Disregaurding small differences, are Protestant and Roman Catholic religions almost the same?

Question

Because I think they both love God.

Answer 1

There are some very significant differences between them, but they all believe that Jesus is the Lord and God, and that's a key similarity.

Answer 2

Yes, Roman Catholics and most Protestants are far more alike than different.

There are a lot of Protestants (or Christians who claim to be neither protestant nor Catholic) who don't believe this, but most of those are operating under some false assumptions about Catholicism. They claim Catholics worship Mary (false), the pope (false), saints (false) and/or idols (false), they claim that Catholics have a "different gospel" (false) or believe in works instead of faith (false), or that Catholics never read the Bible (false) or have changed the 10 Commandments (false). You will note that the people who levy these claims never provide any proof!

It's too bad we can't all just worship the Lord in spirit and in TRUTH. Then there wouldn't be all this in-fighting and others would know that we are Christians by our love for one another as well as our love for them.

Answer 3

Trinitarian Christians are close since they have the same Nicene Creed( and/or Apostles' Creed), the same New Testament, the same Trinity, the Same Lord,Savior and head Jesus Christ and (if they are in the state of grace) the same Mystical Body of Christ

whether Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox

Of course, the subjective view of God that a particular sect or denomination member may have may have nothing to do with Eternal Love or any reality of Justice

What unites Trinitarian Christians doctrinally is much greater than anything that divides

If a "Christian" hates and spews his love of damnation of those who disagree with some doctrine or custom, existentially-no matter what he believes of shouts- he or she is very distant from Christ in the area of behavior.

many "Christians" who cry "Lord.Lord" choose to be ignorant of the virtues and attitudes of charity that Jesus teaches we will be judged by.

Faith without love is dead and often murderous.

Answer 4

They are practically identical. Pretty much every piece of theology in Protestantism came out of Catholic catechism. The differences amount to nits of theology, e.g., was Mary saved from the beginning, can the dead saints pray for us and do their prayers help us, does the Bible suggest that some clergy should be celibate, did Mary have children after Jesus, some debate predistination or free will salvation but it has little to do with how one should act. It's all just children bickering.

Answer 5

Yes.

"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 6

Protestant churches contain some truths but the Catholic Church represents the fullness of faith and worship for Christians. We both do love God.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 7

Even if they all love God, they all love different people; God as seen by the Westboro Baptist Church is a different God from the god in which the Quakers believe.

Answer 8

As for fundamentalist Protestants not considering Catholics to be Christians:

Let's see: We Catholics consider ourselves to be Christians. Mainline Protestants consider us Christians. Orthodox consider us Christians. Unitarians consider us Christians. Jews consider us Christians. Muslims consider us Christians. Buddhists consider us Christians. Hindus consider us Christians . . .

There is one and only one group on the entire planet who insists that Catholics aren't Christians. . .



Oh, last but not least. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ considers us Christians. And that's what counts.

Answer 9

They both love God? That's a general description.

Answer 10

Protestants and Catholics are not the same, though they believe in Jesus as Saviour. The differences are as much as Muslims and Catholics even though they both believe in One God.