what are the basic differences between different Christian Sects? (Christians only)?

Question

Dear Christian brothers,

i have been hearing that there are several Christian sects all over the world. Like Protestant, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Lutheran , Evangelical, etc.

What are the basic differences between them? Who are called the Orthodox? Are Mormons a different sect?

Answer 1

i can answer this question like many christians answer the same question about Islam!!
they say there's no difference they are ALL false religions and man made!!!
but i'm better than that!! i wont get involved!!


peace!

Answer 2

Prior to the schism that ocurred in about 1100 AD all Christians were considered "catholic" or universal. Since that time the Eastern Orthodox Church split from the Western Catholic Church:

The East-West Schism, known also as the Great Schism (though this latter term sometimes refers to the later Western Schism), was the event that divided Chalcedonian Christianity into Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Though normally dated to 1054, the East-West Schism was actually the result of an extended period of estrangement between the two Churches. The primary causes of the Schism were disputes over papal authority—the Pope claimed he held authority over the four Eastern patriarchs, while Eastern Orthodox today claim that the primacy of the Patriarch of Rome was only honorary, and thus he had authority only over Western Christians—and over the insertion of the filioque clause into the Nicene Creed. There were other, less significant catalysts for the Schism, including variance over liturgical practices and conflicting claims of jurisdiction.

The Church split along doctrinal, theological, linguistic, political, and geographic lines, and the fundamental breach has never been healed. It might be alleged that the two churches actually reunited in 1274 (by the Second Council of Lyons) and in 1439 (by the Council of Basel), but in each case the councils were repudiated by the Orthodox as a whole, given that the hierarchs had overstepped their authority in consenting to these so-called "unions". Further attempts to reconcile the two bodies have failed; however, several ecclesiastical communities that originally sided with the East changed their loyalties, and are now called Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. For the most part, however, the Western and the Eastern Churches are separate. Each takes the view that it is the "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church", implying that the other group left the true church during the Schism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East-West_Schism

Answer 3

Catholics worship Mary as the queen of heaven.
They believe in the trinity, saints, transubstantiation, to name a few.

All other Christians are Protestant. We've protested the teachings of the Catholic church.
Some sects held on to some of the teachings, while others did not.

The main difference is how we interpret Christ.
Catholics believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and He is with His father in heaven. They also believe that there are 3 members of a godhead, the father, the son , and the holy spirit. They also believe that Mary remained a married virgin after she had Jesus.

Other Christians believe that God is God Almighty. God's Word is God, and God's Holy Spirit is God too. Just as we are us, our word, and our spirit.

Not sure about the Mormons, haven't finished my research of them, but I know the men used to have many wives, don't know if they still practice polygamy.

Jehovah's witnesses, believe that only a certain amount of people are going to heaven: 144,000.
They don't believe in blood transfusions. They don't read from the KJV, only watchtower publications, and the new world translation bible.

I know of Greek orthadox, not as familiar with their ethos.

These are some of the main ones. Some off shoots of them are usually refered to as cults.
But they all claim to be Christians. We obviously can't all be right.

Answer 4

My personal belief is that all these sects came into being when some priests wanted to get to rule and they couldn't otherwise. Remember there was only one Christian Church in the beginning and it is the way it should be again. If people had some sense left, it would be.
So, all who claim to be Christians shouldn't be different among themselves, the minor differences existing today are falsely created by those who broke away from the Catholic Church.
(One thing that seems very interesting to me is that all the sects I've heard of have broken away from the Catholic Church and I have never heard of one broken away from the Orthodox Church, interesting, isn't it?)

Answer 5

Almost all important doctrine is completely agreed upon between Catholic Christians and other Christians.

Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

There are some minor doctrine issues and some major cultural traditional differences which, I believe, do not matter that much.

A Catholic worships and follows Christ in the tradition of Catholicism which, among other things, recognizes that Christ made Peter the leader of His new Church and Pope Benedict XVI is Peter's direct successor.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

The person above that is talking about the Catholic Church is wrong about what the Catholic Church teaches.

If you want to see what the Catholic Church REALLY teaches... go here:

"The teachings of the Catholic Church"
http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/teaching.htm

Once you see that, you can compare to non-Catholic Christians (Protestants) teach and see what the differences are.

HINT: The main difference is that Protestants "protest" some of the teachings of the Catholic Church. (hence the name PROTESTant)

The main Truth that they protest is the Holy Eucharist.

343. What is the Holy Eucharist?
The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice. In the Holy Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine, the Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received.

(a) The whole Christ is really, truly, and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. We use the words "really, truly, and substantially" to describe Christ's presence in the Holy Eucharist in order to distinguish Our Lord's teaching from that of mere men who falsely teach that the Holy Eucharist is only a sign or figure of Christ, or that He is present only by His power.

(b) All Christians, with but few minor exceptions, held the true doctrine of the Real Presence from the time of Christ until the Protestant Revolution in the sixteenth century.

(c) The word "Eucharist" means "Thanksgiving."

Read more here:
http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/eucha1a.htm

Answer 7

One big difference is that we Christians go directly to God. We believe that we are saved through Jesus Christ. While other Christian sects like the Roman Catholics, you still have to attend masses and do good works. Same with the Mormons and others because they each have their own "founder" which they look up to. It's just that we have the great priviledge of going directly to God through Jesus Christ.Ü *hope I helped*

Answer 8

Mormons, members of the 'Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints', are members of the true living church of Jesus Christ, With Christ Himself at it's head and A modern day profit who presides over the members as Christ's mouthpiece. It was restored to the earth in the 1800s after the priesthood was taken from the earth during the great apostasy. The church and it's restoration was for told in the bible. Yes we believe in the bible. The book of Mormon is but another testament of Jesus Christ as told by the people of the western hemisphere. Did you think that God would play favorites and only give his gospel to the people in the eastern hemisphere? These were the people Jesus spoke of when he said; "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them must I also bring". He then went and visited them. If you are interested I can give you the references in the bible that tells of the restoration of Christ's true church.

Answer 9

We Christians believe that the differences we hold are a sign of the health of the religion. As long as a church holds to the basic tenets of the faith, (Christ is God, we must rely on His sacrifice instead of our good works to be acceptable to God, that we must repent of sins, that we are not gods) then we're good.

Where we differ is in the minor details like are miracles occurring today like they did with the 12 disciples? or should we be immersed in water for baptism or sprinkled. Way too much importance place on some of these things.

http://judgeright.blogspot.com

Answer 10

wow you ask a lot of questions for just two points.
I'll answer the first question. The differences in Christian religions are belief in Mary as the mother of God/Jesus; belief in the Pope as the head of the church on earth; belief in the change from bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ; belief in confessing one's sins to a priest; the Mass; the Holy Trinity, belief in a purgatory and a limbo and belief in angels and saints, maybe belief in sin as being mortal and venial; differences as to which day is the holy day of the week to be celebrated, holyday celebrations, etc.

Although Catholics don't like to be considered a denomination, here's a list of the denominations of churches, and there's quite a few of them:: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations

Answer 11

Read Revelation 2 and 3.

and Jehovah's Wintesses, and according to Revelation 2 and 3, ALL the churches have problems to fix for their inspection by Jesus, before he removes their Lampstand in the world.