blind to their own sin of calling people Pastor:

But be not ye called Pastor: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.​

(Matthew 23:8 KJV~)

I mean, c'mon, if they can't get the simple stuff correct ???

Kindly,
Rhema
PS: Thank you @B-A-C for taking the time to pull this thread together. And since I don't consider myself an expert, I am always open to redirect by a Catholic or authoritative Catholic source.

 

[Rhema]

There are three major branches of the Christian Church, based upon the two primary Fundamental Doctrines of - Soteriology (how one gets saved) and Ecclesiastical Authority (who or what is to be the authority for establishing Christian belief). And these are Catholic (no matter the branch), Protestant (no matter the denomination) and Pentecostal (despite their protests).

Maybe one day I'll host a more detailed thread about this, but would rather right now not detract from the OP.

Kindly,
Rhema

 

[B-A-C]

Obviously, there are still those who are not really protestants, claiming to be expoerts once again.

 

[Rhema]

Stuff it @B-A-C, at least I can spell.
Instead of blurting out your knee-jerk emotional bile, why don't you crack open a good book on Christian History.
(You've become such a disappointment.)

 

[Rhema]

Stuff it @B-A-C, at least I can spell.
Instead of blurting out your knee-jerk emotional bile, why don't you crack open a good book on Christian History.
(You've become such a disappointment.)

@B-A-C, my apologies for the knee-jerk emotional reaction, but you can be just as nasty as all the other Christians here.

That said, it would be appreciated if you'd comment on the substance of my posts. If you disagree, then do so, and cite your sources if you think my replies are so off-base.

But why the ad-hominem? You're one of the last people here whom I would think to stoop so low.

Rhema

 

[joestue]

And then there are those who refuse to be apart of any denominations but quietly do their work in hiding

 

[KingJ]

@B-A-C Thanks for the effort and some excellent posts.

And then there are those who refuse to be apart of any denominations but quietly do their work in hiding

Only @Rhema that I know of is non-denominational and refuses to disclose his beliefs. Bear this in mind when reading his posts.

 

[B-A-C]

When introduced, the term Protestant was first applied to the electors of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (of the Germanic Nations) who protested against the authority of the emperor to establish a singular religion empire wide. Certain electors felt that they had the political authority to decide whether their kingdoms would adopt Catholic or Reformation theology. Of course it didn't help that the sale of indulgences was destroying the economy of the Germanic kingdoms.

I've read similar commentaries, but I disagree. I've also read book in seminaries that are hundreds of years old, that say
Protestants are protestant because they "protested" the RC church. I'm sticking with that. It seems these statements are usualy written by non-Protestants, who don't like the idea they would be "Protested against".

I find it troubling that one would categorize the development of the Protestant branch of the Christian Church as a list of don'ts.

I listed the Protestant side of things here, I didn't list what the RC does or doesn't do.

The "don'ts" are pretty much afterthoughts.

Have you ever read the 95 Thesis?

In rejecting the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Pope, it would be hardly politic for Luther to then declare himself to be the new Ecclesiastical Authority, (meet the new boss... the same as the old boss... -The Who). But Luther had to do something, and so elevated the Bible to fill this new vacuum. And here is where Luther made his BIG Mistake:

Again, we don't see this as a mistake, we see it as a reform.

I find this to be somewhat of a misrepresentation. The CHURCH makes this decision for you. Parents can only reject that decision, not make that decision. Perhaps it's a fine point, but the Church is the governing authority that administers the sacraments.

No Protestant church I have ever attended has refused a baby dedication. Even for people who were relatively unknown in the church.
Most of the churches I have attended over the last 50 years or so, don't really have a membership per se ( although some do )

In fact just this last Sunday we did a baby dedication for a "non-member". ( new attender ) We do use the term "members" of the church, but generally this only means regular attenders of the church.

The whole Protestant bugaboo that Catholics believe one is saved by works is rather mind blowing,

Many Protestants do also, read my thread on the works doctrine.

Post in thread 'The Works doctrine.'

Dec 6, 2024

Faith must be given a task (a work) to perform

Yes, so it seems.

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must...

• B-A-C

• 

but you yourself can make a conscious self induced (inflicted even) decision to reject Jesus (by which they mean the Church).

Again, I tried to stay away from that the RC does or doesn't do, and stick to what the majority of Protestants do.
The Protestant church does NOT consider the church to be the authority in these things.

My father was in the military, I lived in 12 states before I graduated high-school.
I was then in the military myself for a while, and lived in 4 different states as well as Japan.
Since I have been out of the military ( over 35 years ago ) I have lived in four other states ( some more than once )
All of this to say, I have attended over 40 different churches in fifteen different states.
Some of them I only briefly visited for a few weeks, others I was a member for many years. ( again "regular attender" )
I did attend an ELCA church for a while because they were the only option within about 50 miles. All others were
mainstream non-denominational ( is there really such a thing? ), Baptist or Pentecostal.

Protestant (no matter the denomination) and Pentecostal (despite their protests).

And we protestant do "Protest". As someone who has attended the two largest Pentecostal Bible schools in the US, and preached in about a half a dozen Pentecostal churches, and taught in over a dozen ( I am teaching tomorrow if you would like to attend ). I can asure I am very familiar with their teachings and doctrines. I can also assure you that if you ever went into a Pentecostal church, and asked what denomination are you... they would likely say "Pentecostal", but if you asked them are they Protestant, they would say "yes".
The only difference between say a Baptist, Methodist, MS Lutheran, and a Foursquare or Assembly of God Christian, is the gifts of the
Spirit. ( there is always a little crossover ). The idea that baptism of the Holy Spirit is separate from simply receiving the Holy Spirit.

