The Reformation isn’t over. But Protestantism is, or should be.
When I studied at Cambridge, I discovered that English Evangelicals define themselves over against the Church of England. Whatever the C of E is, they ain’t. What I’m calling “Protestantism” does the same with Roman Catholicism. Protestantism is a negative theology; a Protestant is a not-Catholic. Whatever Catholics say or do, the Protestant does and says as close to the opposite as he can.
Mainline churches are nearly bereft of “Protestants.” If you want to spot one these days, your best bet is to visit the local Baptist or Bible church, though you can find plenty of Protestants among conservative Presbyterians too.
Protestantism ought to give way to Reformational catholicism….
The writer creates a straw-man “Protestantism” and then knocks it down.
Some observations. And remember I am a R.C. pastor.
a) useful category of reformational catholicism. Thought-provoking.
b) but where in his system do charismatic evangelicals fit in? I think he has a hard time accommodating them in this straitjacket.
c) Somewhere recently – I think perhaps even on this site – I read an article about Puritans which pointed out their emphasis on experience of God, or of God’s mercy. 17th C Puritans were definitely Protestant in the old-fashioned sense, and their descendants today would be eg in the Holiness tradition, some charismatic evangelicalism, Elim Pentcostals, etc. And this emphasis on experience creates an important stream of Protestantism which again we note does not fit into the writer’s typology.
And finally may I protest: the Catholic Church, however imperfect, is not centred/centered on Rome: it is, I hope, centred on Jesus the Christ.