Very broadly speaking--and from the viewpoint of the English-speaking world--you can classify Christians as Catholics and Protestants. The Protestants broke away from the Catholics during the 1500s. The Protestants in turn are divided into several branches. Within England, one branch, the Church of England, became the official state religion. (Outside England, the Church of England is known under the names "Anglican" and "Episcopalian." Presbyterianism is a form of Calvinism, based on the theology of John Calvin. It became a very important denomination in Scotland. Culturally and historically, Calvinists and thus Presbyterians are thought to be as strict people who regard life as a serious business and opposed to frivolous social activities, opposition to entertainment such as the theatre, etc. Presbyterian and Calvinist theology are based on five technical points of theology, known by the acronym TULIP, which stands for 1) Total depravity, 2) Unconditional election, 3) Limited atonement, 4) Irresistible grace, and 5) Perseverance of the saints.