What is the difference among the three sects of Christianity: Catholicism, Protestanism & Orthodoxy?

Answer 1

Way too much to put here.

Some very basic differences:
Roman Catholics view the Pope as the head of the church, representing Christ. The popes have authority to basically define and amend church doctrine. They are seen as basically inerrant.

Eastern Orthodoxy split from the Romans in the early centuries and no longer followed the decrees of the Popes. E.O. churches are very traditional and liturgical, like R.C.'s. They generally rely on sources outside of scripture as well as the Bible for guidance and teaching.

Protestants reject papal authority and rules and doctrine which have been declared by these churches which seem out of place with scripture as they read it. There is a strong tendency to view scripture as the absolute and final authority in all matters and tend to be the most contemporary in worship. Protestantism has the widest differences between the denominations.

Hope this helps some.

Answer 2

Catholicism really is a lot like Orthodoxy in doctrine and whatnot. The Mass is different though. There are a couple differences more important to them than really anyone would notice from the outside.

Protestantism is better broken down into at least 2 more parts. There are what I'll call lower and upper protestantism. Upper resembles Catholicism more closely but does away with tradition and relies heavily on the Bible. It is conservative in its interpretation of the text. Lower uses the Bible as it will, often interpreting it in dangerous ways. Basically, protestant do away with Tradition and use the Bible alone.

Answer 3

Catholicism was the original Church. It was the whole of Christianity until the 1000s, when most of the Church in the East broke away in a dispute over papal authority to become the Orthodox churches. In the 1500s, Luther and Calvin (among others) broke away from the Catholic Church over doctrinal issues. Henry VIII or England broke in the 1500s as well, because the Pope wouldn't agree to annul his marriage. All sects other than Catholicism have broken away from it at one point or another. A good diagram of this can be found at http://www.scborromeo.org/images/fig1.jpg

Answer 4

Christian Orthodox and Catholicism is different.

Catholics although knowing Jesus is the head of the Church, pray to saints and statues. They also believe that they need to confess their sins to a priest. They (Catholics) also have many religious ceremonies and traditions.

As Christians, we pray straight to God in Jesus name. No middle man. At my Church (non-denominational), we are encouraged to have a relationship with Jesus (our Messiah and Savior) and not play church or be "religious."

If you mean Jewish Orthodoxy then that is completely different than Christian Orthodoxy. Our Jewish brothers and sisters believe that Christ was a great prophet and isn't the Messiah. Our (Christian) Living God is the same living God as the Jewish Orthodoxy...

Answer 5

Historically, you mean? Well, Roman Catholicism traces its roots to the Christians in the Western Roman Empire, hence the name. Orthodox goes back to the Christians in the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire). Protestants came much later (in the 1500's, I believe) when Martin Luther, who disagreed with some practices of the Catholic Church, nailed his complaints to a church door. One thing led to another, and soon he was on his own leading a new branch of Christianity: Lutheran. The other protestant religions followed in later years.

Answer 6

Emphasis on different sections of the New Testament, different interpretations, and different rituals.

Answer 7

You do know that there are more than three sects, right?