What is the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism?

Answer 1

meaning of grace and faith, the authority of bishops, Peter 'the rock', authority and interpretation of scripture, saints, purgatory, merit, and mary,.....just to name a few

Answer 2

The best way to answer this, I think, is simply to point out the history. First, Catholics are Christians. The correct distinction is Catholic and Protestant.

The Catholic Church is the original church founded by Christ 2,000 years ago. She has faithfully taught, protected, and spread His teaches throughout the ages.

Protestantism is a movement that occurred around the year 1500 called the Protestant Reformation. It is a revolt against the authority of the Catholic Church.

In general, most Christians believe the same basic things - baptism and repentance of sins, accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and following Him. However, the divisions occur over more in-depth doctrinal issues.

Within Protestantism, it is very difficult to explain what the different denominations believe because there are so many different ones. The reason there are so many is because of differences in interpretation of scripture. When disagreements arise, the typical outcome is a particular denomination/church will split, forming two different, unrelated, often rivaling, churches. This fracturing effect is more or less a built-in element within Protestantism. Currently there are some 54,000 different denominations - and growing. The irony is that while each one is different from the other, each claims to have the correct teachings of Christ.

Please do not think I am bashing Protestants. The Church teaches that all Christians - protestant and Catholics - are brothers and sisters in Christ. However, when one takes an objective look at the history and mechanics of Protestantism and Catholicism, the things I explained above are what come to light.

I strongly encourage everyone to ask the question you did, because honest questions help one to get to the truth, which is what we're all seeking (Christ).

God bless and take care.

Answer 3

For the first 1500 years after Christ, Catholicism was Christianity in it's entirety, until it's leadership became corrupt. Popes didn't allow the common man to read the Bible and placed their authority on the same level as God's authority. A young monk named Martin Luther saw how corrupt the papacy had become. He had read the book of Habakkuk where it says "The just shall live by faith" and wrote out 95 questions (which at the time were only meant to spark dialogue) and nailed them to the door of the church at Wittenburg,Germany. By the end of the 16th Century the Reformation was in full swing, and those who left the Catholic church were called Protestants. With the help of John Calvin in France, Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland, and John Knox in Scotland, new theology and denominations were formed, the Bible was translated into the language of the common man, and the rest is history.

Answer 4

A) Catholicism accepts Scripture AND the traditions of 2,000 years of study of the faith. Protestants accept only the Scriptures, which is mildly amusing, since it was theCatholic Church which decided which of several THOUSAND then extant pieces of religious literature would constitute Scripture in the first place. In other words there can be no "Sola Scritura" without the Scriptures and there would be no Scriptures without the Catholics Church deciding what went in and what stayed out.

B) Catholics accept the pope as the spiritual descendant of Peter, the rock upon which Christ promised to build His church. Protestants do not.

C) Catholics accept that only the Church can correctly interpret Scripture. Protestants believe that anyone can. And that, of course, is why they have so many denominations.

D) Catholics accept that Jesus meant what He said about the gates of hell NOT prevailing against the Church He founded. Protestants do not.

E) Catholics trace their spiritual lineage directly back to Christ and the Apostles. Protestants go back to their respective founders, who then go back to earlier respective founders, who then go back to the Catholic Church.

F) Catholics accept 73 books in the Old Testament. Protestants accept only 66. Martin Luther didn't like the other 7 so he threw them out, along with parts of 2 others.

G) Catholics accept 7 Sacraments. Most Protestants only 2 and many sects only 1. There's even a few who don't care about baptism, but they're mostly considered cults without the least authenticity.

H) Catholics believe that faith without works is dead and useless. Protestants believe that faith is all you need.

I) Catholics believe that man has free will and that God does NOT predetermine who's going to heaven and who's going to hell. God just knows, but He doesn't actively send anyone anywhere. Many Protestant sects believe in predestination, ie, the idea that God created you and has decided to send you to hell no matter what you say, do or believe, because somehow or other that glorifies Him.

