what are some differences and similarities in protestant and catholic services?

Answer 1

The problem with your question is that there are currently 46,000 Protestant denominations, all of which do it differently, and but one Catholic Church although it has around 20-25 groupings of distinct services.

All Catholic, Orthodox and Copt services were either written by an apostle, their immediate disciples such as Mark the Evangelist or Mari and Addai who were taught by Thomas, or were based upon these original services (which run 4 hours long) but reduced down "for run time," as the tv shows now say to 1-2 hours.

You can in fact see all the first century services as they are all still in use in various parts of the world, but you have to go looking for them. As they are around 4 hours long, they are rarely seen or done. More commonly you will see the shorter versions such as the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostum or the Novus Ordo.

However, if you attend a Roman Catholic Easter Vigil, with its ten old testament readings, ten psalms, ten psalm prayers, the litanies, the "Light of Christ," hymn, the baptisms, confirmations and eucharistic prayers and of course its new testament and gospel readings, you are seeing something very close to Peter's liturgy.

Protestant services then vary based upon the locality they came from, since there are a variety of services during the Reformation. Further, some remained quite close to the ancient practices and some split entirely. Catholics proclaim the scriptures in a patterned manner so that the entire bible is read during the services over a fixed period of time. Baptists and Anabaptists explicitly rejected this system and choose which passages they want to preach on and when. Some have communion, some do not. Some have a public profession of sin, some do not. Some have the extensive involvement of the laity and some do not.

Many Protestant services are explicitly attempting to drift their services to the Catholic service to make them indistinguishable so that when reunion happens, no one is shocked.

It all depends on which of the 46,000 denominations you are looking at as to what you will see. Go visit the snake handlers of Kentucky and see people handle rattlesnakes as part of the service. Visit pentecostals speaking in tongues. Visit Quakers quite literally quaking but otherwise sitting in silence. Visit "non-denominational," groups with powerpoint based services. Or visit Lutherans and see a close to Catholic service.

All Catholic services regardless of whether you are looking at the Thomas Christians of India, the Copts of Egypt, or the Romans, invoke the blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All confess their sinfullness and plead God the Father for mercy through His Son with the Holy and Life Creating Spirit. All read the scriptures in such a way as to cover the entirety of scriptures over some planned period of time. All offer spiritual sacrifice as a foretaste of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, all say the Nicene Creed, all pray the Lord's prayer, and all ask God to be present (parousia) in our lives and all worship is done with the angels and the saints.

In addition to the primary liturgy above, all also sing the liturgy of the hours. Paul says to pray unceasingly. All Catholic Churches consecrate all time to God by having prayers spread out through the days, consisting primarily of the psalter, but also other scripture readings and prayers. Like the eucharistic liturgies, the psalms and scriptures are read out over a fixed period of time to ensure total coverage and to prevent bias in preaching. If the pastor cannot choose which passages to emphasize, and simply reads them in order, the pastor cannot bias the message.

Protestants do all kinds of things.

Answer 2

I will assume you are coming from the Protestant side. If not, just reverse all the statements.

At the core - Protestant - plain - Roman - rococo.

A Roman service is more ornate and more structured. A Protestant service will tend to be less ornate and less structured (although the smells and bells wing of the Episcopal church can give any of the American Romans a run for their money and I'll match Canterbury against the Vatican anytime).

You will probably be popping up and down much more than you are used to. Just go with the flow. If you have a prayer book and you can find everything you will find that almost nothing is left to chance. The sermon is often a minor part of the service if it isn't omitted. Different prayers are selected depending on the date and on outside events but the prayers are read from the prayer book.

My advice would not to try and find all the incidental prayers. Find the basic structure of the service in the prayer book and try to follow along. It seems more difficult, at least to me, than any of the prayer books used by Protestant churches.

Warning - If you are a Protestant, please note that while the Lord's Prayer starts the same as the one you are used to it stops before you are used to (after "deliver us from evil") for the priest to say something. Don't be the only one talking.

