Just curious of the basic differences. Watching OZ tonight and there was a subject of an inmate changing from Catholic to Protestant....I thought they were both Christian?
What is the difference between Catholic and Protestant?
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Rallispec
Lifer
- Jul 26, 2001
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i'm not a religion expert, but mom is methodist and my dad is catholic.. so i've had some experience with the two
basically, the catholic church is more strict, it governs more of your daily life.. and the catholics that i've met seem to look down on other religions (the "if your not catholic, you're going to hell" type attitude. ) The catholic church is older and has more rituals.. and is much more focused on repenting for sins and stuff like that. Its a church with a pretty negative outlook on things. And the Pope has control of the church.
methodist churches are more open, more fun.. church is more of an expansion of life.. something that we do, not something that governs us. Church services are less boring and ritualistic.. Not nearly as strict as catholic.. i dont get the impression i'm destined to go to hell when i go to methodist churches no matter what... And i dont get called a sinner nearly as often at methodist churches.
in the end.. i'm more of an athiest than anything else, i attend church to please my parents. Methodist churches seem more fun, its a much more open and accepting atmosphere. Catholics are colder, stricter, and very serious about their religoin. I guess that is why the protostants religions were formed though, to get away from the strict, life governing ways of the catholic church.
just my veiw on things, of cousrse... i could be wrong.
btw.. OZ is a great show, i watched that tonight also
basically, the catholic church is more strict, it governs more of your daily life.. and the catholics that i've met seem to look down on other religions (the "if your not catholic, you're going to hell" type attitude. ) The catholic church is older and has more rituals.. and is much more focused on repenting for sins and stuff like that. Its a church with a pretty negative outlook on things. And the Pope has control of the church.
methodist churches are more open, more fun.. church is more of an expansion of life.. something that we do, not something that governs us. Church services are less boring and ritualistic.. Not nearly as strict as catholic.. i dont get the impression i'm destined to go to hell when i go to methodist churches no matter what... And i dont get called a sinner nearly as often at methodist churches.
in the end.. i'm more of an athiest than anything else, i attend church to please my parents. Methodist churches seem more fun, its a much more open and accepting atmosphere. Catholics are colder, stricter, and very serious about their religoin. I guess that is why the protostants religions were formed though, to get away from the strict, life governing ways of the catholic church.
just my veiw on things, of cousrse... i could be wrong.
btw.. OZ is a great show, i watched that tonight also
- Mar 20, 2000
- 102,402
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catholicism isn't as dour as rallispec made it out to be. theres a few protestant religions (anglican, for one) which are pretty much exactly like catholicism except for one respect: the pope is considered a higher authority than the bible. which is, as you can imagine, currently the biggest sticking point.
of course down here in texas you can get called a papist and a cult member. not even considered a christian by many.
of course down here in texas you can get called a papist and a cult member. not even considered a christian by many.
Bro, there are two other threads that are quite long and explain it quite well. I suggest looking at those. Just search for "christian" or "catholic".
To answer your question quick, yes: they are both Christian.
Major Differences:
1) Catholics believe the Church is the highest authority, and that they validate scripture as inspired. Protestants believe Scripture claims itself to be inspired, and therefore has authority over the Church.
2) Catholics believe that faith without works does not justify; Protestants believe that faith without works is not faith, and faith alone justifies.
To answer your question quick, yes: they are both Christian.
Major Differences:
1) Catholics believe the Church is the highest authority, and that they validate scripture as inspired. Protestants believe Scripture claims itself to be inspired, and therefore has authority over the Church.
2) Catholics believe that faith without works does not justify; Protestants believe that faith without works is not faith, and faith alone justifies.
Okay so Ireland (or whoever it is) has been fighting for years because one group of people think that a person is higher than the bible?
That is very hard to swallow if true.
Thanks lebe, one of these days I will try to use that search function.
That is very hard to swallow if true.
Thanks lebe, one of these days I will try to use that search function.
Ireland's situation is different. They're war is more cultural than religious. Ireland was predominately Protestant, but England "planted" a whole society of Catholics there. That's essentially what the war is about. (I think).
<< Ireland's situation is different. They're war is more cultural than religious. Ireland was predominately Protestant, but England "planted" a whole society of Catholics there. That's essentially what the war is about. (I think). >>
Wow. I'm not even going to get into it all, but, Ireland is mainly CATHOLIC.
