What is the difference between catholics and baptists?

Question

How do they differ?

Answer 1

"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 2

There are tons of differences (tons of similarities too) but here are a few differences:

Catholics have 7 sacraments, acknowledge the authority of the Pope (and associated hierarchy), believe that the bread and the wine at Communion becomes the body and the blood of Christ, believe in saints, don't think that priests should be married (or women should be priests), believe that the bible is the word of God but must be read with mind to the type of literature and the context that it was written in, and Catholics are heavy on the ritual.

Baptists have 2 sacraments, there is only loose central organization (there are several flavors of Baptists with their own hierarchy structures), married people are allowed to become ordained leaders (equivalent of a priest). Baptists believe that the bread and the wine are a representation of the body and the blood of Christ and tend to take the bible as the direct word of God (no room for interpretation).

*Disclaimer I am not Baptist, I have Baptist friends. The above statements are drawn from the observed behavors of said friends and from the websites below. I am Catholic, I'll take the heat for what I said in that paragraph.

Answer 3

Baptists accept the fundamental credo of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Solia Fidele---Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone. In other words, only Scripture should guide your faith, only Christ's grace can save, and only faith in Christ--not works--can save.

Baptists also oppose infant baptism on the grounds that baptism is only significant if you are able to commit your life to Christ when it's done. Catholics baptize young babies as a way to welcome them into the "holy family"--the Church.

Also Baptist services really don't include much ritual at all. The focal point of the Baptist service is the sermon--which is centered around typically contemporary music. The Catholic service is centered on The Mass--the Holy Communion. The homily and prayers are secondary to the taking of the Eucharist.

Of course there are basic differences, like, Baptists don't believe in transubstantiation--Christ's real presence in the Eucharist. And Baptists obviously don't believe in the Pope's infalibility.

Hope that helps!

Answer 4

Catholic beliefs

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 men and for 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.

Baptists beliefs

Baptists have no set written body of beliefs or principles, per se, that are accepted universally among all Baptists. “A true Baptist does not think of the name Baptist in any sectarian sense as having some merit in itself but rather equates it with New Testament truth, with a New Testament position.”1 Therefore, for all practical purposes, the term “Baptist distinctives” can be used interchangeably with “New Testament distinctives.”

http://www.ntbt.org/Our_Beliefs.htm

Answer 5

Um... a very similar question (What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?) was asked yesterday, or possibly the day before, and there were some REALLY well-thought-out answers. I'd suggest that you check the archive and also read those, as well as whatever you get from asking this time.

The same questions tend to appear multiple times, but you always see a different collection of answers.

Answer 6

They differ in many ways.

Among the things that Catholics believe that Baptists do not:

The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

The sacraments of confirmation, holy orders, Eucharist, reconciliation (confession), and anointing of the sick (the "last rites")

Purgatory

The intercessory prayers of Mary and the other saints

Other Marian beliefs, including her Immaculate Conception, her perpetual virginity, her role as Mother of God, and her role as our Advocate before The Son in Heaven

The belief that the Bible is not the sole rule of Christian faith (Baptists believe that it is, even though the Bible never claims itself to be)

There are others, but these are some of the major differences.

.

Answer 7

Oh, goodness, where to start?

Two central tenants of Protestants, including Baptists, is sola fide and sola scriptura. Sola fide means that God's grace is obtained through faith alone. You can do all the good works you want but without faith it is meaningless. Sola scriptura means that scripture (the Bible) is the single authority for faith and practice. Protestant denominations are usually run as quasi-democracies with the pastor being a guide towards personal revelation. Baptists tend to interpret the Bible more literally, but they consider the bread and wine to be merely representative of Christ's body and blood.

The Catholic Church holds that faith that is not expressed through good works is meaningless. Church tradition and scripture are the guides for faith and practice, with the Pope and Magisterium clarifying the rules. This is especially relevant since the Church pre-dated the Bible by close to two hundred years. The Church is set up as a hierarchy with decisions being handed down from the Magisterium. Priests teach the laity in correct faith and practice and are believed to consecrate the bread and wine turning them into the real body and blood of Christ. Bible interpretation is related to Church tradition as well as revelations from science.

That's the nutshell version.

Answer 8

baptist are a word oriented Christian group
believing in the Biblical substitutionary atonement and justification by faith and not by good works
they baptize a person once there is evidense of salvation by faith
and they would tend to personally read the Bible
put more emphasise on the priesthood of the believer and avoid statues used in worship They will emphasise a good concience They tend to be creationists

these are generalities but Catholics emphasise tradition, and sacraments going through a priest and will elevate Mary possibly to the point protestants would consider it risking being a God or gospel substitute The Catholic church odfficially asks for implicit faith in the pope and endorses evolution. They tend to be a mix of liberal and conservative ideas and not the strongest proponent of the Bible historically

Answer 9

Baptist like DJ and Jordan will show their ignorance of Catholicism by repeating mistruth they have heard.

Catholics generally don't know that much about Baptists and do not spread lies.

Answer 10

DJ....your disinformation serves no one but the deciever.
There are many differences from bible interpretation, to views on salvation, evangelization, church hierarchy, iconography, intercession, the list goes on. The important thing is, they both, in proper form, have wonderful examples of christians who agree to disagree on issues of a lesser import.