Difference between Catholic faith and Protestant? How can I explain this to my Muslim friend?

Question

I attend the non-denominational Christian church, and I do not know so much about Catholic faith...this is not my language...please help..Serious answers only please...even if you do not even believe in God. I just want to explain it to my friend without using wrong words.

Answer 1

Protestants are "protesting" the authority of the Catholic church, basically. The Bible is their authority for the most part.

Catholics have their own elaborate system of control over the people, such as infant baptism, the deification of the pope, penance, etc., none of which can be found anywhere in the Bible.

Answer 2

The #1 difference: The Catholic Church believes in the True Presence of Christ in the Bread and the Wine; #2 difference: Catholics follow not just the Bible, but the actual Teaching Office of Jesus Christ which is the Catholic Church. I'll elaborate:

Catholicism pre-dates Protestantism by approx. 1,500 years. True Protestants broke away from the Catholic Church, which is the original and authentic Christian Church. There are only four or five true Protestant Churches, that is, churches that broke away directly from the Catholic Church like the Lutherans, Anglicans etc.

The word 'Catholic' means more than universal. It means: "According to the whole," as in the Whole Truth of Christ. The Catholic Church gave birth to the Bible and pre-dates it by 400 years. Most non-Catholic Christians are 'Bible Christians.' Catholics adhere to the Teaching Office of Jesus Christ, which is the Catholic Church, and not just the Bible. Catholics believe that when the bread and the wine are consecrated during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, it actually becomes the Body and Blood of Christ without changing appearance. Other differences are minor: Seven Sacraments instead of just one or two; the Pope as the Spiritual Leader of Christians on Earth; insolubility of marriage; right to life, veneration of the Virgin Mary, respect for the Saints, etc.

Question: Why does a Muslim care about the differences between Catholics and Protestants? Although Catholics acknowledge that Islam is a monotheistic Religion and a Revealed Religion it sounds like your Muslim friend may be trying to convert you. If you are NOT well versed in your own Faith and prepared to defend it, it may be best to set your dialogue aside until you are better prepared. It took JWs, LDSs and evangelists knocking on my door to make me get off my butt and really learn Catholicism, which is why I will always be a Catholic. I took the trouble to learn the Truth.

Good luck with your Muslim friend.

H

Answer 3

Catholics add traditions of men and paganism to their faith. Those things are not supported in the Christian Bible. Examples being

1. Praying to Mary
2. Praying to dead saints
3. purgatory
4. Confessing to priests & paying a pennance determined by said preist.
5. Calling men "father" as a title against the command of Christ.
6. Idols/statues * bowing to and kissing them
7. Saying that Peterr was the first pope and popes cannot get married but the Apostle Peter WAS married
8. Saying Mary remained a virgin after Jesus' birth but the Bible lists four of Jesus' brothers.

These are the basics. Biblical Christianity follows the scriptures, no more - no less, without adding or taking away from it. B.C. if far from the Roman Catholic church which was an amalgamation of Christianity and paganism by the Roman Emperor Constantine.

And to the person above who says that Biblical Christians would not meet on Suday, that is NOT true. The Apostles met on the first day of the week. That would be Sunday. Biblical Christians follow Christ and the Apostle's teachings.

Answer 4

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 5

The difference? There is really not much. If the protestants were true to their creed of 'the Bible and only the Bible' as the rule of faith, then they would worship on Saturday, the seventh day of the week as this is the ONLY day that God has set aside. The sunday was set aside by the catholic church, not God. So when the protestants worship on the sunday they are paying homage to the pope. Whether they want to believe it or not.

Answer 6

"Protestant" is a general term used to describe a Christian who refuses to accept the office of the Church with Bishops, Cardinals, and a Pope acting as appointed administrative representatives of Christianity. Most protestants believe that "faith alone" (and paradoxically) "scripture alone" are the keys to salvation. A person's actions are not accounted for. They assume that simple belief in Jesus's sacrifice automatically holds them unaccountable for their sinful deeds. This does not encourage them to sin, but it prevents them from mistakenly believing that you can buy your way into heaven with good works alone. Catholics believe a combination of faith AND good works are the key to ensuring salvation.

Catholics believe in a system where Bishops, Cardinals, and the Pope have been appointed in succession by Jesus's original disciples. Jesus appointed Simon Peter as the "foundation of the church", like the first "Pope", with all the other disciples being like Bishops. Catholics believe that only Jesus's original disciples had the authority to appoint someone to succeed them (take their place), and this tradition has been passed down from generation to generation. Several other traditions have been adopted along the way, such as kneeling towards the cross before you sit down (14th century tradition to honor nobility), and honoring the remarkable achievements of certain martyrs and servants known as Saints. Protestants reject these traditions and attempt to simplify things for the sake of "focusing" their worship without what they consider to be needless distractions.

There are several more differences, but hopefully these key points sheds some light on your issue.

Peace

Answer 7

I would tell her this:

Imagine that Muhammad specifically designated a person to succeed him, as a sort of representative, after his death. The person who held this office would be in charge of interpreting the Koran, the Sunnah, etc., all down throughout history. That's the Catholic Church.

Then imagine that some Muslims decided that the representative wasn't someone they needed to listen to. They could ignore the representative, read and interpret those books themselves, and come to different conclusions than the representative, and live by those differing interpretations, and still go to Paradise. That's Protestantism.

Answer 8

both remember on God and Jesus both trust that you want Jesus as your Savior both trust you should be baptized in a unmarried way or yet another. both settle for the Apostles Creed maximum are Trinitarian both remember on heaven and hell both trust that you've an immortal soul both trust that Christ will come again both trust that Christ died for our sins Catholics remember on toddler baptism Catholics trust interior the genuine Presence of the Eucharist Catholics remember on Transubstantiation Catholics trust interior the Nicene Creed Catholics trust interior the communion of Saints Catholics trust interior the stainless theory of Mary Catholics trust interior the intercession of Mary and Saints. Catholics have seven Sacraments Catholics have the completed version of the bible, really than the abbreviated version (no books taken out) Catholics remember on faith and solid works Catholics trust that the pope isn't incorrect at the same time as it is composed of the doctrine of the church. In all else he's fallible, yet no longer at the same time as it is composed of defining the doctrine, because he can no longer bypass hostile to the doctrine. i am hoping this facilitates. i understand i have not given an finished record, even with the indisputable fact that that's a commence.

Answer 9

Not much. they share the base doctrines of the trinity, hell, and immortal soul.(All of which are false).
The difference? The Catholic church includes tons of 'traditions' that do not originate in the Bible. Purgatory, lent, Mary worship, idols, incense, prayer to saints, candles, a priest class, rote prayers(the hail Mary...etc), the pope, christmas, easter, indulgences(which led to the break awy or protestant movement), and the list goes on and on!

while your explaining, can you ask your Muslim Friend the difference between the Sunni, Shiite, and all the other sects of the Muslim faith?

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Answer 10

Jesus Christ founded only one church, the Catholic Church, and solely gave power and authority to that church to act in his name, in all spiritual matters, until the end of time.

Protestants chose to break away from the Catholic church, and set up their own rules and practices, many of which vary substantially from Catholicism, and from other Protestant groups, as well.