Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals... What is the differences in their beliefs?

Question

So these are all Christian faiths, but what are the fundamental differences in their beliefs?

I'd really like an answer from someone who knows please.

Thank you.

Answer 1

We were all Catholic until the Protestant Reformation. It is then that good Catholics such as Martin Luther discovered that Salvation was by faith alone, apart from all the rigamarole of the Roman Church with it's many barnacled traditions and regulations and unbiblical doctrines. When Luther wouldn't take back what he had honestly pointed out to be in error, he was booted out. The Catholic Church then condemned all the protesters (Protestants) and denied Salvation was by faith alone in Christ alone. This essentially ended their identity as a true expression of Christian faith.

The rest you mentioned are all Protestant denominations, identifiable by some particular thing that made them unique. They would all agree on foundational, necessary Christian doctrine, but their distinctions and differences are in their names;

Baptists are called such because they hold that only believers should be baptized, not children of believers or friends of believers or anyone else. The point was to ensure a church membership that was truly Christian. Baptists baptize believers by immersing them in water.

Methodists are called such because of Wesley's "method" of doing discipleship. It worked for them, so they are named for thier methods.

Pentecostals believe that all the spiritual gifts in the Bible are in opperation today, including speaking in tongues. Other Christians would say that such a gift was a first century sign gift, and not something we should expect today. Pentecostals will not think a person is saved without tongues, because to them, that is the proof.

Evangelical comes from "evangel" or Gospel, and is applied to all the Protestant groups that believe in spreading it, so several of the groups you named could qualify, especially the Baptists. It has a more narrow application in that those that identify most as Evangelicals would likely be less liberal and more Bible-centric, believing the Bible (God's Word) to be the final word on matters of faith and practice, not simply or merely an opinion or option.

Answer 2

Wow, that's to big an order. Catholic means universal and they tend to have a broader spectrum, many of the other positions of other religions rather than emphasising just a few. Basically the others emphasize different aspects of the Bible and specific scriptures. The Bible can best be understood by using the whole brain. With the spirit you can do that. It's also the new way to use the mind now. Evangelicals see Christians as preachers to "Preach the Gospel into all the world." Pentacostals emphasize the Spirit and personal revelation, not a bad idea. The Mormons of course, have the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible, pretty good connections with the spirit of understanding, but believe we came from another planet and are going back after we are perfected here. I saw their diarama a the Temple in Washington D.C. but haven't finished the book yet. The Witnesses have a real accurate understanding of what the Bible actually says and preach door to door like the Mormons, but not just for two years. No hell. No hell, conscientious objectors. I'm a little disatisfied with their connection with the Spirit. The Musulims believe they have to set up the kingdom on earth, in other words are more for mixing politics and religion, believe in the Bible, but not Jesus as god or even he was always right in his teachings, no trinity, but a hell. The Baptists have a variety of sects, let's say, some for and some against hell I would say that they are the fundamentaltist that everyone is so mad at for their attitude. Bush is a Methodist. Hell I think. Anglicans are dying in England, bu thriving in Africa. The are pretty liberal, but divided on women preachers and perhaps homosexuals as preachers, between the African and stricter side and America, although their divided over here and in England where they started also. The Church of England was founded by Henry the VIII to break from the Catholics and mix church and state to some extent. Pretty typical protestant church and liberal. Seventh Day Adventists look for the eminent return of Christ, Saturday Sabath, try not to eat meat, don't serve it in their hopitals, concientious objectors, but medics in wars and influenced a lot by Ellen G. White's revelations. Christian Scientist believe in a spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures and don't take it literally at all, well a pretty good description anyway, healing, it's closer to metaphysics. Not literal in that they pray, not our father, but our father, mother, god and say "Man is not material, he is spiritual." for instance. I'm not quite sure how to take that. Those are the major ideas and variations and combinations around those themes pretty much. You can imagine what happens in non-denominationals some one church groups, some even including Eastern religions. there's about 3,000 denominations of three churches of more and over 200 considered major denomination.

Answer 3

First you must define what kind of Methodist, I'm sure there are at least ten different types of Methodists.

I once mentioned to group that there were at least 37 different types of Baptists and they laughed and told me there were at least 57 types of Baptists.

There are at least 50 types of Evangelicals and I can give you a link for them.

And there are 15 or 20 different types of Pentecostals as well.

The basic difference used to be the authority of the Pope vs. the authority of the Bible, but in some many liberal versions of non Catholics these days, they have stopped believing the Bible as well.

Pastor Art

Answer 4

TxTony

There is too much to explain . . . they all believe differently about the Holy Spirit - some in a major way - some in a minor way. They believe differently about 'how' a person is saved (works vs faith) . . . predestination is another point of contention . . . and the authority of the Pope is up for discussion.

They all believe Jesus is God, lived a sinless life, gave his life for the forgiveness of sin, raised from the dead, returned to the Father (one of three persons in the Trinity), and is coming back with judgment and rewards.

Answer 5

The differences lie in the Traditions versus straight Scripture without the benefit of the Traditions too. They all have faith in Jesus. That is the bottom line and that is what should be concentrated on and not all the nitpicking about this or that.

Answer 6

The answer to that can take many hours because some of the differences are quite subtle. I've listed a source to get started looking at how the various denominations evolved and what some of the major differences are.

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.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

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

catholics-they got rituals such as mass...and worship the holy virgin too...(i dont understand why holy mary seems to be crucial in their beliefs)
baptist-they beleive that instead of baptised their child at birth,they should baptised when they want to 'believe' it.
methodist:this one i only knew he opens a lot of schools...
pentecostals:speak in tongues
evangelicals:I dunno..they seems to be a lot of hardcore in theirs...

I believe you are trying to make a difference of what they beleive.
good point.i think i willl start research them if i have an opportunity
I dont understand them b4 too...good 4 u 4 tring to find out.

Answer 9

There are really more things that unite us rather than divide us. What we need is tolerance for each others religious beliefs. Fundamentalists and other groups cannot seem to accept the fact that this is not what Jesus wants. (High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in John before his arrest)

To know the distinctive beliefs of these groups please go to this link.
http://www.catholic.com/library/noncatholic_groups.asp

Peace and blessings!

Answer 10

In short, they differ in what they accept as fundamental truth. They accept some creeds (i.e. Nicene Creed, Apostles' Creed) while rejecting others. Personally, I have to disagree with all of them. God is not the author of such confusion. Seek Him, and he'll lead you to the truth.