What is the difference between Catholics and protestants.

[Yeshwa Younis]

There are two major sect in Christianity Catholics and Protestants but what is the background behind these sects that not allowed to accept each other.

 

[jehoiakim]

The Protestants believed that the Catholic Church was twisting the scriptures and obsessed with power. The early Protestants beloved that the pope was actually the antichrist. While Protestants and Catholics have a lot in common Their interpretations can be quite different. The gap between catholic and Protestant has narrowed a bit but 500 years ago Catholics were burning Protestants at the stake for heresy and there is still a lot of distrust a d theological differences on what it means yo be a christian

 

[Albion]

There are two major sect in Christianity Catholics and Protestants but what is the background behind these sects that not allowed to accept each other.

As you would guess, this is a much more complicated issue than can be handled in a couple of paragraphs. However, here's an overview.

By the 1400s, Christianity had been divided between the Church of Rome and the Eastern Orthodox churches. The differece between them usually looks mild to outsiders and perhaps it is mainly a matter of culture and politics. The Protestant "Reformation" arose in Western Europe and did not affect the Othodox Eastern churches.

So what was the reason for the split?

Several matters.

1. The perceived tyranny of the Pope and his priests and bishops, mainly in connection with demands made upon ordinary followers to conform or be driven from the church and possibly prosecuted under law.

2. The assertion that the church organization itself (Pope, etc.) spoke for Christ and so controlled, through rituals and otherwise, Man's access to God.

3. The claim of the Catholic Church that the Holy Bible was not the final authority for doctrine but that it was tradition instead.

4. The Catholic Church's teaching that God saves those who follow all the church's regulations and prove themselves to God through performing good deeds in life--as opposed to the Bible's teaching that we are saved by Faith in Christ's work, not on account of our own worthiness.

 

[Resha Caner]

As you would guess, this is a much more complicated issue than can be handled in a couple of paragraphs. However, here's an overview.

Yes, it can get complicated. Especially since Lutherans don't consider themselves to be Protestants. There were 3 branches of protest against Rome:

1) Anabaptists (Ulrich Zwingli), who take the "confession of faith" route. IMO this is the strongest influence in modern American Christianity, though I'm not sure it's really recognized.

2) Reformists (John Calvin), who take the "election" route.

3) Lutherans (Martin Luther), who take the "bondage of the will" route. And, of course, we're right.

 

[Monica02]

The Catholic Church has seven sacraments, the Protestant sects do not.

The Catholic Church believes in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, the Protestant sects do not.

The Catholic Church maintains Apostolic Succession, the Protestant sects do not.

The Catholic Bible has seven more books in the Old Testament - The Protestant's chose not to include these seven books in their canon of scripture.

 

[Resha Caner]

The Catholic Church has seven sacraments, the Protestant sects do not.

The Catholic Church believes in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, the Protestant sects do not.

The Catholic Church maintains Apostolic Succession, the Protestant sects do not.

The Catholic Bible has seven more books in the Old Testament - The Protestant's chose not to include these seven books in their canon of scripture.

This is one of the reasons Lutherans don't like being called Protesants. We are ascribed beliefs we don't hold:

1) Lutherans have two sacraments, whereas many Protestants have zero.
2) Lutherans believe in the Real Presence
3) You're right that we don't recognize an Apostolic Succession
4) You're right that the Lutheran canon is the same as the Protestant canon, but there are some technical details in that area that differentiate us. For example, some Protestants seem to have retained the Thomism of the Catholics, which we reject.

 

[Monica02]

This is one of the reasons Lutherans don't like being called Protesants. We are ascribed beliefs we don't hold:

1) Lutherans have two sacraments, whereas many Protestants have zero.
2) Lutherans believe in the Real Presence
3) You're right that we don't recognize an Apostolic Succession
4) You're right that the Lutheran canon is the same as the Protestant canon, but there are some technical details in that area that differentiate us. For example, some Protestants seem to have retained the Thomism of the Catholics, which we reject.

