Can you tell me all the differences you can think of between a Protestant and a Catholic church?

Question

It's a question on my study guide
It just says: Name five differences between the Catholic and Protestant church.

It doesn't have to be the church, just like there beliefs

Answer 1

Since there are a hundreds of thousands of branches of Protestantism, it's pretty difficult to pinpoint all the differences.

The major ones being: The Real Presense of Jesus in the Eucharist. The Pope as leader of the church.

There are a lot of myths about Catholicism that Protestants believe to be true. Such as they think we worship Mary. Which we don't. I see Micah there is under a lot of misconceptions.

Some Protestants don't have communion at every service. They don't find it all that important.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Various sects of Protestantism think "this" or "that" tiny sentence they "found" in the bible is the "key" to heaven.

Catholics don't believe there is a key. They believe, as St. Paul says, that its a race we have to run so as to win.

Answer 2

Catholic Church:
1. The Holy Eucharist.
2. Unity
3. Original Church founded by Christ.
4. Unity of belief and teaching.
5. Authority from Christ.

Protestantism:
1. Teachings based on personal interpretation.
2. Fracturing of churches
3. No authority from Christ.
4. Rejection of Christ's Church in the 1500s.

Answer 3

By "church," do you mean "the building" or "the body of believers" or "the philosophical system?"

As for the building: Catholic churches always include a crucifix (a cross with Jesus on it), several statues of saints, the Stations of the Cross, and a stoup (a shallow container for holy water) near the door. None of those objects are found in any Protestant building that I know of.

Answer 4

Catholics believe:
Abstaining from meats
Praying to Mary
Confessing sins to priest
Purgatory
Statues
One head church
Religious leaders forbidden to marry
Transubstantiation
Infant baptism
Works for salvation
Catechisms
Praying to Saints
Praying people out of Purgatory
And others...

Protestants don't believe these.

Answer 5

A simple difference is that Protestants believe in direct communication with Jesus and God, Catholics believe in many layers of intercessors. Think of it this way. What kind of an income would poor coffee farmers have access to without the endless layers of middlemen between them and their customers? Grant you that many salespeople and tariff police would be out of a job":Protestants believe the "middlemen" don't need to be there.

Answer 6

No such thing as a Protestant church..

I was a Christian/protestant for approx. 35 years.

In order to be a true protestant you first and foremost need to be a practicing christian.

That is 'fact'.....

Answer 7

There is far too much diversity in Protentantism to answer a question phrased in such a way. The only difference that would apply to all universally is that they reject the primacy of Rome.

Answer 8

One of the first major differences between Catholicism and Protestantism is the issue of the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the sole source of God’s special revelation to mankind, and as such it teaches us all that is necessary for our salvation from sin. Protestants view the Bible as the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. This belief is commonly referred to as “Sola Scriptura” and is one of the “Five Solas” (sola being Latin for “alone”) that came out of the Protestant Reformation as summaries of some of the important differences between Catholics and Protestants.
Another major but closely related difference between Catholicism and Protestantism is over the office and authority of the Pope. According to Catholicism the Pope is the “Vicar of Christ” (a vicar is a substitute), and takes the place of Jesus as the visible head of the Church. As such he has the ability to speak “ex cathedra” (with authority on matters of faith and practice), and when he does so his teachings are considered infallible and binding upon all Christians. On the other hand, Protestants believe that no human being is infallible, and that Christ alone is the head of the church. Catholics rely on apostolic succession as a way of trying to establishing the Pope’s authority. But Protestants believe that the church’s authority does not come from apostolic succession, but instead is derived from the Word of God. Spiritual power and authority does not rest in the hands of a mere man, but in the very Word of God recorded in Scripture. While Catholicism teaches that only the Catholic Church can properly and correctly interpret the Bible, Protestants believe that the Bible teaches that God sent the Holy Spirit to indwell all born again believers, enabling all believers to understand the message of the Bible.
A third major difference between Catholicism and Protestantism is how one is saved. Another of the “Five Solas” of the reformation was “Sola Fide” (faith alone), which affirms the biblical doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-10). However, according to Roman Catholicism, man cannot be saved by faith alone in Christ alone. They teach that the Christian must rely on faith plus “meritorious works” in order to be saved. Essential to the Roman Catholic doctrine of salvation are the Seven Sacraments, which are: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, anointing of the sick, Holy Orders, and matrimony. Protestants believe that on the basis of faith in Christ alone, believers are justified by God as all their sins are paid for by Christ on the cross and His righteousness is imputed to them. Catholics on the other hand believe that Christ’s righteousness is imparted to the believer by “grace through faith,” but in itself is not sufficient to justify the believer. The believer must “supplement” the righteousness of Christ imparted to him with meritorious works.
A fourth major difference between Catholics and Protestants has to do with what happens after men die. While both believe that unbelievers will spend eternity in hell, there is significant and important differences as to what happens to believers. From their church traditions and their reliance of non-canonical books, the Catholics have developed the doctrine of purgatory. Purgatory, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, is a “place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.” On the other hand, Protestants believe that because we are justified by faith in Christ alone, and that Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us – when we die we will go straight to heaven to be in the presence of the Lord (Corinthians 5:6-10 and Philippians 1:23).