what are the main differences between protestantism and catholicism?

Question

help me do my essay...!!!

Answer 1

You need to go back to Martin Luther to find out the details. But one of the main differences is that protestants do not believe in the infallibility of the pope.

Answer 2

Here are some of the most important differences (though certainly not all). Don't take this answer and make it your essay, though. Use it as a starting point and do additional research from there.

1. Saints. Catholics will pray to saints, asking them to intercede on their behalf. Protestants don't do this, and don't really have saints. I believe one reason is they sometimes think of this as worship, naturally forbidden. Also, Catholics believe Mary was born without sin (the "immaculate conception"). Protestants do not.

2. Structure. Catholicism has a hierarchical structure with the pope at the top, then cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, other religious, and laypeople. This is not to say Catholics follow the pope mindlessly or above God, just that he acts as a father and a guide for the Church. Protestants do not have this structure, but rely on small self-governing communities.

3. The Bible. Protestant Bibles contain 7 fewer books than Catholic Bibles. Also, Protestants believe that God's will is solely expressed for us in the Bible. Catholics believe it is in the Bible and in the Church.

4. The Eucharist. Catholics say that the Eucharist is the essence of Christ, present with them. They worship Christ in and through the Eucharist. Protestants (generally) think the Eucharist is bread, symbolic of Christ, but not actually Christ.

5. Salvation. Generally, Protestants believe that salvation can only come from accepting Christ as your savior. Essentially, no matter how good a person is on their own, because they're not perfect, they wouldn't be able to make it to heaven if it weren't for Christ's sacrifice. Catholics believe this is true, but that you also have to 'walk the walk, not just talk the talk.' Salvation is based on the acceptance of Christ as savior combined with good works.

Answer 3

Catholics, like the Orthodox, see the Bible as part of church tradition. (And why not? The church WROTE the Bible, or at least the New Testament.) They are liturgical traditions which emphasize Christ's real presence in the mass. They also recognize a hierarchy (including especially bishops) whose authority is said to have been transmitted from apostolic times. They agree that there is only one church, and that they are it (though both entertain the possibility that other traditions may have merit).

Protestants are a diverse collection of Christian groups which broke away either from Roman Catholicism, or from other Protestants, or were made up independently (as in the case of the Mormons and JW's). Most (though not the Mormons and JW's) concede that there are many legitimate denominations. They generally emphasize the authority of the Bible over later church traditions, play down the role of the clergy or hierarchy, and see Communion / the Lord's Supper as a commemorative, symbolic meal.

Answer 4

Having been both, I can help.

Protestants focus solely on the aspect of "accepting Christ into your life for salvation" as the entire "formula necessary" to get into heaven. They celebrate communion, which is commonly represented by bread and wine (or sometimes grape juice), but they do not recognize nor teach about the saints, angels, etc. Their hierarchies vary based upon the actual sect, (Episcopalians still have bishops, as do Methodists) but Presbyterians do not have higher up positions that the ministers report to. Instead, they report to the congregation and the Presbytery, I think it's called, which is a group of elected persons from other Presbyterian churches around the state.

Catholics follow a much more structured and ritualistic form of worship and belief. Their "communion" is called the Eucharist, and Catholics believe that the wafer and wine are not SYMBOLS of the body and blood of Christ, but actually BECOME it. Not to the extent that you taste blood and skin in your mouth, but on a spiritual level, you are imbibing the essence of Christ and/or God. The rituals within Catholicism are much more powerful than what you find in most Protestant churches. Catholics also believe that your actions can affect your afterlife, as opposed to the "one size fits all" approach of the Protestants. Within the Catholic Church you also have your various sects of Franciscan, Dominican, Jesuit, etc. for types of priests.

I must cut this short, but hope this gives you some information to start with.

Answer 5

There is one Catholic church and 33,000 different denominations of protestants, each believing in something different.

This is what Catholics believe:

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,*
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Answer 6

The main difference between Protestant Christianity & Catholic Christianity is that, after Christ Himself, Protestants emphasize the authority of the Holy Bible, & then the authority of the particular churches they belong to.

Catholic Christianity does just the opposite way: We emphasize the authority of the Church, after that Of Christ, & then the authority of the Holy Bible.

Orthodox Christianity is the same as Catholic Christianity.

Answer 7

Protestants believe in consubstantiation which means they believe the bread and wine represent the body and blood of Christ. Catholics believe in transubstantiation which means they believe the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. The Catholics follow the Pope and believe he is infallible in matters of religious doctrine. The protestants don't. Catholic priests can't marry. Protestant priests, pastors, and ministers can marry.

Edit--to the person above me who said I don't know what I"m talking about, you're going to need to talk to my religion professor and my English history teacher.

Answer 8

I am Christian. I have a problem making people confess in a box to some mortal guy. With his own problems... Or go to hell!!! Jesus Christ died for all of us. Why is there a Pope anyway? Why do you have to kiss his ring? Who does he think he is anyway? Jesus never made anyone kiss anything of his. The Pope apparently thinks he is due this kind of respect - but Jesus never did. Hum... Hell will house many who think they are all good. Just my opinion.

Answer 9

John 6:66 read this and see for yourself who the first protestants were.

Answer 10

protestants believe that the way to salvation is believing and accepting Jesus as thier personal Lord and Savior. In the Bible Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Catholics on the other reject the gift of Christ and believe that works (sacrements) will get you into heaven.