My understanding of the Lutheran teaching of the Real Presence is that the the bread and wine, after consecration still contain the elements of bread and wine, while also having the elements of the Body and Blood (Consubstantiation). The Catholic belief is that of Transubstantiation, where the element of bread and wine no longer exist after consecration.

Another difference between Protestant and Catholic is that the Catholic Church teaches that Divine Revelation is transmitted through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition with the help of the Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church). Protestant traditions usually hold that Scripture is the complete deposit of faith.

 

[steve_bakr]

As you would guess, this is a much more complicated issue than can be handled in a couple of paragraphs. However, here's an overview.

By the 1400s, Christianity had been divided between the Church of Rome and the Eastern Orthodox churches. The differece between them usually looks mild to outsiders and perhaps it is mainly a matter of culture and politics. The Protestant "Reformation" arose in Western Europe and did not affect the Othodox Eastern churches.

So what was the reason for the split?

Several matters.

1. The perceived tyranny of the Pope and his priests and bishops, mainly in connection with demands made upon ordinary followers to conform or be driven from the church and possibly prosecuted under law.

2. The assertion that the church organization itself (Pope, etc.) spoke for Christ and so controlled, through rituals and otherwise, Man's access to God.

3. The claim of the Catholic Church that the Holy Bible was not the final authority for doctrine but that it was tradition instead.

4. The Catholic Church's teaching that God saves those who follow all the church's regulations and prove themselves to God through performing good deeds in life--as opposed to the Bible's teaching that we are saved by Faith in Christ's work, not on account of our own worthiness.

We interpret the teachings of Catholicism a bit differently. I'll comment on each of your numbered points.

1. We don't deny that there have been abuses in the Church.

2. The defacto major theologian of Catholicism--Thomas Aquinas--wrote in the 13th century that grace is attainable outside the Sacraments.

3. According to the CCC, Holy Scripture and Tradition are of equal weight.

4. While we are called to cooperate with God's grace in our lives, we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Those works we do are only made possible by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Come over and give your analysis in the thread about Grace in Catholicism.

steve

 

[Resha Caner]

My understanding of the Lutheran teaching of the Real Presence is that the the bread and wine, after consecration still contain the elements of bread and wine, while also having the elements of the Body and Blood (Consubstantiation). The Catholic belief is that of Transubstantiation, where the element of bread and wine no longer exist after consecration.

Yes.

Another difference between Protestant and Catholic is that the Catholic Church teaches that Divine Revelation is transmitted through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition with the help of the Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church). Protestant traditions usually hold that Scripture is the complete deposit of faith.

Some Protestants do give that impression, but it is a misunderstanding of sola scriptura that I often encounter. The best way to say it is that Lutherans have a respect for tradition, but don't hold it as sacred. To think that someone uninitiated in Christianity can pick up a Bible and understand it cold turkey is just naive. However, to think that God doesn't work through the Word when that uninitiated person picks up a Bible is to give too much authority to man.

Lutherans sometimes speak of the Church in the same way the Orthodox do (though we're not in total agreement on that subject).

 

[Albion]

The Catholic Church has seven sacraments, the Protestant sects do not.

The Catholic Church believes in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, the Protestant sects do not.

The Catholic Church maintains Apostolic Succession, the Protestant sects do not.

The Catholic Bible has seven more books in the Old Testament - The Protestant's chose not to include these seven books in their canon of scripture.

Yes, but the OP asked how an outsider could understand the difference between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants. Unfortunately, none of the above comments accurately describes the difference because the answers given for the Protestant side are not all-inclusive. Therefore, they do not really show the difference.

Some Protestants accept seven sacraments, but yes, most accept on the two "Sacraments of the Gospel," Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

More Protestants accept and believe in the Real Presence than do not.

Several of the most prominent Protestant churches do maintain Apostolic Succession (which of course is not defined for the inquirer in the above answer).

And while there are a few extra books in the Catholic versions of the Bible, the greater difference is that the Bible itself does not have the standing among Catholics that it does with Protestants who refuse to supplement it with church traditions.

