I know that Protestantism is one major division of Christianity as is Catholicism – Eastern Orthodoxy and Anglican are the other two. I know that several denominations exist within Protestantism and found there are only a few doctrines common to them all: justification by grace through faith and not through works, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as the ultimate authority. Some similarities between Baptist and Protestant exist as well: the virgin birth of Christ, the Bible as the sole authority, and salvation through faith in Christ.
Historically, the Anabaptists (from whom the Baptists came) existed centuries before the Reformation from which Protestantism emerged. Doctrinally, several tenets set Anabaptists apart from Protestants: (1) baptism by immersion rather than pouring or sprinkling; (2) baptism as a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership; (3) baptism as necessary before taking part in communion; (4) Baptists reject organizational oversight; (5) Baptists adhere to the Bible alone as compared to those who adopt creeds, catechisms, and other written doctrines; (6) strict separation of church and state.
Based on history and doctrine, it could be said that Baptists are not Protestant…but then again, it could also be said that they are.
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