What is the important doctrinal difference that requires the fighting between Catholics & Protestants?

Answer 1

There are many differences but we share more than what divides. As a Catholic I do not feel I am fighting with anyone. I can accept that they are my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I do however wish they would stop judging and calling us non-Christians.
Peace Be With You,
Debra

Answer 2

The Catholic Church is like a Monarchy, with the Pope having final say over the rules. This meant that if you had a different interpretation you were out of luck in the church, you could even be punished for this like Galileo, or it could be even worse than that. The only alternative was to break away from the church. At one point the church was actually selling forgiveness at a profit, and that did not sit well with many. There are many groups that broke from the church, and many that have broken from those. Issues include whether the actual body and blood of Christ is served at communion during the mass, can those that serve as ministers marry, do you have to go through the church, or can you have a personal relationship with God. The passions run high on these subjects and if you are serious it is important that you have the right interpretation. Thus the fighting. It should be noted that most catholics and protestants don't engage in this behavior.

Answer 3

Firstly all christians are catholic, since the word means universal church, the church is those who believe in christ.Protestants believe that the Bible is the sole source of truth, the Roman church belives scripture can only be understood through the church and that its traditions are equal in authority to the Bible.
The main doctrinal difference is salvation through faith alone a view held by protestant's. The Roman church believes in salvation through faith and works.

Answer 4

Protestants and Catholics aren't fighting.

Answer 5

There are a some conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, like in Northern Ireland. In many parts of the world, however, Catholics and Protestants get along just fine. Catholics and Protestants can pray together, and celebrate their common faith in Jesus Christ.

There are lots of misconceptions about the teachings of the Catholic Church, and these misunderstandings create prejudice and hatred.

As far as the post that states that there were "two different Bibles"... Well, that's just ridiculous. There is one Bible, which all Christians believe to be the inspired Word of God.
The Catholics include the Apocryphal books interspersed throughout their Bible, while some Protestants have the Apocrypha sandwiched between the Old and New Testaments, and others leave it out of the Bible altogether. A Methodist minister recently held a Bible study devoted to learning about the Apocrypha, even though the books were considered "supplemental" to the Bible, and not part of the original canon.

The IMPORTANT DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCE between Catholics and Protestants involves Holy Communion, also known as "The Eucharist". Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe Communion to be the actual Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This belief is called "Transubstantiation".

Most Protestants believe that Communion is a symbolic act, and that Jesus is only present in a symbolic way. This belief varies from one Protestant denomination to another, for example the Lutherans have a belief called "consubstantiation" which is similar to that of the Catholic teaching. There are links below to explain each.

There is evidence that the earliest Christians believed exactly what the Catholic Church teaches today, that Jesus is truly present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. This is evidenced by the writings of the earliest Christians: Ignatius, Augustine, Justin Martyr. . . All their writings are from the 100s-200s A.D. Check out this link: http://www.catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp

Catholics take it very literally when Christ referred to Himself as the “Bread of Life”, and the “Living Bread come down from Heaven” in John chapter 6: 41-53. His disciples even took it literally, and they argued amongst themselves, because what He was saying was controversial. The Greek words used in John 6 and also in Matthew 26 when Jesus said, “Take, eat, this is My body”, were meant to be very literal and very graphic. The disciples realized that Jesus was not speaking metaphorically when they said, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”, and many of his disciples left Him because they couldn’t accept the idea of the “Bread of Life”. No other teaching is emphasized so much in Scripture as the “Bread of Life”, mentioned 12 times.

So, anyway, I hope that answers the question...
The main doctrinal difference between the Catholics and Protestants involves the Eucharist and the doctrine of Transubstantiation. There are other doctrinal differences, involving for example the intercession of Saints or the authority of Tradition and the Magisterium... But keep in mind that even among Protestant denominations there are differences in beliefs.

Nothing "REQUIRES THE FIGHTING" between Catholics and Protestants. The fighting stems more from political power struggles than anything to do with the actual doctrine anyway!

And, for the record, Catholics do not Worship Mary. God alone is worthy of Worship! We respect Mary and we love her, because Christ loved her. We are inspired by her strength and her faith. We are confident that she is praying for us, as all Christians are called to pray for one another. (We don't just STOP praying for one another when we get to Heaven, you know?) This article explains it well: http://www.fjicthus.com/BecomingCatholic/becomingcatholic09.htm

Ok, hope that clears things up a bit! God Bless!
AJ

Answer 6

hmmm, comments above that Bibles are 2 and different... So does it make sence to belive in Bible at all...

Catholics follow Old and New Testament.
Protestants somehow see religion source only in Gospels of Jesus and New Testament. Which is not correct. If protestants claim to belive in One God, the first word of God was giving to Moses in Old Testament ( Tourah) which will be blamsphere not to take into attention.

Answer 7

I'm baptist and cannot speak for all protestants, but I beleive that it is Catholics believe the Catholic church has authority, while Baptist believe in Scripture as the sole authority on doctrine. This belief that the Catholic church has in itself is what allows it to maintain all of its doctrinal differences from those whose sole authority is the Bible.

Answer 8

It was the concept of Purgatory I believe. That there is a
kind of LIMBO where some souls go in between heaven and
hell.
I think it comes from ghosts. But the CLINCHER was the
fact the church made people PAY to get the souls out of
there, and that is what made the Protestants GO OFF!

Answer 9

True christians shouldn't fight and be divided over beleifs, but the original difference between the 2 was the pope as a leader, the selling of indulgences, the virgin Mary being prayed too along with other saints, purgatory, celibacy of preists and nuns, the Bible only in latin for Catholics, and the transubstantiation of the communion.

Answer 10

Doctrinal differences are made to look insurmountable, but they really are not. The great divide is political, not doctrinal.