What are the major doctrines of Catholicism(sp?) and how do they differ from potestants?

Answer 1

the real presence of Jesus in the eucharist.
mary conceived without sin.
ordained clergy.
faith and good works vs. faith alone.
scripture and traditions vs. scripture alone.
the pope as successor of peter.

Answer 2

+ Similarities +

"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.

+ Beliefs +

A summary of Catholic beliefs is contained in the Nicene Creed (from the year 325):

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

For a complete description of what Catholics believe, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 3

Yep, Allan Y just about got all the differences. But there are samenesses too--
Apostle's Creed (Jesus died and rose again and all that)
Communion (regardless of the Catholic tradition of lineage or belief that the bread and wine is the body and blood)
The bible for the most part (There are "books" / sections included in the Catholic bible that are not in the Protestant bible - It's a long history story)
Trinity
. . . I know there are more.

Answer 4

It's all about following Mass with the old lady in the first pew. You kneel, stand, sit, kneel, stand, take communion , kneel, sit, put money in the basket, stand, and Your out. If You lose Your spot then just follow along with that old lady, She's got it down pat. as far as what it all means, well that's what priests are for, we've got the Protestant beat to hell on that one, it's a proxy to God and forgiveness for whatever we do. Good deal all around for us, zero responsibility and tremendous gains if You can just get through purgatory! Oh, and blind obedience to the Pope, there's something about that too. Toodle do!

Answer 5

Catholicism holds that there is Tradition passed down from the early church fathers, as well as an authority structure to the Church. They believe that the Orthodox Catholic church (specifically the Roman Catholic Church or RCC) is the true vessel for the truth of God as passed down from the apostles. Consequently there is a Chatecism of the Catholic church which is a book of their additional doctrines and teachings. They teach that Protestants are heretical, seperated brothers.

Protestantism started as a "protest" to the practices of the Catholic church which protestants viewed as corrupt. This is known as the reformation and Luther and Calvin were two of the prominent front-runners of the reformation.

Protestants place tradition and church authority under submission to scripture and they generally advocate a personal one on one relationship with God. Protestants generally demand that every spiritual practice be backed up with a bible verse and they advocate personal bible study as opposed to submission to the Church's interpretation of scripture.

I am speaking in generalities as a former Catholic who "converted" to protestantism if you will. I did not know Jesus personally until Protestants introduced me to him.

Here are some doctrines of Catholocism that I (and many Protestants) disagree with:

Praying to Mary/the Saints (Catholics teach that they ask Mary and the Saints to pray for them, and they are not directly praying to them)

Worshipping Mary/the Saints (Catholics teach that they are "venerating" Mary/the Saints not worshipping them with the worship that is due only to God)

Indulgences (Catholics teach that a church official can grant you special permissions for sins - indulgences were literally sold for money during the time of the reformation)

Purgatory (After you die, Catholics teach that if you didn't believe in God in this life and accept Jesus as the payment for your sins, you may go to Purgatory where you will be given time to be "cleansed" to be with God)

Sinless life of Mary/Assumption of Mary in to heaven

Here's an intro!

Answer 6

Christian Protestant and Catholicism Theologies:
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/catholic_protestant.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/catholicism.htm

Answer 7

That's a pretty tall order. I'm not gonna write you a book, try Googling it.


VLR

Answer 8

the primary and most important one is about the Virgin Mary. Catholics believe she is holy while protestants don't

Answer 9

Not a scholar.

Answer 10

:)