Which is the main difference between Catholicism and protestantism?

Answer 1

Boiled down to the very basics, Roman Catholics believe in salvation through works. Protestants believe in salvation through the grace of Christ.

Answer 2

Hello

Many different doctorines and interpretations of the bible.
Catholicism, though often crticized for having the pope who claims to be succesor to St. Peter does have some cohesion and strong leadership like it or not. On the other hand the protestant church has its freedoms of interpretation but no cohesive leadership or discipline. That is why there are over 350 different churches last count from the original Lutherine to Jimmy Swaggart and Tammy Baker.

Michael Kelly

Answer 3

I answered this question yesterday. Here's the link and a copy of my answer:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=?qid=20070613224558AAtBfc0&show=7#profile-info-eZYgduxMaa

There is a line in the Gospels where Jesus instructs Peter to build His church. Catholics believe they are directly descended from this first church, with Peter having been the first pope. Catholics practice the religion using using a blend of tradition, sacred ceremony, personal faith, and acts. They do not take the Bible as a literal, word-for-word histroy book in its entirety, but rather a "communications" book.

The Protestant reformation started when Martin Luther was dissatisfied with the way the Catholic Church was at the time, and proposed a sect that focused more on personal interaction with the divine and personal study of the scriptures.

Personally, I don't see one as being all that much better than the other. They're just two different ways of going about Christianity. There are hundreds of other sects who believe their combination is the best.

Answer 4

The Eucharist! Well, that was the main problem cited by Protestants in the beginning - that this miracle was a sham and unholy, and as bad as pagan magic in terms of going against Christ. (The Eucharist, btw, is where the priest blesses the wine and wafers and they supposedly actually, literally turn into the blood and flesh of Christ as the priest - and laters the whole church - consumes them.)

But, other big issues - disgust with simony (bishops buying their way into office, using money for power), disgust with opulence of the bishops, and the new political primacy of the Pope. This only started to get going during the 10th and 11th centuries, and the problem with the Pope's primacy was mostly political.

For instance, in the Investiture Controversy (oh boy... 1052, maybe?), Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV of... shoot, whatever France was at that time, clashed over who got to appoint bishops. Because Henry said that kings were the primary authority on earth, and the Pope said HE was... and they both had a whole bunch of bible references to support them. Anyway, Henry kind of deferred to Gregory at this time, but this was now a recurring issue.

And then you get to the 13th and 14th centuries, the Hundred Years War with England and France duking it out... both claimed the other as their territory. Anyway, and both chose their own popes for political reasons (Angevin - that's from Anjou, in Franch - vs. the Roman pope).... So, here's an example of part of Christendom rebelling against a pope because his bulls (proclamations) don't support your politics. Anyway, protestantism later came out as another solution to papal political disparity. Like with Henry VIII - he declared England protestant because the pope wouldn't let him divorce his wives.

Anyway, to sum it up, the two big differences are the Eucharist and the Pope. Sorry, that got drawn out - can you tell it's my favorite subject? ;)

Answer 5

"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 6

The office of the Pope and a faith plus works for salvation doctrine are the major differences.

Protestants trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross for salvation and believe that He is the only mediator between God and man.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

After that you come to the doctrine of purgatory that the Bible doesn't speak about and things like praying to departed Saints which the Bible also doesn't speak about.

Answer 7

The main difference is the authority of the Pope vs. the authority of the Scriptures.

Pastor Art

Answer 8

Probably the view of the Pope and Papal authority, as well as the role of clergy. I was going to say the views on communion, but Lutherans and Episcopalians believe closer to Catholics on the actual substance of the bread and wine, than other Protestant denoms.

Answer 9

I t all boils down to authority! The authority of the Pope(Holy See) and the Holy Church!

Answer 10

Good grief. Two answers say we believe in salvation through works...for the one thousandth time, NO WE DON'T.

Paragraph 161 of the Catholic Catechism states:

Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent Him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. 'Since without faith it is impossible to please [God]' and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no one has ever attained justification, now will anyone obtain eternal life 'but he who endures to the end'



The Catechism quotes Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

Justification is different than salvation. Justification is the process by which we draw closer to God and become more like Christ by obeying the Holy Spirit to fulfil God's purpose for our lives. The Catechism states clearly that there are no works we can do to achieve justification without first being saved by faith.

The Catechism then quotes Jesus's statement from both Matthew and Revelation. Matthew 13:13 says "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." This does not mean that we can lose our salvation, it means that the real test of our salvation is not whether we simply mouth the words that we accept Christ but whether we have truly accepted Christ in our hearts. True faith changes your life for your whole life, and is manifested by the good works you do in obedience to the Holy Spirit which you can only receive by true faith.


Does that help???


"pastor" art - I feel so sorry for your congregation of you really are a pastor. Lord help them.