But be not ye called Pastor: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.(Matthew 23:8 KJV~)

My KJV only has the word "pastors" in Eph 4:11 in the New Testament.
And only has the word "pastor" in Jer 17:16;

KJV
Matt 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

I have never called anyone "Rabbi" in my life as far as I can recall. But the Bible and Jesus are my authority.

Ecclesiastical Authority (who or what is to be the authority for establishing Christian belief).

 

[joestue]

@B-A-C Thanks for the effort and some excellent posts.



Only @Rhema that I know of is non-denominational and refuses to disclose his beliefs. Bear this in mind when reading his posts.

I probably have disagreements with all the denominations.

I recently found out that my mormon co-worker and i agree on just about everything. but i straight up told him: i don't believe God had anything to do with the creation of the mormon church. i said this in a nice manner, basically asking the question. why wait till 1872? why not speak the rules in 30AD. or 3000 BC? what about 20,000 bc?

 

[B-A-C]

i don't believe God had anything to do with the creation of the mormon church

Mormons ( Latter Day Saints ) are not considered Christians by most (all ?) mainstream denominations.

Mormonism and mainstream Christianity share some similarities but also have significant differences. Here are a few key distinctions:

1. Concept of God​

• Mainstream Christianity: Believes in the Trinity, where God is one being in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
• Mormonism: Views the Godhead as three separate gods: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Mormons also believe that God was once a man and that humans can become gods through a process called eternal progression

2. Scriptures​

• Mainstream Christianity: Primarily uses the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments.
• Mormonism: Uses the Bible, but also considers the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price as sacred texts

3. Salvation​

• Mainstream Christianity: Generally teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
• Mormonism: Believes in a combination of faith and works, including adherence to church ordinances and covenants

4. View of Jesus Christ​

• Mainstream Christianity: Believes Jesus is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human, who died for humanity's sins and rose from the dead.
• Mormonism: Also believes Jesus is the Son of God and Savior, but teaches that Jesus is a separate god from God the Father

5. Church Authority​

• Mainstream Christianity: Authority varies among denominations, but many believe in the priesthood of all believers.
• Mormonism: Believes in a restored priesthood authority given through Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter-day Saint movement

 

[Rhema]

I've read similar commentaries, but I disagree. I've also read book in seminaries that are hundreds of years old, that say
Protestants are protestant because they "protested" the RC church. I'm sticking with that. It seems these statements are usualy written by non-Protestants, who don't like the idea they would be "Protested against".

Until I can dig deeper, I will amend my views to the extent that the Electors themselves formally used the term when presenting a "Letter of Protestation" to Ferdinand (brother of emperor Charles V) at the Diet of Speyer in 1529. While the Electors DID use the term in a formal letter, without a word for word recording of the procedures it would be difficult to know who first uttered the word. And though submitting a "Letter of Protestation," it's unlikely that the authors started to run around calling themselves Protestants.

Die Appellation und Protestation der evangelischen Stände auf dem Reichstage zu Speyer 1529 : Ney, Julius, b. 1838, ed : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Book digitized by Google from the library of Harvard University and uploaded to the Internet Archive by user tpb.

archive.org

But even Britannica states that the Protest was over an imperial edict by the crown, and not initially a protest against the RC church.

Origins of Protestantism (LINK to Encyclopædia Britannica)

The name Protestant first appeared at the Diet of Speyer in 1529, when the Roman Catholic emperor of Germany, Charles V, rescinded the provision of the Diet of Speyer in 1526 that had allowed each ruler to choose whether to administer the Edict of Worms (which banned Martin Luther’s writings and declared him a heretic and an enemy of the state). On April 19, 1529, a protest against this decision was read on behalf of 14 free cities of Germany and six Lutheran princes who declared that the majority decision did not bind them because they were not a party to it and that if forced to choose between obedience to God and obedience to Caesar, they must choose obedience to God. They appealed either to a general council of all Christendom or to a synod of the whole German nation. Those who made this protest became known to their opponents as Protestants, and gradually the label was applied to all who adhered to the tenets of the Reformation, especially to those living outside Germany. In Germany the adherents of the Reformation preferred the name evangelicals and in France Huguenots. The name was attached not only to the disciples of Martin Luther (c. 1483–1546) but also to the Swiss disciples of Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531) and later of John Calvin (1509–64). The Swiss reformers and their followers in Holland, England, and Scotland, especially after the 17th century, preferred the name Reformed.​

Protestant (n., adj.) (LINK to the Douglas Harper Online Etymology Dictionary)

as a noun, in the broadest sense, "member or adherent of a Christian body descended from the Reformation of the 16c. and repudiating papal authority," 1539, from German or French protestant, from Latin protestantem (nominative protestans), present participle of protestari (see protest (n.)). Originally used of German princes and free cities who declared their dissent from ("protested") the decision of the Diet of Speyer (1529), which reversed the liberal terms allowed Lutherans in 1526.​

I've also read book in seminaries that are hundreds of years old,

So what? As if people couldn't make mistakes hundreds of years ago? Did your books have access to the original documents? Who knows? But if you want to cite "rando old books" as your source, ... whatever.

If need be, I'll go into my library (can't travel to my seminary at the moment) and quote some more sources. But you may wish to reconsider your stance.

Rhema