CHRISTIANITY. What differentiates Catholics, Protestants, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, etc.?

Question

All these religions are based on Christianity, but
what makes each one significantly different from each other? And if the basis is the same for all of them.... why are thousands of people fighting and killing each other in the name of Christianity? I just don't understand.

Answer 1

Catholics have masses. They have communion in each mass which observes the last supper. They pray to certain saints which can help them, they pray to Mary and observe Mary and they have a pope, which is supposed to be Jesus' representative or like a head priest of all priests.
Russian Orthodox is as old as Catholicism, they are the oldest and truest forms of Christianity.
Protestants are a mix of everything else which came after the break from Catholicism in England after the reformation of the church beginning with Luther and King Henry the VIII.
The American Evangelicals of today, or the born again, the baptists, aka, fundamentalists are a relative of the puritans, Quakers and other strange Christians that England couldn't stand, this is why they say the pilgrims "fled religious persecution".
The Church of England, or the Anglican church, which are protestants, which is much the same as it was for hundreds of years is more like Catholocism than the protestants you would find in America. The rituals are much the same.
The biggest difference, is divorce. Which is why King Henry VIII who murdered many of his wives wanted a reformation, he wanted to legally divorce, back then you couldn't do that. The Church ruled the land. He killed many of the Catholic Priests. Yes, the church did have excesses in that time. Luther recanted on his death bed and said he made a big mistake.
It seems in Christianity, whenever one does not want to abide by a certain rule they don't like, they start their own church, which makes it unique to any other world religion.
After the Protestant break, there were many, I forget which came first, but it was Lutherin, Methodist, Episcopalian, in America, we had our own Christian churches formed. There are dooms day evangelicals that believe in a "rapture" and Jahova's witnesses. All started cult like and ended up a religion. Sometimes the difference between the protestants is hardly anything at all. But since all Christians can't seem to agree on everything, they tend to start their own churches. Visit a different church every sunday for the most interesting view on how different they are.
The Christian Church has a very rich history. If you want a more detailed account. Look it up. Google Catholicism, Orthodox and Protestant and Anglican.
from a personal standpoint, the biggest difference that I see between protestants and Catholics is that Catholics believe that you get to Jesus and God through the church, through receiving sacrements, and confessing, after you die, you are supposed to atone for your sins depending on how evil you were and how much you want to be forgiven, if you weren't all that evil, you can go to pergatory, which is like a half way house to heaven until you make it up. If you are a real evil jerk, you will go to hell no matter what, you obviously through life renounced your belief in the God, hell or the repercussions of your actions. I think all denominations which came around the time or are very old believe somewhat of the same after death. They also believe that the works of the person, no matter what religion, will be the judge of whether they get to heaven. They also have embraced evolution since evolution was discovered. many people don't know that. They don't take the bible literally, but more metaphorically, because they should know how many times it has been translated, added to, taken from and altered.
Protestants believe that you don't need a church to get to God. American fundamentalists, take the bible literally. Their church services are part bible study, part preaching, part pop-psych motivational speaking. They believe all sin is the same in the eyes of God, all you have to do is believe Jesus is your savior and you will get to heaven, everyone else goes to hell.

Answer 2

Fundamentally there is no difference in the Denominations of the Christian Church.There are Catholics and Protestants, who split apart because of the excesses of the Clergy in the Middle Ages. later splits are mostly Political within the religion as a whole. Each of the denominations have only slight differences in the Main. All Believe in the One True and Living God, And In His Son, Jesus the Christ, Who was given as the path to God, because his grace covers the sins of the person(s) who believe him. All other differences are Doctrine and therefore up for scrutiny

Answer 3

I can make this long winded, but I will keep it short. First off Catholics are more regulated in their belief system than others. They also have the Catholic Bible. Catholics also pray to saints and not directly to God.

Let me walk away from the total differences with each religion - let us get to the core of religion itself. First off God wants a relationship with YOU. End of story. Man (even me) will screw things up. God made us each perfect in His eyes and wants you to have a direct connection with Him. He does not want you to simply become Catholic or something else. He wants you to know you are His child and just not part of a religion.

Now, I stated man screws things up, right? Well this leads to this thought. "I kill in the name of God!" Hmmmm, that is wrong, just plain wrong. We must allow and realize that God is the only one who has the right and the ultimate decision to be vengeful against others that means us. We must pray for the salvation of all people and leave death in the hands of God. It is NOT our job to kill in the name of God. (Romans Chapter 2)

So question man - and let God do what He promises to do.

Answer 4

The church is within every denomination throughout the entire world.

We who are in Christ Jesus have become a “new” creature (Gal.6:15, 2 Cor.5:17 below). We have BECOME the church of God (1 Cor.10:32, 1 Cor.1:2, 1 Cor.15:9, Gal.1:13 below), Jesus’ living body (Col.1:24 below).

No matter which denomination one attends, the living body of Christ is there.


Gal.6:15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (2 Cor.5:17 below).

2 Cor.5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (Gal.6:15 above): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 Cor.10:32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Col.1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which IS the church (1 Cor.10:32 above).

1 Cor.1:2Unto the church of God (1 Cor.10:32 above) which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:

1 Cor.15:9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1 Cor.10:32 above).

Gal.1:13For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God (1 Cor.10:32 above), and wasted it:

Eph.2:16And that he might RECONCILE BOTH (Jews and Gentiles) unto God IN ONE BODY (the church of God - 1 Cor.10:32 above) by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:



Pat (ndbpsa ©)

Answer 5

well, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists are all protestants. any form of christianity that isn't catholic is a protestant.. people are killing each other because they are close-minded

Answer 6

Their practices.

They do things differently such as the Lord's Supper, Babtisim, and also their still of teahing the word.

But all of them do the same thing...they believe in God and that Jesus was His Son.

Answer 7

Man, are you screwed up, where is all this happening? If you're looking for answers for a report of some sort for college, try Google.

Answer 8

who knows, i do know that religion has killed more people in the world than any terroist group
maybe we should wipe out all religious folk and the world would be a safer place,,,lol

Answer 9

If christians were to unite as one it whould be for one reason only, to kill off the non christians. be thankful that they are not that smart yet

Answer 10

Each believes that they alone are the correct one and that the others are wrong.