Protestant or Catholic?

Question

If you are a Catholic, tell me why are you a Catholic and not a protestant, and if you are a Protestant, why are you a Protestant and not a Catholic? Particularly I'm a Protestant, but I have read so much about Christian history and Chirstian doctrine that now, I am kind of confused.Please support your answer if you are knowledgeable on this matter and not based on what your pastor or priest tells you about it.

Answer 1

I chose to become Catholic after doing a lot of searching for the right one.

I came to the conclusion that Jesus set up 7 sacraments while he was on earth, and Catholicism is the only one that teaches those.

It was set up by Jesus

It is the only faith that contains the fullness of the teachings of Jesus - others may teach, but only Catholicism teaches it all.

Answer 2

I'm Protestant (Baptist in fact), because I dislike many of the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church. I think that Church is too dependent on tradition and the sayings of human beings and has too little respect for Scripture. I do not accept the need for priests to stand as an intermediary between God and men, I do not accept the idea that any man can be infallible, I do not believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation, I think Mary is given too much honor- even to the point of idolatry sometimes, I consider it near blasphemy to pray to saints- no matter how holy, and so forth. There are other things I could name, but that's a sufficient start. I happen to think the Eastern Orthodox Church has a much better claim to being the lawful descendent of the original church than the Catholic Church does.

Answer 3

I'm a PROTESCATHO Both. You know BOTH are Christians. You'd be surprised how many people come up to me and say they are baptist, pentecostal etc, and say Catholics aren't Christians. Well here's the fact, Catholics existed first then people who protested Catholic teachings became what are known as PROTESTANTS.
So if you're not Catholic, it does not matter what you are, you're a Protestant. I follow the beliefs of both "religions".
The two are all Christians. And there are good and bad in both of them. I've met Catholics I treasure like baseball cards, and some I can't stand to see. The same is for Baptists etc.
Both sides have something to offer, where I dont convert to Catholicism is due to their teaching that a Catholic cannot marry a non Catholic. Hey people we are ALL Christians, and the Bible plainly teaches harmony, to be of ONE mind.

Answer 4

I am a Catholic.

First and foremost because of the Eucharist. We believe that it is the body and blood of Christ. Read John chapter 6 along with the synoptic versions of the last supper. Protestant churches believe that it is a 'symbol' of Christ's presence....

I believe that the Catholic Church is the only church that can claim apostolic sucession. It is the same Church (of course things became more institutionalized as the church grew) that the apostles worshiped in. The didache is a good resource to compare with modern Catholic liturgy.

I believe that Martin Luther had a lot of legitimate complaints against the Church of the day......Who knows, if I were around back then---perhaps I would have joined his Reformation if they would have only retained the true meaning of the Eucharist.....

Oh and for the person above---regarding birth control---you would have to understand the theology as well as the science behind the Church's teaching, it actually is well founded. Regarding the infallibility of the Pope---that is something that is envoked only in VERY rare circumstances; is only in matters of faith or morals--and has only been done I believe three times ever.
As far as women's ordination---I dont see a woman among the 12....although, this is one area that I think some dialogue could take place.

Answer 5

My parents were split, my dad was Protestant, and my mom was Catholic. Back in the times, when that was looked upon as being horrible. I was brought up Episcopal, I guess they came up with a compromise. My wife, was brought up Catholic and to get married in a Catholic church I had to convert to Catholicism. My wife has since passed on and I am still Catholic. But like you, I'm a little confused, I don't agree with some of the Catholic way of thinking and I truly don't know if I want to be Protestant. I do not have any intention of going back to the Episcopal church. So I guess I will continue to be a lazy Catholic...Hope you find your way, and God Bless...

Answer 6

I'm a Catholic because the Catholic church is the only Christian faith that enjoys the fullness of God's truth and the completeness of his doctrine and sacraments.

Protestants insist that Catholics are unbiblical and make things up, but a protestant saying stuff like that is like a kid skipping class for ten weeks, showing up 2 days before the final exam, and then claiming the teacher makes things up.

You can't get way with intentionally ignoring 1500 to 1800 years of valid church history, make up your own new rules, based only on discontent and vague philosophical principles, and then go around claiming everyone else is wrong.

