What's the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism?

[Chocoholic]

I could never understand the major differences between Catholic and Protestant churches. Don't we all believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior? I know in many Protestant churches, women have more say in the church and can even become ministers and the priests can marry and raise families.

I'm a Catholic and I just don't agree with certain stuff in the Catholic Church, like barring women from the preisthood and allowing priests to marry, (plus that whole sex abuse scandal) but I know my parents would freak out if I considered switching to a Protestant church, even though I am over 21 and technically allowed to make my own decisions.

[Sterling Holobyte]

Originally Posted by Homeriffic

I could never understand the major differences between Catholic and Protestant churches. Don't we all believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior? I know in many Protestant churches, women have more say in the church and can even become ministers and the priests can marry and raise families.

I'm a Catholic and I just don't agree with certain stuff in the Catholic Church, like barring women from the preisthood and allowing priests to marry, (plus that whole sex abuse scandal) but I know my parents would freak out if I considered switching to a Protestant church, even though I am over 21 and technically allowed to make my own decisions.

You pretty much answered your own question in your post. Some people didn't like the way the Catholic church did some things, so they protested(hence the term - Protestant), breaking off and forming their own churches so they could do the things the way they wanted.
The Catholic church likes to do things in the traditional manner as they always have, and I for one am kind of glad that they don't change on a whim just to appease some people who think religion should be more "progressive" and "hip".

But really, I don't know if your parents would freak out as much as you think they would were you to change churches. I mean, you could be quitting religion altogether and doing far worse things, right?.

[Fonzarelli]

Well, Catholics and Protestants have very different rules. Protestants have very sober churches and forbid worshipping statues or relics, like they do in Catholic churches.

Protestants are known to be more severe on these rules and regulations. Catholics are known to be more 'free', especially when it comes to the Bible. Catholics tend to say the Bible is open for more ways of interpretation, as opposed to Protestants. Anyway, that's the way it is over here.

And of course there's the Pope!

Sterling had it right though.

[stella]

One thing that I don't understand about this whole issue of Protestantism vs. Catholicism is why the term "Protestant" is used much more synonymously with "Christian" than the term "Catholic" is. To illustrate this point, I'll give you these examples that I've often observed and experieced:

If you ask someone who attends a Roman Catholic church which religion they follow, they will likely reply: "I'm a Catholic", as opposed to "I'm a Christian."

But if you ask someone who attends a Protestant church what religion they follow, they will likely reply: "I'm a Christian" or perhaps more specificially, "I'm a Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Anglican, Presbyterian, etc. -Christian." But it is very unlikely they will reply "I'm a Protestant."

Therefore, if Protestants tend to use the word "Christian" to describe the branch they follow, as opposed to Catholics who are more specific by saying that they are Catholic.

According to the many encyclopedia articles that I've read, there are three main branches of the Christianity religion:

1. Roman Catholicism
2. Protestantism
3. Eastern Orthodox

I'm sure if you introduce the Orthodox branch, you will get a completely new set of debates. But one thing I've noticed is that of the three branches, those who follow Protestantism are more likely to insist that they are the only true Christians. In other words, it seems like Protestants criticize Catholics more than Catholics criticize Protestants. From the time Protestantism was first introduced during the Reformation in the 1500's, there have been massive wars in Europe that have erupted all because of the issue of Protestantism vs. Catholics. I've asked many Protestants whether they consider Catholics as Christians, and all of them replied NO.

[dawsongirl]

Ugh...this is why I just believe in God and not in church. We'd have had far less wars if religions just got along.

[Titania]

Protestants believe in Consubstantiation while Catholics believe in Transubstantiation. This means that while Catholics view the communion wine and bread as the actual blood and body of Christ, Protestants see it as merely symbolic.

Protestants believe in the "priesthood of all believers" which means that all are equal before God and religious leaders are not held to any higher level.

Protestants put a greater emphasis on the Bible.

Catholics put a greater emphasis on the role of Mary.

[Redd Foxx]

IMO Catholics do things a lot stricter. I am not catholic, but I know some people that are. Catholics believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah right? I heard that they worship Mary though. Is that true?

[Penny Lane]

Ok, here is the difference. As a Lutheran we were taught (and I firmly believe as taught in the Gospels) (look it up!) that we are saved by faith not by works. That is taught so clearly in the New Testament.The Catholic church (and many Protestant religions) still preach that what YOU do can save you. The Bible states clearly that we are totally dependent on Jesus and not ourselves.If we rely on ourselves to save ourselves then Christ suffered and died for nothing.. Ok, Protestants, refute that one! Our works are as filthy rags compared to
Jesus 'perfect rightousness. That is what I rely on. That is the difference between the two. If we had to rely on ourselves we would be in BIG trouble.

