Catholic or Protestant?

Question

which and why

Answer 1

--is Catholic--

I converted to Catholicism way back when I was doing my undergraduate studies. It is a long and terribly involved story but here is the jist of it. I was raised Lutheran/United Methodist (confirmed United Methodists). I wasn't particularly religious (nor "spiritual" as the saying goes) but I was attracted to all things of historical mythology and science fiction, both things of which are ultimately concerned with the ultimate concerns and the working of the universe. So from the beginning you could say that I was interested in things of history and things of true, philosophy if you.

At my undergrad, I started to become heavily (and I mean heavily) involved in an evangelical group on campus (standard evangelical beliefs nothing fancy). A lot of the things that they were saying didn't mesh with my religious upbringing. The constant advice was to read the bible and then you will get it.

So I did, but I did the one thing that evangelicals hope you don't do. Being that I was confused between what I was brought up by, what the evangelicals were saying, and that the evangelical method of reading scripture was causing me to read the Gospels Arian, I searched out how historical the meaning of the bible. In other words, I started reading things in their historical context. This provided a forth option, because anyone reading early Christian works knows that they do not mesh with evangelicalism or Methodism.

At this time, I hooked up with a bunch of people who were interested in what we called "intellectual Christianity" as opposed to the "emotive Christianity" that tends to permeate modern Christianity. It was all about trying to flesh out a historical connected Christianity, one where we didn't have to check our intellect and reason at the door.

Secondly, when you have read enough classical mythology (all types) and science fiction (which really is mythology for moderns) you start to see a connection running through every thing and that these things were not written as BS but rather there is a hope and deep longing that connect everything and points as an arrow shot in the dark. Though I haven't read it at the time J.R.R. Tolkien’s
Mythopoeia (was instrumental in the conversion of C.S. Lewis)
http://home.ccil.org/~cowan/mythopoeia.html
pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter. The first chapter of "The Building of Christendom" is terrific at see how everything fits together.

Somewhere along the way, we started running into Catholic sources. They literally were like a breath of fresh air. If you have ever read a solid Catholic source, it is literally incredible at how clear it is philosophically and how holistic it is. This doesn't make it true however. What needs to be done is to compare them with the Protestant arguments and see which one is historically and philosophically superior; ie which sees the world as it is.

Some of my friends started to move towards becoming Catholic. So question started to revolve around the truth content of Catholicism. Anyone with 1/2 a brain can see that there is truth in Catholicism as well as truth in Protestantism, so you, or at least I, start to really look to see if first if there is something more true and more expressive about fundamental truths of human existence than Protestantism. Yes Catholicism is more expressive about what it means to be human. Ok then, is there something more expressive than Catholicism? What about something non-religious like Atheism? What about something philosophical like Confucianism? What about a different religion all together? What about another form of Christianity? How about Orthodoxy? Now that is very interesting, very much like Catholicism, but different on several points.

Somewhere along in there I read the book "DOES GOD NEED THE CHURCH?" which was very instrumental in my thinking process, even if perhaps not the world's best book. Orthodoxy fell to the side because the orthodox are not united at fundamental levels. There is a lack of communion in the Orthodox Churches, where as in the Catholic Churches (both eastern and western) there is unity in faith, even if the theologies and modes of worship differ.

There is also the important question of whether or not there could ever be anything more true than the Catholic Church in the future? You can look at the answer to that in two ways, first even if there could be something more true, Catholicism is the most true now so that is where you should be, or second that the Catholic Church will be continuous with that future true thing.

So Catholicism won out and I converted because to be Catholic is to maximize the amount of truth that you have, to maximize the human experience, and to maximize one's connectivity to God.

There are a lot of other factors in the conversion, especially some priests who I talked with about things, and a few other books. My former great friend, who is evangelical and ended the friendship because I converted, was terribly instrumental in the conversion, though one shouldn't say that to her.

In closing, I would like to return to the scriptures, even though I didn't talk much about them. The scriptures were always involved in my conversion. There was constant reading and constant trying to understand. And finally one day, the mess and the confusion became a flaming arrow that pointed in the direction of the Catholic Church.

Answer 2

I was raised Catholic.
As an adult attended Protestant church because I got more out of the services.
Then for about 3 years I attended a Catholic church because they had a Priest who told wonderful sermons, and they had a fun singles group.
Now I am Protestant again - going to a Presbyterian church.

I prefer not to be concerned about the type of church. As long as I can attend there, learn something from the lessons and contribute to the congregation.

Answer 3

Catholicism is the real christianity, Protestants came some hundred years after the Christ. These were a group of people protesting against some strict rules within catholicism. That is why all the other groups collectively are called Protestants. Catholicism is the only most organized and oldest existing organisation of the world. this is only becuase they are right.

Answer 4

Protestant, if that is the only Christian alternative to Catholic. I really hate labels. Why can't I just be a Child of God and Follower of Christ????
I think Catholics teach against some of the things I have read in the Bible and I think they took the original Judeo-Christian teachings and twisted them and created holidays and idols and other such nonsense that is not in the Bible. I don't judge them, but that is why I am not one....

Answer 5

Born and raised Protestant, Catholic by choice! I studied I agreed with and it felt right. I am home.

Answer 6

Mormon - you can have more than one husband or wife.

If Catholic is the strict caring older sister, Protestant is the ugly step-sister.

Answer 7

Definitely Catholic, because it is a full Gospel church.

All the books.

Direct scriptural authority fom God.

Valid sacraments.

One.
Holy.
Apostolic.
Universal.

Strong, centralized, hierarchical leadership via the pope and bishops, who are all valid and direct successors of the apostles.

Act 20:28 Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Consistent. Things are done today much the same way they were done when the apostles were still walking the earth.

Competent. Catholics understand that the dead in Christ are alive with him (right now) in heaven, and they are just as much active members of the church (or more) as you or I down here on the earth. This goes for Mary, the ever Virgin, blessed mother of God, as well.

Mat 22:32 I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.

Traditional. Tradition is a sacred remembrance of important events in the life of the church. The reason Catholics know Peter was really the first pope, and the reason we know Jesus really meant it literally when he said "This is my body" is because Catholics were there, practicing the faith at that very time and in that very place. They cherished those memories and passed them along to their ancestors, who gave them to us. You can't effectively interpret scripture without tradition. Protestants prove the truth of this everyday.

2Th 2:15 (2:14) Therefore, brethren, stand fast: and hold the traditions, which you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle.

Sacrificial. Every day, all day, at various times, all over the world, God is worshipped and glorified through the holy sacrifice of the Mass, which is the authentic re-presentation of Jesus, the once for all, eternal sacrifice of Calvary, in the flesh.

Mal 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.

The mass and the sacraments are why Catholics need priests.

A few notes:

Call no man father? Which one is correct?:

Mat 23:9 And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven.

Luk 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people.
Luk 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant.
Luk 1:70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning.
Luk 1:71 Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us.
Luk 1:72 To perform mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy testament.
Luk 1:73 The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us.

Luk 15:10 So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.
Luk 15:11 And he said: A certain man had two sons.
Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.
Luk 15:13 And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously.

Luk 16:23 And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom:
Luk 16:24 And he cried and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.

Act 7:1 Then the high priest said: Are these things so?
Act 7:2 Who said: Ye men, brethren and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charan.

Answer 8

Proudly Protestant...

I am partly Jewish and the Roman Catholic church has done too much to my people for me to be one of them...

Answer 9

ex-catholic. sent a letter to my church declaring a formal declaration of defection from the catholic church

Answer 10

PROTESTANT(pentocoastal or brethren) cuz WORD of GOD is taught in the right way