What is the basic differences between Catholic and Protestant religion?

Question

So many wars and skirmishes throughout history have been fought for those 2 religions. Please no answers about any other religions.

What I mean is the basic tenets of these sects that so many people fight over from the begining of history

Answer 1

Catholicism believes it is the one and only true path to Christ.

Protestants, well, Protest that.

Answer 2

They're not "the Catholic religion" and "the Protestant religion". They are two different sects of the same religion: Christianity. Sects ultimately differ from one another based on how much importance they place in the different categories of scripture study, acts, faith, ceremony, tradition, etc.

Catholicism allegedly stems back to Peter, who according to the Gospels was instructed by Jesus to build the church. Peter is recognized by Catholics as being the first Pope. A hierarchy was built from then on. Catholics have, in contrast to most other sects, a more pronounced emphasis on tradition. Contrary to anti-Catholic claims, they do not worship statues, nor anybody else but God for that matter. But they do see Saints and figures like the Virgin Mary as inspiring figures (but again, not deity). And being "the" Church until the orthodoxes came along, they also selected and put together the scriptures that make up the Bible.

The Protestant reformation started when Martin Luther, in the early 16th century, was fed up with the way the Catholic Church was running things at the time. Protestantism emphasizes personal Biblical study, much less on tradition, and no acknowledgment of sainthood nor most of the sacraments.

Answer 3

I also agree that both versions of Christianity are apart of the same faith; both having people that are legitimate followers of Jesus and those who are just along for the ride. Suggesting that Catholicism and Protestant beliefs are different religions is ridiculous.

The biggest cause for diverging beliefs is about Mary (the mother of Jesus) and the saints. Opinions about those things vary from church to church in the Catholic Church. Both definitely have more to agree about than disagree about, but the differences are important.

Recently I think the way the papal and catholic church authority has dealt with the whole sex abuse scandals too lightly.... any priest or church authority involved in that kind of behavior should be fired and handed over to authorities.

Answer 4

"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.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

No, they are two separate and distinct churches indeed. Both are Christian in that they follow Christ's teachings, but they both interpret the Bible and some traditions in different ways. It would be way too involved to go into it here. Perhaps you should do a basic study in Christianity and the two religious traditions yourself.

Answer 6

The smoking handbag in the church is catholic.