Protestantism explained to kids

Protestantism is a Christian religious movement that started in the 16th century. It follows the teachings of Martin Luther, a German theologian who protested against the Roman Catholic Church. Protestantism is one of the three major branches of Christianity, along with Catholicism and Orthodoxy. There are about 900 million Protestants worldwide, making it the second largest Christian group after Catholics. Protestantism is divided into many different denominations, such as Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism. Protestants believe in salvation through faith alone, and that humans are not capable of doing good works to earn God's favor. They also believe in the Bible as the sole source of religious authority, and that people can interpret it for themselves. Protestants have played a significant role in social and political movements, such as the Reformation, the Industrial Revolution, and the civil rights movement.