If you are Catholic or Protestant, please answer this question!?

Question

I have been assigned a final paper in my religion class - the topic is conflicting ideas between Catholicism and Protestantism.

If you are Catholic or Protestant, I am very interested in hearing your opinion on whether you believe there are any conflicting ideas. Any other views (within this general topic) that you wish to express are surely welcome.

I really appreciate your help. Thank you in advance!

I appreciate everyone's viewpoints so far. It's been very helpful to me and my research!!!

Am merka/anti-gm whatever you are, hope you're enjoying that extra set of 2 points!!!!

Answer 1

I was a catholic for most of my life, but chose to leave that denomination and move to a non-denominational church that follows the scriptural examples more closely.

One personal disagreement was with the structure of the church. I do not see scriptures that ordain a structure beyond the congregational appointment of Elders and Deacons. I agree that the Pope is a knowledgeable, religious man who has earned a degree of respect and authority, but I disagree that his power is greater than any other man's.

Scriptural churches appoint Elders and Deacons to run the local congregation. This scriptural structure ensures that only true churches survive. Should a congregation fall under false teaching, believers compare the teachings to the scriptures, see the falsehood, and either work to correct it, or leave and let the congregation whither and die.

Churches with national and global leadership run the risk that their national or global leaders might become corrupt. If so, the whole organization could certainly go corrupt as well, and more souls would be lost.

Some of the documents used when I was in the catholic church go beyond the scriptures themselves. I did not necessarily think they were all wrong, but I did think that some of them were opinions that were being taught as truths.

I see the Bible as a "seed". If for some reason all organized religions were wiped out, any reader of the Bible should be able to understand what it is that God is saying to us. The fruit of that seed should be a scriptural congregation of believers. If the scriptures were cloaked so well that only certain people could possibly understand them, then without those special people, God's word would be lost. Actually, His word is understandable to all who have a truly open heart.

I also disagreed with the succession of the position of Pope. Even in documented history, there is disagreement over the true succession, and there were times when there was no person in that position at all.

God's word does not depend on sinful man. His word stands on its own for all men (and women, I am being poetic at the moment) to depend on.

Lastly, I disagreed with the "Saints". In the scriptures, all believers are labelled 'saints'. We can all learn from one another, none of us is more or less deserving of salvation than another. Some of the more spectacular acts of faith may be notable as examples to those of us currently living, but ascribing special "sainthood" titles and powers to them is beyond what scripture calls for.

Obviously, if men can assign and take away these titles and powers, then these are not God-Given but Man-Made. I try to avoid the Man-Made because it is corruptable.

Answer 2

So one of the things you should realize from the responses that you've received is that Catholics and Protestants disagree on several points, not the least of which is *what we actually disagree on*. I've seen several answers from Protestants, for example, where their perception of what the Catholic Church does or teaches is not actually what the Church does or teaches. I'm sure if I gave you a laundry list of our differences, my Catholic bias would show, even if I try to stay impartial.

My recommendation is that you make appointments to talk to clergy of various Catholic and Protestant churches. You will find many differences among churches that identify as Protestant, less (but still present) among those that identify as Catholic. For example, you might pick a couple of large Protestant sects (baptist, presbyterian, methodist) and compare them to unaffiliated churches or churches affiliated with smaller denominations. On the Catholic side, you could talk to a Roman Catholic priest and also to clergy from the Eastern Orthodox tradition and possibly also to someone from the Anglican community (like Father K on Answers).

Ask them about the following, and be sure you ask about their Church's "official" position. And take note of what they have to say about "official."

1. The Trinity - what does their denomination believe about it and why?
2. Mary - what sort of person was she and what is her role in the church and in the history of Christianity?
3. The Eucharist/Communion - what is it, what does it mean, why is it celebrated and how often is it celebrated?
4. Scriptural interpretation - are laypeople encouraged to interpret the Bible on their own (without guidance); why or why not?
5. Sacred Tradition - do the Traditions handed down to us from the early church have a role in modern spirituality; why or why not?
6. Is the Bible the ONLY source of spiritual guidance for Christians? Why or why not, and how do you justify your response?
7. Respect for the Saints and the allowability of religious art - what does your denomination have to say about these issues and why?
8. Intercessory prayer - is it allowed or not?