- Mar 20, 2000
- 102,402
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ireland is mainly catholic. england used colonizing the northern part of ireland as a test run for colonizing north america. the english came in, told the irish they were barbarians and imposed their own laws and society on the irish. last i checked not too many groups liked being told they were barbarians and having their self-rule taken from them.
www.ewtn.com and www.catholicanswers.com are two pretty good sites with a lot of resources on the Church. dig in
dullard
Elite Member
- May 21, 2001
- 26,042
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One major thing wasn't mentioned in this thread yet: indulgences.
Catholics are allowed to have sins removed by the church. One day the church needed lots of money for construction projects (how else would they build and decorate those beautiful cathedrals). Thus the church decided to 'sell' the sin removals - called an indulgence. Anyone with money could commit a sin and then purchase forgiveness. You could rape, murder, steal, anything you wanted as long as you had enough money.
That broke the camels back; and Protestants left the Catholic church to form their own church. This leads to lebe0024's first point. The Cathloic church could override the bible and sell sins, the Protestant church can not override the bible...
One other major difference is with saints. Catholics often pray to a saint asking the saint to pray to God for them. Protestants find this violates one of the 10 commandments: 'Do not worship false idols'. Protestants feel you should pray directly to God.
For the most part, their beliefs are very similar since they had similar backgrounds. In responce to rallispec: Both are strict, but the strictness will vary from city to city. In my home town the Catholic church is more easygoing and the Protestant church is very strict.
Catholics are allowed to have sins removed by the church. One day the church needed lots of money for construction projects (how else would they build and decorate those beautiful cathedrals). Thus the church decided to 'sell' the sin removals - called an indulgence. Anyone with money could commit a sin and then purchase forgiveness. You could rape, murder, steal, anything you wanted as long as you had enough money.
That broke the camels back; and Protestants left the Catholic church to form their own church. This leads to lebe0024's first point. The Cathloic church could override the bible and sell sins, the Protestant church can not override the bible...
One other major difference is with saints. Catholics often pray to a saint asking the saint to pray to God for them. Protestants find this violates one of the 10 commandments: 'Do not worship false idols'. Protestants feel you should pray directly to God.
For the most part, their beliefs are very similar since they had similar backgrounds. In responce to rallispec: Both are strict, but the strictness will vary from city to city. In my home town the Catholic church is more easygoing and the Protestant church is very strict.
- Oct 9, 1999
- 46,870
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<< the virgin mary, papel indulgences, tithe, and the pope >>
LOL, Ameesh, your answer reminds me of Johnny Carson doing Carnac the Magnificent*
*Where he'd dress up in a fake Swami costume, hold up sealed envelopes containing "questions" in them, give answers like yours, "the virgin mary, papel indulgences, tithe, and the pope", rip open the envelopes, and deliver the gag punch line "questions" like, "Name four failed grunge bands".
You are all missing the biggest point of all. The belief that salvation, which both catholics and protestants seek, is attained differently by the two religious standards.
Catholicism, for one follows that salvation is attained by works (sacraments, i.e. communion, indulgences, matrimony, last rights, etc...)
Protestantism, for the most part follows that salvation is the free gift of God, that cannot be earned, it must be accepted. (Jesus did all the work for us on the cross - He payed the price for our sin, so all we have to do accept Him as Lord and we are saved.)
-RJ45
Catholicism, for one follows that salvation is attained by works (sacraments, i.e. communion, indulgences, matrimony, last rights, etc...)
Protestantism, for the most part follows that salvation is the free gift of God, that cannot be earned, it must be accepted. (Jesus did all the work for us on the cross - He payed the price for our sin, so all we have to do accept Him as Lord and we are saved.)
-RJ45
The problems in Ireland really don't have anything to do with religion anymore. It just so happens that it's still an easy way to detirmine the different sides.
The british, upon arrival in Ireland, took all thier land away from them. Then they gave it to british landlords, who in turn forced the Irish to work the land. The british also made Catholisim illegal to practise.
Then came the blight. Potatoes were and still are the central staple in the Irish diet. Blight ruined the crop. The annoying thing about this is that the Landlords had the power to implement a plan to control the spread of the disease, but they did nothing. Millions of Irish died, while millions more left the country.
In the early 1800's there were over 30 million Irish in Ireland. Now there is approx 4 million.
As time passed, most of the industrial/plant style jobs ( the ones that put the bread and butter on the average family's plate) were set up in the North of Ireland, land still held by the british. Textile production and ship building is/was the big business. The people of the Republic of Ireland felt slighted by the lack of jobs and the state of thier economy as a result.
