What are the differences between these denominations?

Question

Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Epicopalian, and Coptic? What are the similarities between them if any at all as well? Thanks.

Answer 1

As always, there is little to add to Sakurachan's answer.

All the denominations believe in the Trinity, one God, three persons: Father, Son, and Holly Spirit.

All believe that Christ died, rose, and ascended into heaven for our salvation.

All these denominations use the three Ecumenical Creeds as confessions of Faith, except the Orthodox Communion, which split from the Western Church before the Athanacian Creed came into usage. The Armenians (listed below) generally are non creedal.

These denominations fall into five groups.

Roman Catholic

Lutheran

Orthodox

Calvinist

Armenian

The Roman Catholic Church gets its Doctrinal authority from the Bible, and from historical traditions of men.
They believe that one can co-operate with their salvation by doing good works, going on pilgrimages, and praying to Mary and the other Saints. This cheapens Gods grace and Christs Sacrifice on the cross. They believe that the Sacraments of Baptism, and Holy Communion (The Mass) are means of grace. They believe that the when you receive communion the recipient receive the real body and blood of Christ.

The Orthodox Church, which includes the Copts (Egyptian Orthodox Church), like the RC Church base their doctrine on Scripture, and Human tradition, especially the Greek Fathers.
They do not put near as much emphasis on works as the Roman Church. They do have a slightly different understanding of the Trinity, which was one of the causes of the split from Rome. The Orthodox Churchs' belief regarding the sacraments are similar to Rome's.

Confessional Lutherans derive their doctrine from Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura). Salvation Comes from Faith alone (Sola Fide). Which we receive by Gods Grace alone (Sola Gracia). Sacraments are means of Grace. Again Christs Body and Blood are given and received in Holy Communion (The Mass).

Calvinist Churches derive their authority from Scripture and Human reason. They do not believe that the Sacraments are means of Grace, and are purely symbolic. Examples of these would be the various Presbyterian Churches, Christian Reformed Church, The State Protestant Church of Switzerland, some Methodists. Non Confessional Lutherans tend also to fall in with the Calvinists (But they won't admit it!).

Every other Christian denomination generally would be Armenians. Like the Calvinists doctrinal authority comes Scripture, and human reason. The sacraments are only remembrances. What makes them unique is the doctrine of Decision Theology. One has to decide to accept salvation and be born again. Again this puts the onus on us rather than on Christs sacrifice, cheapening what Christ has done for us. Examples would be; some Methodists, Baptist, Pentecostals, various community, and mission Churches (so called Non-Denominational), the Amish, Mennonite, Salvation Army etc.

The Anglicans (Episcopalian is the American part of the World Wide Anglican Communion) are an anomaly as High Church Anglicans lean towards the doctrine and practice of Roman Catholics. Conservative Middle and Low Church Anglicans are basically Lutheran. The rest, along with very liberal Lutherans, and Methodists tend to be more Secular Humanists than Christians.

This is over simplified but this information comes from the various denominations them selves, not Lutheran Propaganda.

I still think that Sakurachian's answer is better.

Mark

Answer 2

The best thing to do when researching something like this is ask a devoted person from each denomination what their denomination believes, confesses, teaches & practices. You are going to get more specific with your questioning to really explore this though. You should start with one denomination & compare it with each other denomination.

You are even too broad when you say, "Lutheran" or "Presbyterian", etc. etc. For example, I am a confessional Lutheran. This means that I believe & accept without reservation the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Confessions or the Book of Concord. More specifically, I am a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod--which as a church body & in an official way accepts, confesses & practices the Biblical theology & doctrine which is summarized in the Lutheran Confessions. A majority of people who claim the name Lutheran (i.e. ELCA "Lutherans") do not accept the Lutheran Confessions as relevant anymore even in an official church-body-wide sense. If you were to talk to one of them, you likely wouldn't get a straight answer about what being Lutheran really means.

The Presbyterian church is has been divided in a similar way. The Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), like the LCMS holds to a high view of Scripture whereas the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. has a low view of Scripture.

Are you getting a sense of what a huge question you're asking?

I do know that essentially the Episcopalian church is basically the Anglican church in the U.S.. However, the Episcopalian church is in the midst of a huge schism from the world-wide Anglican church right now. This also has to do with low & high views of Scripture.