Those, I think, are the really big points where we have significant theological differences. I'm not going to tell you the difference between the Protestant and Catholic views, because the only one I can give with any degree of authority is the Catholic view. Your first respondant gave an excellent answer detailing the Protestant perception of the differences between Catholics and Protestants. I can tell you that much of what she said about Catholics is not accurate. That's why I'm not going to detail the particulars. You will have a much better and much less biased research paper if you gather the information from venues that are not so contentious as this one.

Answer 3

Since you're going to need resources for the paper, I'll answer with a few recommendations:

From the Protestant perspective:
Evangelical Answers by Eric Svendsen
The Roman Catholic Controversy by James White

From the Catholic Perspective:
Catholic and Christian by Alan Schrek
and about anything written by Scott Hahn - here's a link to his website:http://www.mindspring.com/~jdarcy/files/drhahn.html

Make sure to check out the bibliographies and end notes in these books - since they're a good source for further information.
I'd also like to add that I'm not in total agreement with the first answerer's assessment of the Catholic and Protestant views on all the issues listed (EDIT: Although I commend her on attempting to provide a simple overview of a very complicated topic). These resources will give you a much better idea of the conflicting ideas.

Answer 4

What is the Truth?

I am the way, the truth and the life. And yet since so many teach contradictory ideas on specific issues, then we are not in possession of the whole truth. Is there a way of determining what is the Truth of God's Word?

Is there a defender and standard of the truth that could tell us the correct interpretation of Scripture? Yes, the church (1 Tim 3:15)

Jesus founded only one church. Which church has been around since Christ instituted it which had authority on all Christians on matters of faith and morals (Matt 18:15-17 and Acts 15:22 ). One church with authority unto all town churches (Acts 16:4). The only church that can show its existence since those early years is the Catholic Church.

God Bless
Robin

Answer 5

Whew! You sure opened a can of worms. As you probably know, most of these answers display a bias very recognizable to someone (such as myself) who has investigated several sects. One answer, wisely, acknowledges this.

I think you will find that there are *so* many sects because they range the entire gamut of possible beliefs. Some misconceptions here:

Misconception: "The Catholic Church was the only church for centuries"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_history#Early_heresies
+ gnosticism (there is both Christian and Jewish gnosticism)
+, don't forget that the "Roman Catholic Church" today is only *1* splinter from the original Catholic Church. *All* of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and several other sects as well, have splintered from the original pope-less "Catholic Church".

Bible Canon: several so-called Protestant sects have a more inclusive canon than the one defined by English protestants (who were the first to remove the "apocrypha" from editions of the bible in *any* language). Luther questioned the "inerrancy" of the "apocrypha", but included those books in his bible, as did all the other early translations favored by early Protestant sects.

Indeed, the very term "Protestant" has come to mean (by common definition) any sect other than the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), even though many of these sects never protested against the doctrines of the RCC specifically. The original meaning - a sect with a disagreement with the doctrine of the RCC - has for the most part fallen into disuse. Indeed, more Protestant sects have splintered from other Protestant sects (thus, protesting against another Protestant sect) than have splintered from the RCC.

Conclusion: there are as many disagreements between Protestant sects as there are between Protestants and the RCC. There is no common Protestant "canon" and no single common Protestant "doctrine" because there is not a single Protestant sect, or even a common origin of Protestant sects. The only thing that the sects of "Protestantism" have in common with each other they also have in common with the RCC: namely, Christ.

I am not certain that your paper is feasible outside of an analysis of the early history of Protestantism in Europe, in which case you can compare the specific doctrines of early Protestant sects who, indeed, were protesting the doctrines of the RCC from whom they had splintered. Even those very early sects (Lutheranism and Calvinism) disagreed with each other so vehemently that they could not be reconciled (the description of the first, and only, early meeting between the heads of those 2 sects is enlightening). I advise that you focus on this manageable survey of early Protestant sects, with perhaps reference (mention) to the multitude of sects that are doctrinal descendants of these early sects, and perhaps a brief mention of the multitude of sects that have nothing in common with these early Protestant sects.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