Time has passed however, and now the battle is just fought. The IRA is made up of hundreds of independant cells, some more militant than others. No one knows what they want, they only remember what happend and that it makes them angry.
Today The Republic of Ireland has a booming economy, it is a member of the EEC, and it consistently ranks in the top 10 countries in the world re: education and literacy.
The british, upon arrival in Ireland, took all thier land away from them. Then they gave it to british landlords, who in turn forced the Irish to work the land. The british also made Catholisim illegal to practise.
Then came the blight. Potatoes were and still are the central staple in the Irish diet. Blight ruined the crop. The annoying thing about this is that the Landlords had the power to implement a plan to control the spread of the disease, but they did nothing. Millions of Irish died, while millions more left the country.
In the early 1800's there were over 30 million Irish in Ireland. Now there is approx 4 million.
As time passed, most of the industrial/plant style jobs ( the ones that put the bread and butter on the average family's plate) were set up in the North of Ireland, land still held by the british. Textile production and ship building is/was the big business. The people of the Republic of Ireland felt slighted by the lack of jobs and the state of thier economy as a result.
Time has passed however, and now the battle is just fought. The IRA is made up of hundreds of independant cells, some more militant than others. No one knows what they want, they only remember what happend and that it makes them angry.
Today The Republic of Ireland has a booming economy, it is a member of the EEC, and it consistently ranks in the top 10 countries in the world re: education and literacy.
dullard
Elite Member
- May 21, 2001
- 26,042
- 4,688
- 126
<< You are all missing the biggest point of all. >>
Well I thought that lebe0024 covered that quite well; so I didn't mention it.
<< Okay so Ireland (or whoever it is) has been fighting for years because one group of people think that a person is higher than the bible? >>
I think this situation is similar to the reason that the German's followed Hitler in World War 2. (It is not similar to Hitler, but similar to the general population.) In Germany, the economy was in a shambles after WW1. Poverty was rampant and the people where miserable from their defeat. However the Jews in Germany were still wealthy and happy. Thus the mass population looked to their leader who basically said: it is the Jews fault, they have your money. The problem in Ireland is very similar. One group was wealthy, had better jobs, etc. The other group decided they weren't going to take it anymore...
dullard:
<< Catholics are allowed to have sins removed by the church. One day the church needed lots of money for construction projects (how else would they build and decorate those beautiful cathedrals). Thus the church decided to 'sell' the sin removals - called an indulgence. Anyone with money could commit a sin and then purchase forgiveness. You could rape, murder, steal, anything you wanted as long as you had enough money.
>>
Close, but not quite. Indulgences are highly misunderstood by many people - allow me to clarify:
1) An indulgence does not forgive sin. Only the Sacraments of Baptism (once) and Confession forgive sin. However, Baptism both forgives sin and removes your punishment for it (Purgatory), while Confession only forgives the Sin - your punishment (time in Purgatory) remains. Neither sacrament works though unless the receiver is truly sorry and commited to not sin anymore (we do, but me must not intend to!).
Think of it as a parent - your child does something bad. He says he is sorry and seems to be, but he still gets a punishment (time in his room, etc). Purgatory is more of a cleansing, really - preperation for Heaven (if you get to Purgatory, you are going to Heaven).
2) An indulgence cannot be sold or bought. By its very nature, an indulgence removes some or all of your awaiting punishment for sin. A Plenary Indulgence removes all your currently accumulated punishment, a Partial Indulgence removes some.
For an Indulgence to be valid, one must be truly repentant, have confessed, and intend to sin no more. Then they do the act of the indulgence (usually a series of prayers for X number of days), go to confession, mass and then God grants the indulgence.
Youn could never buy one, it could never be granted by man. If your heart were not sincere, if your intentions not pure, you got nothing. It is still that way.
What happened long ago was yet another instance of man being greedy and selfish. Certain people, who yes, were in the Church, found they could trick the poor and ignorant into thinking they could BUY the indulgence instead of doing the act (prayer for a set time). This was always condemned by the Church completely, and NEVER allowed by the Church as an entity. The selling of indulgences is a grevious sin in the Catholic faith - and is a complete fraud too as the indulgences are worthless peices of paper. God knows your heart.