Lutherans historically have endured false accusations from without. For some reason both the Roman Catholic & other protestant denominations launch accusations toward Lutheranism that are basically straw-men arguments--that is they accuse Lutheran of belief in something that Lutherans don't really believe in & then refute it. The historical Lutheran church has also been forced to practice refinement from within as heretical teachings sneak into the church. As a result, generally speaking the Lutheran denomination is good at honestly dialoguing with other denominations & individuals to get "from the horse's mouth" what they believe & practice. Then they refute teachings & practices which don't line up with God's Word. If this is the kind of process that appeals to you, I would explore the LCMS website for differences in denominations.

Another good resource is free online radio program called "Issues Etc." Archived shows are available in Windows Media Player or MP3 formats. At the current homepage (http://www.kfuoam.org/ie_main.htm) is an archived discussion about Roman Catholicism which I found very interesting. I'm sure theere are other archived shows about many of the other denominations of which you speak.

Happy studying!

Answer 3

Anglican and Episcopal are almost identical. Very heavy on ceromony, what a good friend of mine calls Catholic lite.
Catholic is Catholic. THey follow what the Pope decides, and it's a very interesting part of Christianity to me. They do have some beliefs that other Christians have a problem with, (intercession thru a priest instead of on your own, praying thru the saints and Mary, the statues in the church, purgatory) but they are a branch of Christianity and have a lot of history.(Crusades were the Roman Catholic Church's thing)
Lutherans are Christians who follow the teachings of Martin Luther. The one who nailed his famous letter to the church door way back when, not Dr King who was involved in the civil rights movement in the US.Methodists are pretty fundamental. Basic Christian beliefs, and I think Presbyterians believe in predestination. Coptic, I have no idea.

Answer 4

I suppose if you're watching for legit Christianity that you'll hint again to the Upper Room Pentecost 33AD... nonetheless in union with the disciples and preserving the whole religion of Christ... then you definately ought to appear into both the Catholic or Orthodox Church. If you may have purchased into the rhetoric of sixteenth Century Protestantism, Lutherans and Anglicans are the one present faiths to keep the constitution of the religion they declare to want to have reformed. If you're watching for well occasions rock and roll and a little bit theatrical exhibit... any of the rage-type non-denoms or Evangelical-Pentecostal bible-belt church buildings will fit you. If you're into New Age guruism and a ways out guy-made stuff... take a look at New Age Gnosticism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Millenarianism, Darby-stimulated Dispensationalism, or any of the opposite slightly a century historical cults that experience sprung up in the course of the snake-oil interval of the 1800s. Don't fear approximately discovering those men, they'll come knocking, supply you literature, and invite you to a "prayer carrier".

Answer 5

Everything came out of Roman Catholicism. That is the biggest difference. Now I would have to research the specific differences. But a quick brief note of Church history is this:
Papal Rome was given power from Pagan Rome, and Protestantism is the Child of Papal Rome.

Answer 6

Basically, none - they are all faith-based, and cannot prove anything they say is true.

If you want a detailed answer, you'll need more than you'll get on here, but suffice to say that somewhere in the past church bigwigs disagreed on something, and a faction split off. In my experience, few current members, if any, can explain exactly what happened - and you'll get different versions from them all.

Answer 7

Comparison of Christian Denominations' Beliefs
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/denominations_beliefs.htm

Answer 8

Entire books can be written on this subject. Suffice it to say they are all Christian Churches subscribing to the main tenents of the Faith.

Answer 9

Read the King James Bible,pray and ask Jesus Christ to show Himself to you as you read the book of John. God says "you search for Me and Find Me when ye search for Me with all your heart".

Answer 10

religion is ALL the same...


Here's the simply Solution for religion:


Eliminate religion from Your Life, A.S.A.P.;

Freedom of religion is Freedom FROM religion; religion is Spiritual fraud;

Universal Truth eliminated religion from Spirituality a long time ago;


Accomplish this:

Create a Private, Personal, Direct, Divine Relationship with Our Creator and save Your Soul from religion's and atheist's beliefs and start Your journey back home, to Heaven.

<<<<<<< UnConditional Love is the only answer >>>>>>>

Love and Believe in Our Creator;
Love and Believe in Yourself.

Only with Our Creator's Love and Peace will we be Truly Free!