 

[Monica02]

Yes, but the OP asked how an outsider could understand the difference between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants. Unfortunately, none of the above comments accurately describes the difference because the answers given for the Protestant side are not all-inclusive. Therefore, they do not really show the difference.

Some Protestants accept seven sacraments, but yes, most accept on the two "Sacraments of the Gospel," Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

More Protestants accept and believe in the Real Presence than do not.

Several of the most prominent Protestant churches do maintain Apostolic Succession (which of course is not defined for the inquirer in the above answer).

And while there are a few extra books in the Catholic versions of the Bible, the greater difference is that the Bible itself does not have the standing among Catholics that it does with Protestants who refuse to supplement it with church traditions.

I welcome any questions by the OP regarding my comments. I assume the OP has GOOGLE and can search on his own if he would rather go that route. The OP is a Christian according to his little cross icon so I am assuming he has some knowledge of words and terms. I never intended for my replies to be complete and all-encompassing. There are thousands of non-Catholic and Protestant groups in existence and it would be impossible for one post, one person to have an all-inclusive answer. I just offered some very brief and general points of difference from a Catholic perspective because I am Catholic. I am sure the OP appreciates input from many posters.

I know of some non-Catholic Churches that do accept the seven sacraments (the Orthodox for example) but by definition, the non-acceptance of all seven sacraments is one factor that makes a Protestant a Protestant.

Some Protestant sects do claim apostolic succession (the Anglicans/ Episcopal I believe) but the Catholic Church does not accept this claim as far as I know. This is a point of difference between the two groups.

I did mention in a later post the understanding of Divine Revelation difference between the Catholic and Protestant groups.

 

[Albion]

I know of some non-Catholic Churches that do accept the seven sacraments (the Orthodox for example) but by definition, the non-acceptance of all seven sacraments is one factor that makes a Protestant a Protestant.

Not entirely. Regardless of what they say of themselves, most religious authorities and directories consider Anglicans to be Protestant by definition--and so do most Anglicans--yet it is common among Anglicans to accept seven sacraments while describing two of them in special terms.

Some Protestant sects do claim apostolic succession (the Anglicans/ Episcopal I believe)

and major Lutheran church bodies, too.

but the Catholic Church does not accept this claim as far as I know.

That's immaterial.

This is a point of difference between the two groups.

But not a defining difference. It's a generalization. Sometimes that's all we can do. With this topic we can do better than use sneering terminology against the group we do not favor and talk as though the OP had asked for a comparison between Catholics and Baptists.

 

[Monica02]

Not entirely. Regardless of what they say of themselves, most religious authorities and directories consider Anglicans to be Protestant by definition--and so do most Anglicans--yet it is common among Anglicans to accept seven sacraments while describing two of them in special terms.

What are these two Sacraments and what are these special terms?





That's immaterial.

It may be immaterial to non-Catholic traditions, but from a Catholic perspective it is very significant.

The OP asked why we cannot accept each other and this is a good illustration - we cannot even agree on what is and is not a significant difference.

 

[Albion]

What are these two Sacraments and what are these special terms?

I hope you're not putting me on with that question. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the Sacraments of the Gospel and are the two sacraments generally necessary for salvation.

That's immaterial.

It may be immaterial to non-Catholic traditions, but from a Catholic perspective it is very significant.

Well, of course it matters to the Catholic Church how it defines Apostolic Succession. It also matters to the Church of England and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople how each of them defines it. BUT the OP asked us for a comparison of Catholicism and Protestantism, not not "How does church X answer that question?"

 

[Monica02]

I hope you're not putting me on with that question. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the Sacraments of the Gospel and are the two sacraments generally necessary for salvation.

"..yet it is common among Anglicans to accept seven sacraments while describing two of them in special terms."

There was no mention of which two sacraments are necessary for salvation in your previous post - you only said that two are described in special terms. I am not putting you on - I cannot even figure out what your point is.

Does the Anglican Church consider their seven(?) sacraments to be identical to the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church? Vice versa?

I do not believe so. Therefore this is a point of difference between the two. Obviously I believe the Catholic teaching to be correct and you do not.