Answer 6

Quick answers below. For more depth, I suggest asking each question separately. 1:Why do Catholics believe it's necessary to celebrate Christmas claiming that it's Jesus' birthday when it's not mentioned in the bible? Christmas celebrates God coming to be born among us as a human being. That's in the Bible--see John 1. 2:Why do alot of Catholic priests and higher ups practice celibacy which is to stay single and never marry? Because Jesus recommended it (see Matt 19:12). It is a rule of discipline that could change. 3:What are the reasonings of having statues and images in the church? To remind us of the historical events and people who changed the world, especially Jesus dying on the cross. 4:Why are Catholics forbidden to eat meat excluding fish on Friday? It is a shared sacrifice, a small one, that we make to grow stronger and more disciplined during the season of Lent. Most of us take on other disciplines during Lent. 5:Catholics, do you or do not claim to worship the pope? We do not. 6:Why do most non-Catholics claim that you moved the Sabbath to Sunday? This was a decision of the early church to celebrate on the day of the Resurrection. As Jesus taught, the Sabbath is made for man, not vice versa. 7:What is the claim that you worship Mary, you actually claim to venerate Mary. We venerate her as our greatest saint. We don't worship Mary. 8:What is the concept of infant baptism? It is in baptism that we are born again by water and the Spirit and become children of God. We want our children to be born again in infancy. 9:What are the conclusions that St Peter was the first Pope? Jesus appointed Peter as the first leader of the Church (see Matt 16:18), a position we now call pope. Cheers, Bruce

Answer 7

Scripturally speaking; the present difference between them is the 7 books of 'The Bible'.

The way that I (raised in a Protestant group; becoming a deacon) settled the difference for myself came in the form of the Dead Sea Scrolls; which had the disputed books; in favor of the Catholic position.
See also Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1 and 2 Tim. 3:16-17.

Answer 8

I am a Catholic.

"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 9

Let me begin by saying that Protestants are Christians. I will be correcting the first answer with actual Catholic teaching:

Catholics: Tradition supplements and interprets scripture. Not every teaching of Jesus was included in scripture (see John 21:25).
Protestants: Scripture alone provides evidence about God.

Catholics: Mary was the greatest of saints, chosen for her obedience to God to become the mother of the Son of God in the Incarnation.
Protestants: Mary was a sinner just like the rest of us.

Catholics: Pray only to the Father, as Jesus taught, but communicate with saints, asking them for prayer.
Protestants: Pray to no one but Jesus Christ.

Catholics: The Pope is an apostle with apostolic authority. Jesus gave the first Christian leader, Peter, authority to "bind and loose" (Matt 16:18), including choosing new apostles (see Acts 1 for the first exercise of this power).
Protestants: The apostles are dead; there are none left who have that authority.

Catholics: Purgatory is real and taught by Jesus (see Matt. 12:32); sanctification occurs there as imperfect believers forgiven of serious sin atone for their poor choices and learn perfect holiness.
Protestants: Purgatory is not real, sanctification occurs at the White Throne judgment.

Catholics: Biblical interpretation requires great knowledge of history and languages, especially the interpretations of the Church Fathers who lived when the Bible was written and approved by the Church.
Protestants: Anyone can interpret the scriptures.

Catholics: Receiving forgiveness of sin through the sacraments Jesus instituted gives you grace.
Protestants: Studying the scripture and growing in your walk with the Lord is what gives you grace.

Catholics: Priests have been given the authority to actually forgive sins, as handed down by Jesus (John 20:23): "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
Protestants: No one can forgive sins but Jesus Christ.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 10

For the love of God, do not go to Jack Chick's site - he's a catholic bashing, ignorant person who know nothing about the Catholic church, yet claims to know all about what we do and the reasons behind it.

Funny, but after 12 years of Catholic school, I beg to differ. Not once was I taught that we worship Mary or the saints or any of the other crap he spews.

One of the big differences is that Protestants forget that the Catholic church was the only church for hundreds of years. Back then christian and catholic were synonomous. But they hate to hear that. ;)

There are plenty of differences - some pretty big, some more subtle. You should have no problem with your paper - which is kind of sad when you think about it.

I wanted to add, catholics are not "required" to pray to Mary. It's not as though you get sent to hell automatically if you don't pray to her. She is there to intercede on our behalf, but sorry all you misinformed protestants, we don't "have to" pray to her.

PS - ledbetter, the clergy are NEVER infallible and the Pope rarely invokes infallibilty (also known as solemn papal definitions or ex cathedra teachings.) Certain conditions have to be met for infallibility on a subject that only the Pope can meet. Please don't believe anything Jack Chick says, he seems to think that the Pope and "other leaders" invoke infallibility. Sorry dude, but 12 years of catholic school and 40 years as a practicing catholic tell me otherwise.