Collection is normally done while you are sitting but communion is at the front of the church. Unlike most Protestant churches, they do not welcome all baptized Christians to take communion so you won't have to worry about that. It is polite to raise the kneeler when the rest of the row goes up to take communion.

You will see people doing a number of things (dipping the holy water, crossing themselves, bowing), none of which you have to do unless you feel like it. Your main goal should be to keep your head at the same level as everyone else (kneel, sit, stand).

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

It really depends on which protestant sect you're talking about, because Episcopalian and Catholic services are a lot more similar than Baptist and Catholic services. The key things would be though 1) that in the Catholic Church, Communion/Eucharist (the Last Supper, bread and whine) is held every Mass. Everyone in the lines up and one by one goes up to the Priest and the pastoral directors, deacons, and/or nuns that assist him, take one wafer of Communion bread, drink the wine, and the Priest says "Body of Christ" and that only members of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Anglican Church can receive the Communion. In their belief, it is the becomes the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ through a miracle of God. In most protestant sects, there is no such ceremony, or there is the Last Supper, which usually occurs once or twice a year, typically on Easter, and it varies in that anyone can partake in it, and you don't have to line up, the Pastor will come to you, and its usually considered to be only symbolically and not literally the body and blood of Christ. 2) Also, the music is usual different between Protestants and Catholics. They have some of the same hymns, but some different ones as well. Also, a lot of Protestant Churches will sing at the beginning of the service, and the end. In Catholic Churches, there's ordered times in which singing will occur throughout the Mass. One of these times is 3) the Procession. At the beginning of Mass, someone, usually a choir boy or deacon will come in first carrying a candle on a pole, and then another carrying a crucifix on a pole, and then the Priest comes with a Bible, and they all sing "Hallelujah" in a tone I can't really convey in text, but its easy to catch onto. With the exception of the Episcopalians/Anglicans, no protestant churches really do this. Also, in Catholic Churches, the sermon is called the homily. One last thing, you don't HAVE to cross yourself, or stand up and down, or kneel or anything if you don't want to in a Catholic church, but most people who are used to it will. In a protestant church, you'll never cross yourself, but you may do a lot of standing up and sitting down and kneeling, and in some protestant sects, you'll see people jumping around and running around in a frenzy, per the work of the Holy Spirit they believe. That's about it. Other than that, its mostly the same, what with your hand shaking and Bible reading and talk about God and love and such. Its just a little more ordered in the Catholic church, not that that makes it better or worse than protestant churches in any way.

Answer 4

Probably the main similarity between a Protestant worship service and a Catholic Mass is the heavy reliance on Scripture. There are at least 4 scriptures read at every Catholic Mass, and many of the standard prayers of the Mass are likewise taken from Scripture. And of course music is another similarity. Also both types of worship usually include a homily or teaching by the pastor/minister/priest.

The main difference is that what I mentioned above pretty much forms the substance of a Protestant service, whereas in the Mass all of the above serve only to support and form a structure within which the actual essence of the Mass can take place, that being the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ made real upon the altar, to be given to us just as it was given to the Apostles at the Last Supper. We do this in obedience to Christ, Who did it first, and then commanded "Do this in remembrance of Me". Catholics have continued to celebrate the Mass ever since that night.

"scotto", in the post above, interprets "the husband of one wife" as a requirement to marry. One more sad example of the inadequacy of private interpretation. This passage is a proscription against polygamy, not a requirement to marry. In the early Church converts were coming from two sources - Judaism and paganism. Many pagan converts brought with them their multiple wives. As time went on, some of these pagan converts started moving up the ranks, so to speak, within the Church, and assuming positions of authority. This teaching by Paul has one purpose, to prevent men with multiple wives from becoming bishops. This is so basic, yet even the basics elude those who reject the guidance of the biblical pillar and foundation of truth, God's holy Church. Incidentally, I know a few unmarried Protestant ministers, both male and female.
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Answer 5

The Nicene creed and communion are 2 similarities. Protestants don't believe in the power of the Pope is a difference.

