What are the main differences between the catholics and protestants?

Question

In bullet points please

Answer 1

Catholics vary from scope of doctrine. The same with Protestants. But I will list these...

Catholics hold to the authority of the Church for doctrine.
Protestants hold to the authority of the Bible for doctrine.

Catholic Crusader is correct, from the above difference, we get the following differences. Note that I reference teachings of the church vs. the difference found in scripture. This is based on the error of holding to the physical church institution over the Word of God.

Catholics adhere to the Pope as the vicar of Christ.
Catholic Encyclopedia, "Vicarius Christi"
Protestants believe that the Bible is the final authority.
2 Timothy 3:16

Catholic tradition is of equal authority with the Bible.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Protestants believe traditions of man cause error.
Matthew 15:3

Catholics adhere to Mary as a co-regent of Jesus.
UBI PRIMUM, (On the Immaculate Conception of Mary), Encyclical of Pope Pius IX
Protestants beleive that Mary was blessed, but only human.
Luke 11:27-28

Catholics believe that priests or Mary are mediators.
OCTOBRI MENSE (On the Rosary), Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII
Protestants believe there that only Jesus is Mediator.
1 Timothy 2:5

Transubstantiation recrucified Christ at the communion.
Council of Trent Pg. 347, #1376,
Protestants believe Christ died just once.
Hebrews 6:6

Catholics believe Mary was a perpetual virgin.
Protoevangelium of James], Patrology, 1:120–1 and many sources
Protestants believe the Bible that He had siblings.
Mark 6:3

Catholics call their priests "father".
Started with St. Benedict referring to confessors as "abbot" from "abba"
Catholics call their teachers "pastor" or "minister".
Matthew 23:9

Catholics pray repetitive words with Rosary Beads.
Catholic Encyclopedia, Ingruentium Malorum
Protestants pray the same as they speak.
Matthew 6:7

Pope canonizes those to be called "saints".
Caractéristiques des Saints (Paris, 1867)
Protestants believe all who believe are saints.
Philippians 1:1

Pope (through bishops) decides who is "priest" in church leadership.
Council of Nicaea I, canon 18
Protestants believe all who believe are a priesthood.
1 Peter 2:5

Celibacy is enforced on priests and bishops.
Bishops Committee on Priestly Life, page 54
Protestants believe they should be married.
1 Timothy 3:2-5

Catholics believe Peter was the first Pope (so could not have been married)
Primacy of Peter and Apostolic Succession
Protestants stand by the Bible that he was married and was not a "pope".
Mark 1:30

Catholics bow down and burn candles to graven images.
debitum honorem et venerationem
Protestants do not bow to images.
1 John 5:21

Catholics believe only the priests can understand the Bible.
(main cause of the Reformation and martyrdom of translators)
Protestants believe they can study and understand the Bible.
Ephesians 3:4

Catholics believe Mary was without sin.
Council of Trent (Session VI, Canon 23)
Protestants believe only Jesus was without sin.
Romans 5:12

Justification pronounced as anathema by Council of Trent.
Council of Trent (Canon 9)
Protestants believe we are justified by faith.
Romans 3:28

Catholics hold to Peter as foundation "rock" of the church.
Acts of the Council, session 3
Protestants hold to only Christ as foundation Rock.
1 Corinthians 3:11, 1 Corinthians 10:4

Catholics worship Mary as the Mother of God.
Council of Ephesus, Theotokos
Protestants only worship the Godhead.
Revelation 19:10

Answer 2

1. Pope is recognized as the visible had of the Church on earth, acting in Jesus' stead. Protestants don't recognize his authority at all.

2. Catholics accept 7 Sacraments. Most Protestant sects accept only 2.

3. Catholic Bible is the original one decided upon by the Church back in the 4th century. Protestant version have 6 fewer books in the Old Testament and does not have parts of 2 others because Martin Luther decided that those books should not be included. After all, they're the ones which contain flat contradictions of the tenets he was pushing.

4. Catholics accept that those who are in heaven are good friends in "high places" and see no problem talking to them and asking for their help just as if they were good friends on earth. Protestants mostly ignore the saints. After all, they're dead. How much help can a corpse be?

5. Catholics accept that Jesus said what He meant and meant what He said. Protestants tend to take His commands and admonitions and suggestions and advice when and as it pleases them, including ignoring the ones they don't like.

6. Catholic Church is at least 15 centuries older than any of the Protestant denominations (NOT counting the Orthodox Churches).

7. The main difference between a GOOD Catholic and a GOOD Protestant, however, is probably less than a mote in the Eye of God.

Hope this helped.

Answer 3

The primary difference is in the belief in the authority of the Pope over the Christian Church.

The Catholics believe that the Pope speaks for God in all theological matters. Protestants (from the noun -Protest) traditionally believe that the relationship with God is more personal. There are some other theological differences but they all stem from the "infallibility of the pope" issue. They include: ban on birth control, no marriage for clergy, no female clergy, etc.

Since there are so many different sects/groups of Protestants, identifying other differences is difficult. Protestants can vary from United Church (very liberal) to Baptist (Conservative). Some Protestant denominations are more "catholic" than the Catholics...

Edit: Several Protestant denominations still have confession, but usually it is done as a general confession and absolution within the service. There still is one-on-one confession during the dying or sick rites. The Church of Englan (Anglican) and the Catholic Church both have 7 sacrements and both do the bread and wine communion.