Well, of course it matters to the Catholic Church how it defines Apostolic Succession. It also matters to the Church of England and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople how each of them defines it. BUT the OP asked us for a comparison of Catholicism and Protestantism, not not "How does church X answer that question?"

Why the concern over how I choose to address the OP's question?
I feel that that explaining the Catholic view is necessary for explaining the differences between the two branches.

 

[pathfinder777]

There are two major sect in Christianity Catholics and Protestants but what is the background behind these sects that not allowed to accept each other.

Two major dividing issues are sola scriptura and justification by faith alone.
Protestantism is not A major sect but many different sects. Some Protestants would consider themselves closer to RC than to other Protestant groups.
In any given century there had always been those within Catholicism trying to reform it from within without necessarily challenging its doctrines (some did challenge doctrines and were excommunicated eg waldensians). Luther, Calvin and Zwingli all rejected doctrines that had been in place for centuries (all groups claiming their positions were more faithful to the patristic church and to Scriptures). Corruption within the Catholic Church helped facilitate the support by the laity of the reformers. Many Germans saw the Catholic Church and the Pope as taking their money and spending it lavishly in Rome. A good bibliography can be found here:

Bibliographies for Studies of the Reformation

In Christ

 

[Albion]

Why the concern over how I choose to address the OP's question?

I think, when we field an inquirer's question, that we have something of an obligation to try to answer him in the most effective way possible, not to take the opportunity to make a play for our own church or ideas or to get into side issues. IOW, I was trying to help him.

Take the post immediately preceding this one, for example. Exactly how clear do we think that is going to be to the man who wrote the OP?

Thanks for asking.

 

[Skarl]

There are two major sect in Christianity Catholics and Protestants

There's actually more like 3 or 4, but whatever.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

 

[Monica02]

I think, when we field an inquirer's question, that we have something of an obligation to try to answer him in the most effective way possible, not to take the opportunity to make a play for our own church or ideas or to get into side issues. IOW, I was trying to help him.

Take the post immediately preceding this one, for example. Exactly how clear do we think that is going to be to the man who wrote the OP?

Thanks for asking.

I think that the post immediately preceding and all of mine have contained clearer and more specific information than your first post.

As you would guess, this is a much more complicated issue than can be handled in a couple of paragraphs. However, here's an overview.

By the 1400s, Christianity had been divided between the Church of Rome and the Eastern Orthodox churches. The differece between them usually looks mild to outsiders and perhaps it is mainly a matter of culture and politics. The Protestant "Reformation" arose in Western Europe and did not affect the Othodox Eastern churches.

So what was the reason for the split?

Several matters.

1. The perceived tyranny of the Pope and his priests and bishops, mainly in connection with demands made upon ordinary followers to conform or be driven from the church and possibly prosecuted under law.

2. The assertion that the church organization itself (Pope, etc.) spoke for Christ and so controlled, through rituals and otherwise, Man's access to God.

3. The claim of the Catholic Church that the Holy Bible was not the final authority for doctrine but that it was tradition instead.

4. The Catholic Church's teaching that God saves those who follow all the church's regulations and prove themselves to God through performing good deeds in life--as opposed to the Bible's teaching that we are saved by Faith in Christ's work, not on account of our own worthiness.

Several questions.

1. What does "driven from the Church" mean exactly? What does it mean to conform?

2. What rituals and otherwise?

3. This is not true. The Church holds that both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are included in the complete deposit of faith. It is not a case of tradition instead.

4. What do you mean by regulation? Good Deeds? Faith in Christ's work?



Your answers are not at all clear and well explained to me - as you can see I have several questions. The OP might or might not understand it - I do not know.

 

[Monica02]

There's actually more like 3 or 4, but whatever.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

I would consider Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant to be the three big ones.

A Lutheran poster did not consider Lutheranism to be Protestant - I always thought that Lutherans were the first Protestants.

There are some Eastern Churches that might not classify as Orthodox or Catholic - the Assyrian Church comes to mind - I really do not know anything about it.

Evangelicals and Mega-Church types in the USA might not classify themselves as protestant - not sure.