What is the difference between the views of the Roman Catholic Church and the Christian Church?

Question

in general

Answer 1

The main difference started from the position of who has spiritual authority.

The Roman Catholic Church believes that the Pope has the ultimate spiritual authority and tradition holds a higher position than the Bible. They believe that the Pope and his decisions have a measure of infallablity. For example, this is how the Pope could have decreed that Jesus' mother Mary was sinless and had an imaculate conception even though this was not in the Bible. They hold Mary to a higher view and also believe in the prayer to dead saints as intercessors to God. They believe that the priests who bless communion turn the wine and bread in communion into Christ's actual blood and body, and this imparts grace. They also believe that the baptism of an infant will help that child get to heaven if the child dies. Most importantly they belive that salvation comes through faith plus works.

The Protestant Church believes that the Bible has the ultimate spiritual authority, and does not recognize the Pope as the head of the church. They generally hold to the Bible as the spiritual guidlines of their faith. They believe also that the praying to the saints and elevation of Mary as sinless is not seen in the Bible and a form of idoltry. They believe that Jesus is the sole intercessor to God and pray through him as Jesus taught to do in the gospels. Depending on the denomination, they believe that the church leaders either help the bread and wine in communion to impart grace to the congregation or that the bread and the wine are only symbols of Christ's sacrifice. Most protestants believe that baptism is a concious act that demonstrates a changed heart and needs to be done at an age of consent of the individual believer. Most importantly they believe that salvation comes through faith alone.

While the Roman Catholic Church is a sect of Christianity, one of the popes declared that all those who follow Christ but are not in their church are "separated breathern." There is differing opinions if that means that the Roman Catholic Church believes that other Christians are not saved.

Both churches recognize the trinity. However they are very different. It is important to note that original reformists Calvin and Luther recognized the Roman Catholic Church as a legitimate church and did not require rebaptism when entering into the Prostestant Church.

There are truly saved people who recognize Christ as their Lord and Savior in both churches (as well as unsaved people who attend both churches).

Answer 2

The Roman Catholic church is a sec of Christianity. There are many different Christian churches.

Answer 3

Well.... there are many differences but basically, when the Church was first being started, if followed the modern day Protestant beliefs. Some people, much later on, started getting power hungry and made the Roman Catholic the 'official' Church of the Roman Empire. Thus, many non-believers were forced to join the Church rather than death. This led to misinterpretation of the Bible. Mary is on the same level, almost, as Jesus. They used to sell indulgences as a way to save dead people from Hell. They pray to saints rather than God.

Basically, Protestants look to the Bible for clarification while Catholics look to their church leaders i.e. the Pope.

Don't get me wrong, I respect true Catholics a ton, but many claim to be Catholics and really don't follow it's teachings at all.

Answer 4

The Roman Catholic church is just as Christian as the Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, or any other Christian church.
Answer - - - since Catholic is Christian there is no difference.

Answer 5

The Church of Christ is the Roman Church (the one with the Pope) - the term 'Roman Catholic' was invented by the Church of England to promote its branch theory of Christianity. According to that term (which unfortunately has become popular amongst American Catholics) the 'Catholic Church' of the Pope is Roman ('Roman' Catholic), and the 'Catholic Church' of England is Anglican (Anglo-Catholic) - as you can see it serves the purposes of the Anglo-Catholics very well. And then there is all that nonsense about Catholicism accruing pagan ways, and not being 'Christian' anymore...anyway, to answer your question, there is no difference, since they are the same thing. The First Vatican Council pronounced that the Church of Christ is known as the 'Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church' - the principle title being 'Catholic'.

Answer 6

The Roman Catholic Church believes the Pope speaks for God and is infallible.

Answer 7

So many reasons. The Catholic church is considered by the Orthodox to be too legalistic and relies too much on intellectual speculation. The Orthodox church is considered by the Catholics to be too mystical and relies too much on spiritual practices. Catholic Priests may not be married whereas Eastern Orthodox priests may marry prior to ordination. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not believe in purgatory and does not observe the Stations of the Cross. And many other reasons.

Answer 8

Roman Catholic are all about man made tradition.
During the Reformation, several Latin slogans emerged, illustrating the Reformers' concern that the authorities of the Church had distorted the message of justification before God, and salvation in Jesus Christ. The Reformers believed it was necessary to return to the simplicity of the Gospel in four major areas, each with a slogan. These slogans essentially became rallying cries to challenge the problems the Reformers believed they had identified, which are:

Solus Christus: Christ alone.
The Protestants characterize the dogma concerning the Pope as Christ's representative head of the Church on earth, the concept of meritorious works, and the Catholic idea of a treasury of the merits of saints, as a denial that Christ is the only mediator between God and man.
Sola scriptura: Scripture alone.
Protestants believe that the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church obscure the teachings of the Bible by convoluting it with church history and doctrine.
Sola fide: Faith alone.
Protestants believe that faith in Christ alone is enough for eternal salvation, unlike Roman Catholics who believe it requires "faith and good works." Instead, Protestants believe that practicing good works attests to one's faith in Christ and his teachings.
Sola gratia: Grace alone.
The Roman Catholic view of the means of salvation was believed by the Protestants to be a mixture of reliance upon the grace of God, and confidence in the merits of one's own works, performed in love. The Reformers posited that salvation is entirely comprehended in God's gifts, (i.e. God's act of free grace) dispensed by the Holy Spirit according to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ alone. Consequently, they argued that a sinner is not accepted by God on account of the change wrought in the believer by God's grace, and that the believer is accepted without any regard for the merit of his works - for no one deserves salvation

Answer 9

The views are very similar in that the Catholic Church is a Cristian Denomination.

Answer 10

Catholics, while they are christian, are a majority....christians are only in the usa.......Catholics, are a big church,....I've looked it up and I think Catholics are the largest religion in the world.....they;'re part of the christian church too.........soemthing like that, but they really are the largest church.......