wats the difference between protesten and catholic christans?

Answer 1

The Catholic Church was the only Christian church for 1600 years. Martin Luther (a Catholic priest) broke away from the Church and in so doing started the Protestant Reformation. The Church (Catholic church) gave the Bible to the world. The original bible contained seven more books than the King James Version contains today. But the hierarchy in England, subsequent to the reformation, decided to delete those seven books. BTW Two of those books, One and Two Maccabees, is the only source for Jews or Christians, of the story of Hanukkah. Catholics believe that when Jesus said, "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." he meant the church would be preserved by heavenly power, through the first and subsequent popes, from error in matters of faith and morals. We do not believe that popes are infallible human beings, only that their teaching to the church in these areas is and will be preserved from error through the promise of Jesus. We love and accept our Protestant brethren. We believe they are sincere and inasmuch as they follow the gospel of Jesus and his two great commandments (Love God and your fellow man) they will be saved. Protestants often think that salvation is a once and for all thing while Catholics believe it is a journey of faith and love where we often stumble and need the hand of God to pick us up so we can keep on going. Although we know that Jesus has provided our salvation for us we also know that we must accept that gift on a daily basis and that many of the things people do create a rift between God and man which must be breached. That is why we have the sacrament of reconciliation. As with any human relationship, our relationship with God must be reciprocal. If we offend, we must be sorry, apologize and make amends. Without this, serious sin can cause the death of the soul and the loss of salvation regardless of our belief in Jesus. So, even though we can never earn or be worthy of His wonderful gift of salvation, we can reject his love and lose it.
We believe, as Pope Benedict XVI stated recently that Protestants are our separated brethren and that they have part of the truth though not all. This has always been Catholic belief though because of ecumenism (an emphasis on things Catholics and Protestants have in common in the interest of brotherly love) it has not been stated like this for a long time.

Answer 2

First a little history is needed. The first church was established by the Ethiopian eunuch, and is called the Coptic Christian church, and it is in Ethiopia. It has been in continuous existence since then. The church was formed when Philip talked to the eunuch in the wilderness and then baptized him. The church was official established at the time of Pentecost. This is when the Apostles preached and 3000 people became Christians. They heard the Apostles in their own language, and people observed tongues of fire on the Apostles' heads. Christianity became the "official" state religion under the Emperor Constantine. At that point, it began to diverge from the Bible, but the serious divergence happened during the Middle Ages, when some new doctrines were introduced into Roman Catholicism. There were always other Christians who dissented from Rome, but they were martyred until the printing press was invented. Luther was the first dissenter who survived, and it was because of the existence of the printing press. The Eastern Orthodox church broke with Rome over the question of whether the bishop who should lead the entire church was in Rome or Constantinople (Istanbul).

I will take Protestants to include Lutherans, though some Lutherans say otherwise (me among them). The differences as I see it are these:

Catholics recognize more books in the Bible than Protestants. They also use some books known as the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books. These are not part of the canon. The canon was settled in 312 AD, and included the Old Testament canon, and the books which were circulated under the guidance of the Apostles, hence, the New Testament Canon.

Catholics look to both scripture and tradition, but if they contradict, they usually go with tradition. Protestants rely on scripture alone.

Catholics learn that they must have the guidance of a priest to understand the Bible, and in the past, they were discouraged from reading the Bible altogether. One reason people didn't read the Bible for themselves was because Jerome had translated it into Latin (the official Catholic Latin version) and Rome wouldn't allow it to be translated into other languages. Protestants believe that everyone has the right to interpret the Bible for himself.

Catholics believe people should ask for the intercession of Mary and the officially designated Saints. Protestants believe that we should pray to God alone.

Catholics believe that Mary was born without a sin nature (the Immaculate Conception). Protestants believe she had a sin nature like the rest of us, and was given the gift of faith by the Holy Spirit, Who then used her as a weak vessel to bear Jesus.

Catholics believe that Mary was always a virgin. Protestants (and the Jerome Latin translation, by the way) believe that Mary had four sons and at least two daughters in addition to Jesus. The sons are named in several places, and the Apostle James was Jesus' brother.

Catholics believe Mary was assumed into heaven (the Assumption), but Protestants believe she died in the same manner as the rest of us.

Catholics believe that when the Pope speaks ex cathedra (from the chair), he is speaking infallibly. Protestants don't accept his authority at all.

Catholics believe the Pope was the successor to Peter, the first Pope. Protestants don't accept a Pope at all. They believe that the Rock is Jesus, not Peter.

Catholics believe that you must do good works in addition to Jesus' salvation, in order to shorten the time spent in Purgatory. Protestants don't believe in Purgatory. The only reference to Purgatory is in the Apocrypha. Some Protestants (not those who adhere to the Bible, but Christians sects and cults) also believe in adding works. But orthodox Protestants believe salvation is by grace alone. That means our works add nothing, and are only evidence we have faith.

Catholics believe that clergy must remain celibate, but Protestants encourage clergy to be married, citing the requirements for a church leader in an epistle to Timothy, among other sources.

There are other differences, but those are the major ones, I think.

Answer 3

"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 4

There are three branches of Christianity:
1 Catholic
2 Protestant (includes 1000's of sub-denominations)
3 Eastern Orthodox

If you are a Christian, you are one of those.


Every Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches broke away and were established during the protestant revolt, which began in 1517. Only the Catholic Church existed in the tenth century, in the fifth century, and in the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing. The line of popes can be traced back, in unbroken succession, to Peter himself (see list at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm ).

For more info, may I suggest that you go to Catholic Answers at www. catholic. com and then look at the left sidebar: You will see many subjects. You can click on one and see tracts that will probably answer your questions. Also, the search engine will search 20 years worth of articles from "This Rock" magazine. There are a lot of great articles there too

Also, the"official" Catechism Of The Catholic Church is online at: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/entiretoc1.htm
This is a difficult document to read. (The book is about three inches thick!) But, there is a wealth of information there too if you take the time to learn how to navigate it.

Answer 5

Bow down to God and God alone.
And not all churches where off shoot of the catholics.
I do get tiered of catholics saying this lie.

Answer 6

Catholics:

God/Bible/Salvation-------Pope/ Priests-------> Common Man

(The priestly class mediates btw God & commoners)

Protestants:

God/Bible/Salvation-->Everyone

(all Christians are priests, relationship w/ God on individual basis)

I Peter 1:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Answer 7

Beliefs, practices, hierarchy, history, and the Bibles they use... in a simplified synopsis, anyway.

Answer 8

Well one group is just catholic, and all the rest are Christians (teheheheh)

Answer 9

Oh my, you sure are opening a can of worms with that question.

Answer 10

Protestants follow the Word, catholics follow a man made "religion." that makes God want to vomit.