The reason for the following considerations is initially the year 2017 with the many activities on the significance of the posting of the theses on October 31, 1517 at the castle church in Wittenberg (500 years of Reformation). For the author, the content-related interest arises from the completion of the 1st Ecumenical Course of the Cardinal König Academy Vienna and the 6th University Course Intercultural Competence/ University of Salzburg. For intercultural competence, the incisive impact of Reformation ideas on history and the public, the spread of the denomination (denominational family) and culture is of interest. Ecumenism deals with the diversity of Christian denominations, religious communities and churches. The context of intercultural competence in connection with religious education is of increasing importance in a pluralistic society with increased educational demands. First of all, the terms "Protestant" and "Protestantism/Protestantisms" should be clarified. In the following, the dissemination, the denominational families and the relationship to culture will be addressed. An outlook with future perspectives concludes the article.