[Steve M.]

Originally Posted by stella

One thing that I don't understand about this whole issue of Protestantism vs. Catholicism is why the term "Protestant" is used much more synonymously with "Christian" than the term "Catholic" is. To illustrate this point, I'll give you these examples that I've often observed and experieced:

If you ask someone who attends a Roman Catholic church which religion they follow, they will likely reply: "I'm a Catholic", as opposed to "I'm a Christian."

But if you ask someone who attends a Protestant church what religion they follow, they will likely reply: "I'm a Christian" or perhaps more specificially, "I'm a Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Anglican, Presbyterian, etc. -Christian." But it is very unlikely they will reply "I'm a Protestant."

Therefore, if Protestants tend to use the word "Christian" to describe the branch they follow, as opposed to Catholics who are more specific by saying that they are Catholic.

According to the many encyclopedia articles that I've read, there are three main branches of the Christianity religion:

1. Roman Catholicism
2. Protestantism
3. Eastern Orthodox

I'm sure if you introduce the Orthodox branch, you will get a completely new set of debates. But one thing I've noticed is that of the three branches, those who follow Protestantism are more likely to insist that they are the only true Christians. In other words, it seems like Protestants criticize Catholics more than Catholics criticize Protestants. From the time Protestantism was first introduced during the Reformation in the 1500's, there have been massive wars in Europe that have erupted all because of the issue of Protestantism vs. Catholics. I've asked many Protestants whether they consider Catholics as Christians, and all of them replied NO.

Mormonism is considered a fourth branch of Christianity, although they differ from other Christians in believing that God was the first-born man, Christ was materially as well as spiritually resurrected, and that he preached to two lost tribes of Israel after they came to the Americas and settled here. The Nephites are regarded as the only people who kept the true Christian church alive until their destruction by the Lamanites, the Israelite tribe that lost their faith and degnerated into barbarism; Mormons believe that they are the ancestors of the American Indians, who will redeem their ancestors once they're converted to the true, restored Church of Jesus Christ. The last two Nephites, Mormon and Moroni, left a record of the Nephites on golden plates that were to be discovered by a prophet who would restore the true church of Jesus Christ in latter days. That prophet was Joseph Smith, who founded the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830, and who is like St. Peter to the Mormon faith; just as the Pope is a direct successor to Peter, the living prophet and Mormon church president is a direct successor to Smith. The golden plates were the lost testament of Jesus delivered to the Nephites - the Book of Mormon.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is so called because it is beleived by Mormons to be the only true church of Jesus Christ; "latter-day" usedto refer to "last days," but now commonly refers to present days. "Saints" are followers of Jesus; in the early days of Christianity, anyone who followed Jesus was called a saint before the church of Rome redefined the word. Jesus's earliest followers were thus "former-day Saints."

[Steve M.]

The Orthodox churches are more into icons and nationalistic interpretations of the Gospel. The split between the Church of Rome and the Churches of the East were largely cultural, between the practices of the Western (Roman) peoples of Europe and the Eastern (Slavo-Hellenic) peoples.

Poland is unique in that they are Slavic but follow Roman, Western tradition. Enough Slavic fatalism has worked its way to Polish Catholicism to make it different from mainstream Catholicism.

[sara]

Also Lutherans have just 2 sacraments: communion and baptism. Where as Catholics have more, I want to say 7. Also aren't Catholics the only Christian church that pray to saints? To me that is like worshiping idols, you are suppose to pray to God and God alone.

[Fonzarelli]

There are SO may ranches in Protestantism. I guess that's why they never say they're Protestant, but *whatever branch they're in*.

[stella]

Originally Posted by Fonzarelli

There are SO may ranches in Protestantism. I guess that's why they never say they're Protestant, but *whatever branch they're in*.

Yes, there are many subdivisions within Protestantism. They are known as denominations. I wonder if there has been any tension among various denominations. Then there are non-denominational Protestant churches. The large megachurches are often non-denominational.

[stella]

Originally Posted by Steve M.

Mormonism is considered a fourth branch of Christianity

There are at least four other groups that may be considered branches of Christianity, although obviously it is much debated. Starting with the one you already mentioned:

1. Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
2. Jehovah's Witnesses (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society).
3. Christian Science (The First Church of Christ, Scientist).
4. Seventh-Day Adventist.

I once asked a Pastor whether these four groups could be considered denominations of Christianity. He replied: "No, those are cults!"

[Steve M.]

A Mormon ward wanted to use an interfaith chapel in Vail, Colorado, for services but the nine Christian denominations and Jewish congregation who used it voted against the idea seven to three.

"This is an interfaith chapel, not an intercult chapel," the minister of the Baptist group told the press.