what is the difference between a catholic church & a protestant church?

Answer 1

This is a very broad question, more than you may realize, so it is difficult to answer briefly. The reason is that there are very, very many Protestant groups ranging from the very conservative (Southern Baptists, for example) and very liberal (many 'mainstream' groups such as Presbyterians and Methodists, although these have conservative groups within them). Even the terms 'conservative' and 'liberal' are unhelpful, as they tend to refer to both religious beliefs and the way they are applied 'politically.' What I mean is: very conservative Baptists are apt to take the Bible quite literally, not only in affirming that God became man in Jesus Christ, died for humankind's sins and arose from the dead, but that the creation occurred in seven solar days. Politically (in the USA), they tend to be highly patriotic and approve of policies that uphold a strong military and a moral social order. 'Liberals,' on the other hand, are apt to consider the Bible to be a collection of fallible human documents that we can learn from but carry little divine authority. Politically, they are suspicious of authority in general and hold 'equality' as a higher value than 'order'. I should add that there are many in-between Christians who affirm the ancient creeds (like the Apostle's Creed), believe the Bible to be authoritative, AND have a social conscience regarding peacemaking and justice for the oppressed. In the most general religious sense, however, Catholics and Protestants differ in these 3 main ways:

1. Catholics affirm that the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, is the highest human authority in the Church founded by Christ, having given Peter 'the keys of the kingdom' and all those appointed in his succession. Protestants do not give any special authority to the Pope and many, in fact, believe such authority to be a serious error. The papacy is, in fact, what most early Protestants 'protested' against.

2. Catholics celebrate the Mass in worship wherein the sacramental bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. Catholics thus 'receive' Christ quite literally and enter a spiritual union with Him this way, renewing it every time they receive these elements. Most Protestants believe the bread and wine (or juice) are not changed at all and are symbols meant to recall the work of Christ. For Catholics, this sacrament, The Eucharist, is the central thing, and the reading of Scripture and preaching, while important, lead up to it. For most Protestants, preaching is the central thing, illustrated by the fact that the preaching pulpit is in the center of the 'stage', emphasizing the centrality of the Word. In Catholic churches, the altar is central, and the pulpit on the side. Some Protestant groups have 'communion' only once a month - and some once a year. -- In addition to the Eucharist, Catholics recognize 6 other 'sacraments' which are sacred encounters with Christ though visible means (like water in baptism, for example). Most Protestants do not recognize 'sacraments' as such, but may practice the 'ordinances' of baptism and Communion. Related to all this is the office of the priesthood in the Catholic Church, where the ministry of Christ is continued especially through these men who stand in His place administering these sacraments. Most Protestants reject the priesthood as an institution altogether.

3. I think the third difference is really a cultural one. Most Protestant churches emphasize an individual's response to Christ in faith. The Catholic Church is more 'communal' in its culture, and thus, while individual commitment to Christ is important, baptism is less an individual statement of personal faith and more of a rite whereby one becomes part of the family of God and embraced by the New Covenant. This 'communal' sense also contributes to Catholic social teaching where active compassion for the poor, the powerless, and the needy are a very important part of living a genuine Christian life, and such 'works' contribute to a person's ultimate destiny. Protestants, while active in social causes, are wary of any talk regarding 'works' as having anything to do with one's ultimate salvation.

This may seem like a long posting but it is a terribly brief overview of key differences, and I hope you find it helpful.

Answer 2

In summary, Catholic beliefs are founded on the original church.

Protestants have "protested" the Catholic church and went off to follow their own beliefs. Protestants, in general, can be referred to as any other christian church than catholic beliefs. They have no central governing body, whereas the catholic church has the Vatican.

There are belief and faith differences, but at the core, they both are founded around Jesus.

Some references below.

Answer 3

In the Catholic church, spiritual authority resides in the Pope. Most Protestant churches, on the other hand, have no such central authority. (The exception is the Anglican church, whose authority rests in the reigning monarch.)

As you may remember from history, one of the main issues that led to the formation of Protestant churches was the practice of selling papal indulgences. The idea was that when a saint died, he had more merit than was necessary to enter heaven. The excess was "inherited" by the Church, who could then sell it to a wealthy noble against future sinful behavior, allowing him to "indulge."

Martin Luther in his 95 Theses did not disagree with the concept of excess merit, but denied that the Church had sole possession, arguing that God granted the excess merit equally to all Christians. Thus the Church had no authority to sell it. From these objections came the Lutheran church.

Later disagreements within the growing Protestant movement resulted in most of the denominations of Christianity existing today - Calvinist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Congregationalist, etc.

Answer 4

The NAME.

Answer 5

a million. Catholics have faith interior the apostolic succession of the bishops. 2. Catholics have faith interior the authority of the bishops and the bishop of Rome (the successor of Peter) 3. Catholics have faith the recent testomony grow to be written by applying the apostles and their successors. they think of that it grow to be written over a volume of time (from approximately 3 hundred and sixty 5 days 60 to one hundred twenty). 4. Catholics have confidence the historic information of their ideals on the tombs of the saints (interior the catacombs interior the West and others interior the East) 5. Catholics have faith interior the classes of the church fathers. 6. Catholics and a few Protestants have faith interior the Apostles Creed. 6. Catholics have faith interior the classes of the final Councils.. 7. Catholics are considered one of their ideals.

Answer 6

What are the differences among the hundreds of denominations of Jesus' religion?

Answer 7

One funnels your money directly to one central church, the other funnels your money to many different denominations.

Answer 8

Not much, neither believes, (in the sense of obeys) Scripture.