How do the beliefs of Catholics and Protestants differ?

Question

When and why did Protestants separate from the Catholic church?

Answer 1

I have grown up Catholic, and know that Protestants can not just be lumped as one. Ther are many different Protestant churches. However, one big difference is that Catholics believe that the Eucharist is actually transformed into Jesus' body and blood (it is not just a symbol of it).

Answer 2

I have been both. I was raised Protestant, but converted to being Catholic.
There are many differences, to many to list here, but some of them I can tell you.
Catholics do not believe in divorce, unless in the case of adultry or if one or the other is mentally ill.You remain married for life.
Catholics are very devout to their religion, on a daily basis, not just on Sunday.
When you take communion, Catholics believe that it is the body and blood of Christ.
Catholics believe that confessing sins to God through the Priest, that they are forgiven for those sins.
Catholics believe in God as the creator, and that Christ died for our sins, and that Mary was chosen to give virgin birth to Christ, so she probably sits with God on the thrown. Praying to her is believed to be heard because she is favored by God.
Catholics believe that abortion and birth control are two acts against God.
These are just a few I can think of off my head, but if you really want to know more, read the Catholic Decree. It can be found in any Catholic Bible.
Go sometime to a Catholic Mass. You will be suprised that it isn't to much different than a Protestant service. But remain seated during communion. You can only do that if you are baptized as a Catholic.

Answer 3

All started 500 years be for when clergy nobles argued with military nobles. In the part of Europe that the first won stayed Catholics and where the second won changed to Protestant. The real difference was the clergy. The other diffrences are just diffrences.

Answer 4

Just about everything that 'amfound2' writes about the Catholic Church incorrect and false. Her answers are consistently full of hatred towards the Catholic Church. I can only assume that the Protestant church she attends teaches hate... what a sad situation. I pray for her.


The main difference is that Protestants reject what Jesus said regarding the Bread of Life or the Holy Eucharist.

Catholics believe Jesus.
Protestants believe Martin Luther.


John 6:53
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, you do not have life within you.

John 6:55
For MY FLESH IS TRUE FOOD, and MY BLOOD IS TRUE DRINK.

Mark 14:22-24

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; THIS IS MY BODY."

Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "THIS IS MY BLOOD of the covenant, which will be shed for many.


Catholics believe Jesus.



Like the disciples of that time, Protestants of today can't accept what Jesus said.

John 6:60
Then many of his disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?"

And like those disciples, Protestants leave the Church that Jesus founded and start their own church.

John 6:66
As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.


So what is the main difference?

Catholics believe what Jesus said about the Bread of Life, i.e. His Body and Blood and Protestants don't.

Answer 5

From conversing with my Catholic friends, right that's my know-how on the transformations between Catholics and Protestants. Catholic Christians practice apostolic succession; this is, they have one guy or woman who acts via fact the human head of the church on earth, a "head apostle" in case you will. For Roman Catholics, that's the Bishop of Rome: Pope Benedictus sixteenth. For eastern Orthodox Christians, the top of the church is the Archbishop of Constantinople, Bartholomew 1st. Catholics additionally carry to "Sacred custom" or "Holy custom", indicating the non secular authority to interpret and translate the revealed recognize God (Sacred Scripture) that rests in basic terms with the clergy. PROTESTANTS, alongside with Baptists, many times don't have apostolic succession. on a similar time as they do have church management and heirarchies, they do no longer declare to have an unbroken line of succession (interior of that management) going each and all of the some time past to between the apostles. Protestants additionally do no longer recognize Sacred or Holy custom. as a replace, they suspect that the Bible could be interpreted via faith via all believers (Sola Scriptura). via fact of those 'breakings' with the Catholic corporation, the Baptists ARE seen Protestants.

Answer 6

Martin Luther... 1500's

"95 Thesis" to "protest" the err of the churches doctrine. Catholics got away from what the bible says and hence. "Protestants" were born

Answer 7

RCs base their religion on tradition of man, protestants base our beliefs on Scripture alone. "Sola Scripture."
RCs Pray to dead people like Mary and the saints.
Protestants pray ONLY to Christ as the Bible tells us in
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus.
RC Believe that you have to earn your way to heaven by being a good RC and taking the sacraments doing penance and good works.
Protestants believe that Christ paid the price for our Salvation on the cross and that to be saved we need only to repent of our sins and ask the Holy Spirit of God into our lives and we have eternal life starting now.
Rcs believe that even when they die, they go to purgatory and their family have to pay to get them out, and that can take hundreds of years, in fact they NEVER know if they have EVER paid enough to get their loved ones out of torment.
Protestants believe that Christ is the head of the Church.
Rcs believe that the pope is the head of their church.
Protestants believe that we can talk to Christ as our personal Savior and have a relationship with Him. 1 Tim 2:5
Rcs believe that they have to go through Mary to Christ, they see an angry Jesus and mary has to calm him down.
Protestants believe that Scripture is the inerrant word of God.
Rcs believe that the pope has the right to change scripture, and indeed they have. As they have now taken the 2nd commandment out of their teachings, (The one about not having idols and bowing down and worshiping them),
There are LOTS and LOTS of differences between the two but Roman catholics are NOT Christians because they teach a gospel that is different from the scriptures.

Answer 8

Well, The protestant believe that salvation is by grace through faith. that means , you need not to be a Catholics to be save. That i can tell ya!!!!!
Check out the the history of Martin Luther to find out when they separate.

Answer 9

The catholics hail Mother Mary as Lord Christ's Mother and hence their Mother too.

The protestants acknowledge Lord Christ as the Son of God.

Answer 10

Catholics recognize the pope, and protestants don't.
Protestant churches also do not spend that much money on decoration.