I've always wondered about the differences between what Protestant Christians and Catholics believe.
Why does the Catholic Bible have additional books? Did the Roman Catholic Church add these, or did the protestants remove them? Why?
The RCC uses the Apocrypha, so it includes 7 extra books over the typical Protestant bibles. It is important to note that the 1611 KJV had 73 books as well. Protestants removed them later. Men decided what made it into the Bible, not God.
To be a Protestant meant that you were in "protest" of the RCC, and sided with the Church of England. Protestants did not like the power and corruption of the RCC at the time. They also did not agree with all of the church's dogma. The Apocrypha contains certain things that give rise to Catholic concepts. Not everyone agrees with those concepts.
Do you know what started the Protestant Reformation? It wasn't a holy call to arms. King Henry VIII wanted the Pope to annul his marriage to Anne. The Pope said no. Henry said to heck with you, England is leaving the RCC and going our own way. Protestantism started because of one king's lust for women.
I've recently realized that the Catholic church doesn't have the same ten commandment that Protestants have. The Catholics do not have this one, from what I can tell:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."
Why did the Catholic church change it?
They still have that commandment. Yes they have statues and all that, but supposedly they do not worship them (anymore). They are for imagery and remembrance. Think of them as a memorial. However, if you are going to go by the OT commandments, there's a lot more than just 10! Protestants don't keep them either. Do you eat bacon, sausage or pork chops?
Do you wear a cross? Is that not a carved image as well? What about a flag? Do you salute it?
It is also important to note that Jesus did away with the old covenant and made a new one. The new one has only 2 commandments in it:
1. Love God.
2. Love your neighbor (people).
Both are to be unconditionally.
Tradition verses scripture: the RCC seems to place a lot of emphasis on tradition. I've noticed some of these traditions are contradictory from what the Bible teaches. How can tradition be followed over scripture?
I have more, but I'm not sure if it's too overwhelming to put them all in the same thread. I'm wondering if these need to be separated.
In their defense, several of their traditions date back almost 2,000 years. They believe, as does Judaism, that there is more to the Bible than words alone. Things have to be interpreted
in context and with a certain understanding.
In Judaism, it is not enough just to read the Bible. There is the written Torah, and then there is the oral Torah that explains the written in greater detail. This also dates back 2,000 years.
Protestants also have traditions. Many of them come from the texts of the KJV. Several of those are now being challenged by modern theologians, although they center more on certain terms/phrases rather than ceremony.
Ask away...