is the same to be a protestant or Catholic?

Answer 1

Heck no! Catholic is the Church founded by Christ Himself; Protestants 'protest' against Christ's own Church. Christ entrusted the care of His sheep to Peter (John 21:15-17). Catholics are the sheep that stayed, Protestants are the sheep that strayed.

Answer 2

No. The Catholic Church holds the Fullness of Truth. Protestants may still be Christians but they ignore large parts of the true Faith.

Answer 3

Both are christian religions, but they split back in the protestant reformation when martin luther rebelled against the dominance of the catholic church. ever since they have been separate. the protestants have split into many many denominations. the practices are slightly different between catholics and protestants.

Answer 4

It probably helps to first disect the meaning of their respective names:

- "catholic" means universal (or at least thats what they teach us in catechism). The Roman Catholic Church prides itself in its "apostolic succession" meaning that they can trace their leadership through the line of the apostles back to Jesus Christ himself. At the conception of the Christian church during the first century, they really weren't too unified. They were independent churches at different cities and in fact their names usually followed the form "The Church at [name of city]". The Church at Rome (as Peter was the bishop of it) became to be the center of the universal church, or "catholic" church and thus the name stuck.

-"protestant" comes from the verb "to protest". This is exactly what the founder of protestantism (Martin Luther) did. Martin Luther was at one time a Catholic monk, but upon studying the Bible decided that there were 92 things wrong with the Roman Catholic Church. He thus posted his "92 Thesis" on the wall of his local cathedral (I forget the name).

Now that the names clarify their positions, the nitty gritty differences kinda fall within these descriptions:

Catholics practice an almost "ancient" form of Christianity. We practice a "liturgy" (a regimented form of service where most of everything is scripted and much of the scripture is sung, like is done in Jewish tradition), whereas Protestant services are usually more relaxed, less regimented, with simple hymns, and sermons by lay-members or the preacher.

Catholics have a structured organized church with a specific hierarchy. The Pope is the head and the hierarchy ends with the local Parish Priests. Most Protestant churches are completely independent of eachother and thus the local Preacher is the highest in authority. Some Protestant churches do get together to form councils, synods, etc.

Catholics venerate Mary and the Saints (catholics who are dead but performed wonderful or sometimes even miraculous feats during their lifetime). Protestants feel that doing this is idolotrous and an example of polytheism (even though us catholics don't worship saints, we venerate them and ask that they pray for us).

Most Protestants celebrate only two significant religious holidays: Christmas, and Easter. Catholics celebrate these two as well as many other "major feasts", such as Advent, the Epiphany, All Saints Day, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent, etc.

Protestants usually view religious ritual, like baptism, as symbolic whereas Catholics view them very literally. (example: The Eucharist, or the Communion, Lord's Supper, whatever you call it, where communicants eat bread and drink wine in rememberance of Jesus Christ, is seen as literally the body and blood of Jesus in Catholicism. Protestants will say its merely a symbol of his body and blood.)


Without a doubt, the biggest difference between Catholics and Protestants is not in what they do, but what they believe. Over-all, the doctrinal disparity between the two can be summed up by one issue: "Faith v. Works"....

Catholics believe that though Jesus Christ died for all of our sin, that we are still accountable for what we do and will be judged accordingly. That we should continually confess our sins and repent of them, and perform charitable works in demonstration of our remorse. Protestants hold stout to the idea that Jesus' sacrifice transcends all place and times and automatically purify's every sinner of every sin, even before he commits it as so long as he askes Jesus to be his/her savior. This is why many Protestants refer to themselves as being "saved", where Catholics seperate themselves as being "baptized".


I hope this isn't too long of an explanation. The specific differences can continue on as its been well over 500 years since the schism, so much has happened. You might want to also search the internet.

Answer 5

NO, it is not the same! Catholics and Protestants are very different. Catholics have celibate priests, bishops, nuns and a pope who are supposed to be "greater" than us and "closer" to God. Catholics only hand communion to other Catholics... Protestants are not welcome to receive communion. Catholics believe that a baby who is not baptized will burn in hell if they die because they are still burdened with the "original sin". Catholics believe in praying to Mary and the Saints...even worship them. Protestants are more relaxed and welcoming. Protestants accept anyone who wishes to receive communion, baptize babies as a symbol of "giving" them to Christ until they're old enough to do so themselves, not because they believe that God would toss them into Satan's hands if this wasn't done. Protestants do not pray to Mary or the Saints as one of them (St. Peter?) said, "DO NOT pray to me, I am merely a messenger of God". Protestants do not believe that Priests, Bishops, Nuns, or the Pope are the closest thing to God...we are all equal in His eyes and all receive His love equally. Those are just a few things that are different, there are MANY...I am a Protestant wife to a former Catholic husband.

Answer 6

Well, the two groups are Christian, but still major differences exist. Especially among 'Protestants': that is an umbrella term for many different sects like Methodists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, etc.

Answer 7

"What separates us as believers in Christ is much less than what unites us." (Pope John XXIII)

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 many 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 8

Typically, theologically NO.

There is one universal church made up of all believers past, present and future. They believe that Christ is God incarnate (God in the flesh), who lived, died, was buried, resurrected, and assended into heaven. One day He will return for his glorious church.

Protestants believe that canonized scripture is the ultimate test for what we teach and accept about God. [Sola Scriptura]

Catholic [including Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox] believe that tradition is the ultimate test. Scripture is interpreted in four ways; literal, allegorical, anagogical, and moral.

Answer 9

well protestants worship God (trinty) of Jesus but we believe you have to be born again (ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU FOR YOUR SINS AND ACCEPT JESUS INTO YOUR HEART AS THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE) while catholics practice religious works+belief in God and rituals such as praying to saints and mother mary and roserys get you to heaven SO ESSENTIALLY IT IS LIKE COMPARING TWO DIFFERENT RELIGIONS. THE ORIGINAL CHURCH was the catholic till they introduced non-biblical doctrines!

Answer 10

No. If you pick the wrong one you will burn in hell. Furthermore, since there is no protestant church, if you decide that the protestants were right, you have to pick which protestant church. If you pick the wrong one, you will burn in hell. Besides that, you have to believe in certain things depending on which church you join. If you believe in the wrong things or don't believe in the right things you will burn in hell. Nowadays, most protestants and catholics couldn't tell you what the differences are other than the building you go to on Sunday. Nevertheless, you will burn in hell if you get it wrong.

You will never get it right. You might as well go atheist. You will still burn in hell but your life on Earth will be much more pleasant.