J) Catholics number more than 1 billion members. Protestants, ALL 346 currently recognized denominations, number about 350 million total.

Hope this helped.

Answer 5

Well when Jesus came he established The Church here on earth. His apostles called it Catholicism because Catholic means universal. The Protestant faiths branched off from the catholic faith later based on one person who didn't agree with the teachings of The Church.
Some of the reasons they branched away was because of corrupt priests and church leaders but people make mistakes and the faith was always the same. The teachings on faith and morals established by the pope were never wrong.

Jesus is actually present in the Eucharist in the Catholic Church where protestants don't have that.

Answer 6

Read up on the reformation and the movement behind Martin Luther in the 16th century to find all your answers. That's when that split occured creating protestants and catholics

Despite what others have said in reply to your question, there are major differences between the two... which came to a head during the reformation... here are some of the cliff notes:

Catholic means "universal". The protestant reformation in Europe during the 16th century, led by Martin Luther, resulted in the "split" in the church. Our current denomination that you think of that are not Catholic can trace their beliefs back to the protestant reformation. Being protestant myself here are some of the things that led to the split during the reformation:

The sale of Indulgences by the church - An indulgence theologically is the pardinning of guilt from sin through confession. The church was basically selling forgiveness.

The Roman Catholic's Hierarchical system - The pope as ultimate authority. The church viewed the pope as having power and authority equal to the scriptures in the Bible. Protestants believe in the Bible as the ultimate authority. Catholics believe the there are 2 authorities, the Bible and the Church (the organization housed in vatican city).

Purgatory - The belief that there is need for further purification after death before ascending to heaven. Protestants do not believe in this.

The Virgin Mary - Here is a big difference. Protestants believe that Mary was born as any other person and chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. Catholics believe that Mary, like Christ was immaculate conceived (not born of male and female, but that God created her in the womb similar to how he made Christ). Catholics pray TO the virgin Mary, protestants pray only to Jesus and God.

Works Vs. Grace - Protestants believe that it is by grace alone through faith that we are saved. Catholics believe it's a combination of grace and good works.

Forgiveness - Catholics believe confession to a priest is necessary and that forgiveness is actually conveyed to you through a priest. Protestants believe that forgiveness is conveyed by God alone and that the involvement of man is not necessary (we still support the confession of sin to each other, we just don't share the view on the role it plays in forgiveness).

There are several more differences but these are the major ones. They are pretty substantial, however Catholics and protestants alike believe in Jesus as the son of God sent as the savior for all mankind and that he is the only way to God.

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

Catholicism- has statues(not for worship but for remembrance of what faith is about), prayers to Mary and Saints, believe the Eucharist is truly the body of Jesus Christ as he stated in the Gospel of Matthew. Belive in purgatory as a way to be cleansed of your sins before ascending to Heaven. Believe in Bible and Tradition authority equally, believe Mary was sinless. Have celibate Priests and nuns, have 7 Sacraments. They have a Pope. Salvation through works and faith. Have confession with Priest.

Protestanism- don't use images, believe in the written word alone, salvation through faith only. Have 2 sacraments but many like Episcopelians have rite which include Confirmation (which in the Catholic church is a sacrament). Don't have confession, don't pray to Mary or believe she was sinless. Don't believe in Saints or having a Pope but many do have bishops like the Church of England. Don't believe in Purgatory and think the Lord's Supper is only symbol of Jesus's body not his true flesh. Their Reverends can marry.

Similarity- both believe in the Holy Trinity, divinity of Jesus and his crucifixion. Both believe he ascended to Heaven and will come again. Many Protestants baptize infants so they have these in common with Catholics.

Answer 9

I think its Catholicism, and they believe in the Holy Church of Rome. Protestants felt a reform was needed because Rome was a little corrupt at the time or they couldnt afford it, so they broke away and started a reformed Church.

Answer 10

Protestants protest things. Catholics don't change the first Christian church in existence simply because they don't like it.

Answer 11

One of the biggest differences would be that Catholics pray to saints. Protestants do not.