Restorationism facts for kids
Restorationism is a belief that people should try to bring back the original ideas and practices of the Early Christian Church. It's like trying to go back to the very first version of something to make it pure again. This idea has been important to many different religious groups throughout history.
Over time, various groups have used the term "restorationism" to describe their goals. They all wanted to return to what they believed was the original or "pure" form of their faith.
Contents
Early Ideas of Restoration
Even before the Protestant Reformation, some groups felt that the church had moved away from its first teachings. They wanted to restore what they saw as the true way of practicing their faith.
Movements in the Middle Ages
- The Lollards were a group in the 14th and 15th centuries. They believed the church needed to change and go back to simpler ways.
- The Brethren of the Common Life also focused on a simple, devoted Christian life. They wanted to live like the early Christians.
Groups Seeking "Primitive" Faith
Some movements were called "Primitive" because they aimed to return to the earliest forms of Christianity.
- The Hussites, led by Jan Hus, wanted reforms in the 15th century.
- The Anabaptists, who appeared during the Reformation, believed in adult baptism. They wanted to follow the Bible very closely.
- The Puritans in England wanted to "purify" the Church of England. They felt it still had too many Catholic traditions.
- The Waldensians were an older group. They focused on simple living and following the Bible.
Restorationism After the Reformation
After the Protestant Reformation, many new Christian groups formed. Some of these groups had strong restorationist ideas.
Protestant Restoration Movements
- The Churches of Christ and some Baptist groups are examples. They try to base their practices directly on the New Testament.
- In Scotland, the Glasites (also known as Sandemanians) wanted to restore early Christian practices.
- In the United States, the Restoration Movement (also called the Stone-Campbell Movement) began in the early 1800s. Leaders like Barton W. Stone and Thomas and Alexander Campbell wanted to unite Christians by going back to the Bible.
- The Mormons, officially The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believe that their church is a restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ.
Modern Restorationist Ideas
- Some Pentecostal movements have been described as restorationist. They believe in restoring spiritual gifts seen in the early church. Examples include the Assemblies of God.
- The British New Church Movement is another group with restorationist goals.
Other Types of Restorationism
The idea of "restoration" isn't only about Christian practices. It can also refer to other kinds of "bringing back" or "returning."
Christian Restorationism and Zionism
- Some Christian groups believe that Jewish people should return to the Promised Land (Israel). This idea is called Christian Restorationism or Christian Zionism. It's about restoring Jewish people to their ancient homeland.
Restoration in Islam
- Similar ideas exist in Islam. Movements like Salafism aim to return to what they see as the pure practices of early Islam. They want to follow the ways of the first Muslims.
- Other groups like Muwahhidism, Ghair Muqallids, and Quranism also focus on going back to original Islamic teachings.
Images for kids
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Huldrych Zwingli, a leader of the Reformation.
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Thomas Campbell, a leader in the Restoration Movement.
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Barton W. Stone, another key figure in the Restoration Movement.
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Alexander Campbell, who helped shape the Restoration Movement.
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John Thomas, founder of the Christadelphians.
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Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.
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William Miller, a leader of the Millerite movement.
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Charles Russell, founder of the Bible Student movement.
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John Nelson Darby, an influential figure in Dispensationalism.
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Watchman Nee, a Chinese church leader.
See also
In Spanish: Restauracionismo para niños
