Protest

Question

I read somewhere that "Protestantism" comes from the root word "protest" which means "reformation". Now, I'm confused as to how the word "protest" means "reformation"! I can understand if the word implies reformation, but is "reformation" literally one of the definitions of the word "protest"?!

Avangi · Accepted Answer

AH020387Now, I'm confused as to how the word "protest" means "reformation"!

It doesn't.

Protestantism and The Reformation are both cultural concepts (or movements) which derived from specific acts of protest and specific acts of reforming something.

To many people, both names/terms apply (with capital letters) to the same movement.
We often speak of "The Protestant Reformation."

There are a lot of protests going on in the world today. Some of them may succeed in reforming things, but most of them will probably not.

Sometimes the names which are given to movements, or to groups of protesters, seem to spring up at random and catch on. A hundred and fifty years ago in the US there was a protest because women were not allowed to vote ("women's suffrage"). Technically, the proponents were called "suffragists," but the women who marched in protest were ridiculed by some and called "Suffragettes". That's the term for the movement that stuck. (They weren't called "Protestants.")

CalifJim · Answer

AH020387I read somewhere that "Protestantism" comes from the root word "protest" which means "reformation".

What? Heavens! This is proof that you can't believe everything you read!

CJ

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