Protestantism

====Scripture alone====
{{main|Sola scriptura}}
The belief, emphasized by Luther, in the Bible as the highest source of authority for the church. The early churches of the Reformation believed in a critical, yet serious, reading of scripture and holding the Bible as a source of authority higher than that of [[Sacred Tradition|church tradition]]. The many abuses that had occurred in the Western Church before the Protestant Reformation led the Reformers to reject much of its tradition. In the early 20th century, a less critical reading of the Bible developed in the United States—leading to a "[[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]]" reading of Scripture. Christian fundamentalists read the Bible as the "inerrant, [[Biblical infallibility|infallible]]" Word of God, as do the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran churches, but interpret it in a [[Biblical literalism|literalist]] fashion without using the [[historical-critical method]]. Methodists and Anglicans differ from Lutherans and the Reformed on this doctrine as they teach ''[[prima scriptura]]'', which holds that Scripture is the primary source for Christian doctrine, but that "tradition, experience, and reason" can nurture the Christian religion as long as they are in harmony with the Bible ([[Protestant Bible|Protestant canon]]).<ref name="WELS2014"/><ref name="Humphrey2013">{{cite book|last=Humphrey|first=Edith M.|title=Scripture and Tradition |year=2013|publisher=Baker Books|language=en |isbn=978-1-4412-4048-4|page=16|quote=historically Anglicans have adopted what could be called a prima Scriptura position.}}</ref>

"Biblical Christianity" focused on a deep study of the Bible is characteristic of most Protestants as opposed to "Church Christianity", focused on performing rituals and good works, represented by Catholic and Orthodox traditions. However, [[Quakers]], [[Pentecostalists]] and [[Spiritual Christianity|Spiritual Christians]] emphasize the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] and personal closeness to God.<ref>Woodhead, Linda. ''Christianity: A Very Short Introduction'' (Oxford University Press, 2014). pp. 57–70.</ref>