Answer 6

In order to be able to explain, I'd have to know which one of the 35,000+ Protestant denominations you're referring to, since they all have different beliefs and doctrines. The easiest differences between two groups to explain would be between Catholics and fundamentalist Christians (sic.) For the most part, Catholics are loving, tolerant people who follow our Savior's commandments by caring for His people. We try not to judge other people because that is the sin of presumption: only God has the right to say who is and isn't a "real" Christian because only He can judge His creation. And as you can see by some of the answers/lies from the pit of hell that you've gotten ("Catholics aren't Christians! Catholics believe in a false gospel of works!"), fundamentalists aren't, and they do.

Answer 7

They are both witchcraft.

Answer 8

none ! catholic & christians doctrine is very different. take for instance the celibacy that the Roman Catholic Chruch say the priest must bear & then look to what the bible says ! this is just the tip of the iceburg of differences.

"CELIBACY"
Did God command that men who are leaders of the church are supposed to keep celibate ? or is it a man made teaching ? What are the requriements to be a minister of a church ? The only way to find out is see what God's word say's about this subject.
ORDER OF A BISHOP: A Bishop must be a husband of one wife "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)" (1Timothy 3:2-5), and an Elder of a church must also have one wife "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly." (Titus 1:5-6)
MARRIAGE IS GOD`S WILL: God designed marriage between man and women "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:27-28)
"And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2:21-24) Paul explained to the believers at the Corinthian church that marriage is alright "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife." (1Corinthians 7:1-4) Paul also told them that if married couples substain from sexual intercourse for a long period that it can cause temptation to impure lusts "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." (1Corinthians 7:5) There are not many people that can abstain from sexual intercourse & paul tells them "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn." (1 Corinthians 7:9) Paul also told the believers that marriage is "honourable" "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4) Mary was engaged to Joseph "To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary." (Luke 1:27) Peter was a leader in the church & he was married "And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them." (Matthew 8:14-15) Paul even told the Corinthian church that Peter had a wife "Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?(Peter) " (1Corinthians 9:5) As we can see the bible does not command celibacy but rather a man made doctrine which was brought in hundreds years after Christ & the first church had started. Celibacy was commanded by pope's Sergius III (904-911), John X (914-928), John XII (955-963), Benedict V (964), Innocent VIII (1484-1492), Urban VIII (1623-1644) & Innocent X (1644-1655) to name a few ! A very distrubing fact is though these men made these rules, very few of them followed by example, as historian De Rosa comments: "This theological confusion in an age of depravity led clergy, in fifth century Rome in paticular, to become a byword for everything that was gross and perverted... When Pope Sixtus III (432-440) was put on trail for seducing a nun, he ably defended himself by quoting Christ's words, "Let him is without fault among you throw the first stone". ... roving monks were proving to be a social menace... there were long periods when many monasteries were nothing but houses of ill repute... The second Council of tours in the year 567... publicly admitted there was hardly a cleric anywhere without his wife or mistress" ( Peter De Rosa, Vicas of Christ: The Dark Side of the Papacy pg 402-403 Crown Publishing Inc.1988) In Timothy's epistlie he warned that men will change doctrine & "forbid to marry" because of deception "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." (1Timothy 4:1-3) Jesus did talk about celibacy when the disciples asked Jesus if it is alright to marry " His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry." (Matthew 19:10) Jesus went on to explain that celibacy is a matter of choice not a commadment "But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." (Matthew 19:11-12) Paul encouraged people to be celibate, but never gave a commanedment "But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I." (1Corinthians 7:6-8) Paul then went on to say that if you cannot sustain your self to be celibate, it is better for you to marry; which if we are honest to God & ourseleves not many can of us can do "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn." (1Corinthians 7:9)