Answer 7

I was raised catholic, and I still consider myself a catholic, but I don't practice anymore, because I disagree with the Catholic position on several subjects. For example, I believe priests should be allowed to marry, that using birth control is a realistic step to preventing STD's, since browbeating people into morality doesn't cut it. I don't agree with how the church handled the child abuse scandal, and I don't think homosexuals are deviant. These are significant issues, and I believe that one must be truthful, and if you can't comply with everything your religion expects from you, it's better to leave than become disrespectful.
I don't think there is one true religion that fits everyone. CAtholicism fit me for most of my life, since I was raised in a parish that was more like a community, where people sincerely cared about each other. This was during the 1980s in Nicaragua, at the height of the Sandinista revolution. Since religion was under persecution (and by this I mean all religious groups), we took refuge in our faith, and found comfort.
Now, I know that protestants have a lot of ideas about catholics, and viceversa. I think we're missing the point, sometimes, quarrelling about who is the better, and most true christian. I don't think that's what christ had in mind when the whole thing began. In the beginning, they were all christians, and they were all persecuted, misunderstood and martyred. In fact, if you read Suetonious (the lives of the 12 ceasars), you find that the romans had all sorts of funny ideas about the christians, who were accused of, among other things, worshiping the head of a donkey, and of eating babies. At some point, when christianity, as a religion, became entangled with the centers of political power, we lost track of the important things and grew complacent.
Yeah, Catholics have a lot to answer for. As a religion, we've screwed up royally, but so have other christians. I mean, the pilgrims didn't flee England because of Catholics, did they? What catholics are is notoriously slow to change our ways. It took us 1960-something years to stop using latin in mass, and it wasn't until pope John Paul II that the church apologized to luterans, and admitted that Luther was right.

Answer 8

I was born and raised Roman Catholic, and rebelled a while as a teenager, and then, after some more years in protestant churches, have returned to the Roman Catholic (not American Catholic) Church. The "whys-and-wherefores" of my decision are too numerous for Yahoo Answers to be able to handle, and too lengthy for me to type here without receiving a doctoral degree, but if you want a lead-in to understanding why, read all the biographical works about Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, and their theological works. Then you'll be reading about why I returned wholeheartedly to Roman Catholicism. God Bless you.

Answer 9

I am and was raised Protestant. As a history teacher I learned A LOT about the Catholic church and it has secured my Protestant beliefs. Reasons why I would chose to remain Protestant:

*Many Catholics believe the Pope is infallalbe. The Bible tells us that no man was perfect, except Christ. The Pope is a man, chosen by the Cardinals... a group of men. There is nothing wrong with them being leaders of the Church, but they are no closer to God than any other man, or church leader.
*As for Apostolic Succession, that is irrelevant. Jesus said to go out and spread the gospel, he did not leave any one group "in charge." He might have started his church in one place, but he did not set that Church apart from the rest.
*Mary- Mary was a great woman, a vessel for God, but beyond that, she was just a woman. The Catholics put too much emphasis on her. The Bible does not speak of Mary's immaculate conception as the Catholics teach. (Mary being born without the original sin of Adam that everyone was cursed with.)
*Praying to Saints. The Bible says that Christ is the way, only through him can you obtain salvation. The Saints were wonderful people, but I find no need to pray to them.
*Confession. We only need to confess to Christ, not a priest.
*Purgatory- When we die we go to Heaven or Hell, there is no in-between state.
*Limbo- The Catholics teach that unbaptized babies go to Limbo. Babies have not reached the age of accountability, therefore their souls would return to God. Plus, baptism is a sign that one has willing accepted Christ, it does not good for a baby to be baptized. Not for salvation anyways...
*The fact that the Catholic church at one time sold indulgences "get out of hell cards." You pay the church, a loved one would spend less time in Hell or purgatory.
*The fact that the church told people that if they fought and died in the crusades they would go straight to Heaven.
These are just a few of the beliefs that keep me Protestant. I'm not putting down the Catholics... most of the above mentioned beliefs do not affect salvation. But, several are "unbiblical." I'm not saying their beliefs are "wrong," I just disagree.

Answer 10

I'm an Episcopalian (protestant) because I don't agree with some of the tenants of the Roman Catholic church. I see nothing wrong with it--it's just not for me. Mainly, I don't believe the Pope is infallible in religious matters; I do believe women should be ordained; and finally I support birth control.

Answer 11

I'm neither, but fundamentalist. Our preachers believe that every sect of Christianity has good, valid points of their doctrine, as well as some that are off the mark. The best thing you can do both independently and as a church is look at these points, compare them to scripture, compare them to the historical church's practices, and decide what is good and biblical versus what is misguided. No sect is all bad, and it is a shame to dismiss them completely and miss out on the riches which they hold while eliminating the misguided aspects.