The first Protestants to break off were the Lutherans - Lead by Martin Luther (Not Martin Luther King Jr.). The first Christian "splinter" group however were the Roman Catholics when they split from the Greek Orthodox church over the matter of the head of the church being in Rome or Constantinople .

Answer 4

Hello,

1) Catholics believe the Pope and the Vatican are better equipped for bible interpretation / protestants think a milk or scullery maid can equally be a bible and theological expert.

2) Catholics say you must live a good life and do good to your fellow man whilst many protestants say you can shag 12 year olds, deal in drugs, order contract killings yet you still get to heaven just for being reborn in Christ.

3) Catholics have the dictatorship situation of the pope but protestants have no authority or organization or discipline which leads to thousands of sects.

4) Historically Catholics had the Inquisition to stamp out heresy but protestants like good Christians burned the witches.

5) Some protestants call the Catholic church the Whore of Babylon when the whore has to a a woman and must have been Tammy Faye Baker and her church and make up preaching you get a dog house mansion and gold Rolex for PTL.


Anyway, don't take me seriously here but you can see there is enough s hit on both sides that can supply enough ammo to sling the mud balls.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

Answer 5

I can't answer from a Catholic perspective but I do know that the Catholic church focuses much more on the Virgin Mary as the mother of God than we do in the Protestant Church.

Protestants also don't have:
Confession
The idea of Purgatory as a middle step between dying and ascending to Heaven
The prayer "Hail Mary"
and the idea of "Original Sin" which I believe is the notion that all women bear original sin because of Eve tempting Adam in the Garden of Eden.

Protestants do have - which some Catholic churches (but not all) don't:

The taking of both bread and wine at Communion - some Catholic churches only allow their communicants to take bread.

And obviously the Catholics have the Pope as their direct representative between themselves and God.

Hopefully that's right - no wish to offend anyone and I'm only speaking from a Protestant point of view so I know what we don't have.

Answer 6

"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 7

Catholics believe you can go to heaven by your own good works, doing rituals and ceremonies, etc.. just like any other system of believes in the world..

Protestants: believe that we can't ever earn by ourselves a place in heaven, only by the power of God through faith in Jesus Christ..

Answer 8

Very easy. A Protestant is anyone who is not Catholic. The name came from years ago when the Catholics said you had to follow their religion or else. Those who didn't were said to be protesting against the church, thus called a Protestant.

Answer 9

The main differences:

-Catholics believe in the authority of the Bible, Sacred Tradition, and the teachings of the Pope and Magisterium. None of the points of authority can contradict each other.

-Protestants believe in the authority of the bible only, but individual interpretations are just as valid as others.

-Catholics believe in salvation through faith in Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Adhering to the 10 commandments and doing good works in response to God's mercy out of love is also necessary. Salvation is a life-long process in that we need to seek out Christ's mercy every moment of our lives and live a life worthy of Him. If a person turns away from God voluntarily it may be possible to lose their salvation.

-Protestants believe that salvation is a one time deal, once saved always saved. Even voluntarily turning away from God will not remove you from God's mercy.

-Protestants approve of Martin Luther removing several books from the bible during the Reformation. Their bible is missing seven books which they believe are not inspired by God.

-Catholics use the original bible canon declared during the Synod of Hippo (393 A.D.).

-Catholics believe that Christianity is supposed to be unified in belief and practice and reject deviations from the early Church fathers' teachings and traditions. All doctrine needs to be agreed upon by its followers for the Church needs to be one since it is the bride of Christ.

-Protestants believe what they want from the bible and all other view points that differ from their own are wrong. It is possible for a 300 member congregation to have differing views. Generally, private individual interpretation is acceptable.

-The Catholic Church started in 33 A.D. and the term "Catholic" was first used by St. Ignatius of Antioch in 107 A.D..

-The Protestants are an off-shoot of the Catholic Church. They broke away in the 1500s A.D. when Martin Luther defied the authority of the Catholic Church.

-In terms of Theology all Catholics follow the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed.

-Protestants have a different set of creeds depending on their own church. Some of them are formal and are very similar to the Catholic creeds, while others follow the creeds of a charismatic preacher.

-The Catholic Church recognizes that protestants have an element of truth from God and that God does use these churches as a tool for salvation. Some protestants believe the same thing about the Catholic Church. Some protestants believe that all forms of Christianity that are different from theirs is wrong and leads to hell.

I am a Catholic but I started off as a Protestant. I tried to examine as much of history as I could and learned the facts above. For me there is no other way but the Catholic Church. Perhaps historically the Catholics are right, but any church that you can feel the love of Christ may be right for you. Jesus did say that whoever is not against you is for you.

The Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Answer 10

Catholics are fed at The Virgin Mary's breast while Protestants receive formula.

Answer 11

1)Both Catholics and Protestants profess to believe the Bible, and in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of mankind,
2)but, in reality, both have included in their beliefs long standing traditions which contradict the Bible that go back to Babylonian times i.e. imortality of the soul, Trinity doctrine, hell fire, etc.
3) The Catholics, being older and longer established, have more! i.e. looking to Mary as Mediator, (should only be Jesus Christ), worship of images (condemned in Bible) and many more.
4)If you are looking for something, Read the Bible, and see what religion follows it, not the other way round.
5)Also, if you pray to God for help, He will lead you to the religion which He approves of.
6)They are not all approved by God as Jesus himself condemned the Pharisees in his own time for teaching falsehoods