<< That broke the camels back; and Protestants left the Catholic church to form their own church. This leads to lebe0024's first point. The Cathloic church could override the bible and sell sins, the Protestant church can not override the bible... >>
Luthor found himself in the same boat so many people today do - they cannot seperate the actions of individuals in the Church from the Church herself. When individual (or several individuals) in a group act contrary to the group's teachings, they do not represent the group!
The Church cannot override the Bible - the Church only interprets it with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The selling of indulgences was finally stamped out by the Church. It took too long, I'm afraid, and was very damaging (as you evidence to this day).
<< One other major difference is with saints. Catholics often pray to a saint asking the saint to pray to God for them. Protestants find this violates one of the 10 commandments: 'Do not worship false idols'. Protestants feel you should pray directly to God. >>
A little off - we pray to the saints, but we do not worship them. We rather use prayer to simply talk to them - to ask them to pray to God on our behalf. A Protestant can understand asking family and friends to pray to God for them - well Catholics believe that the Saints are part of our Spiritual Family! They are our departed brothers and sisters in Christ who can pray for us to God. And being there with him - you can bet they do a heck of a job!
I recently read an interesting quote in a book by Scott Hahn, a Protestant theologian who converted to Catholicism through his studies of Scripture: "There are only about 100 people in the world who actually hate the Catholic Church... the rest hate what they think the Catholic Church is."
Ask me if you have any other questions!
<< Catholics are allowed to have sins removed by the church. One day the church needed lots of money for construction projects (how else would they build and decorate those beautiful cathedrals). Thus the church decided to 'sell' the sin removals - called an indulgence. Anyone with money could commit a sin and then purchase forgiveness. You could rape, murder, steal, anything you wanted as long as you had enough money.
>>
Close, but not quite. Indulgences are highly misunderstood by many people - allow me to clarify:
1) An indulgence does not forgive sin. Only the Sacraments of Baptism (once) and Confession forgive sin. However, Baptism both forgives sin and removes your punishment for it (Purgatory), while Confession only forgives the Sin - your punishment (time in Purgatory) remains. Neither sacrament works though unless the receiver is truly sorry and commited to not sin anymore (we do, but me must not intend to!).
Think of it as a parent - your child does something bad. He says he is sorry and seems to be, but he still gets a punishment (time in his room, etc). Purgatory is more of a cleansing, really - preperation for Heaven (if you get to Purgatory, you are going to Heaven).
2) An indulgence cannot be sold or bought. By its very nature, an indulgence removes some or all of your awaiting punishment for sin. A Plenary Indulgence removes all your currently accumulated punishment, a Partial Indulgence removes some.
For an Indulgence to be valid, one must be truly repentant, have confessed, and intend to sin no more. Then they do the act of the indulgence (usually a series of prayers for X number of days), go to confession, mass and then God grants the indulgence.
Youn could never buy one, it could never be granted by man. If your heart were not sincere, if your intentions not pure, you got nothing. It is still that way.
What happened long ago was yet another instance of man being greedy and selfish. Certain people, who yes, were in the Church, found they could trick the poor and ignorant into thinking they could BUY the indulgence instead of doing the act (prayer for a set time). This was always condemned by the Church completely, and NEVER allowed by the Church as an entity. The selling of indulgences is a grevious sin in the Catholic faith - and is a complete fraud too as the indulgences are worthless peices of paper. God knows your heart.
<< That broke the camels back; and Protestants left the Catholic church to form their own church. This leads to lebe0024's first point. The Cathloic church could override the bible and sell sins, the Protestant church can not override the bible... >>
Luthor found himself in the same boat so many people today do - they cannot seperate the actions of individuals in the Church from the Church herself. When individual (or several individuals) in a group act contrary to the group's teachings, they do not represent the group!
The Church cannot override the Bible - the Church only interprets it with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The selling of indulgences was finally stamped out by the Church. It took too long, I'm afraid, and was very damaging (as you evidence to this day).
<< One other major difference is with saints. Catholics often pray to a saint asking the saint to pray to God for them. Protestants find this violates one of the 10 commandments: 'Do not worship false idols'. Protestants feel you should pray directly to God. >>
A little off - we pray to the saints, but we do not worship them. We rather use prayer to simply talk to them - to ask them to pray to God on our behalf. A Protestant can understand asking family and friends to pray to God for them - well Catholics believe that the Saints are part of our Spiritual Family! They are our departed brothers and sisters in Christ who can pray for us to God. And being there with him - you can bet they do a heck of a job!
I recently read an interesting quote in a book by Scott Hahn, a Protestant theologian who converted to Catholicism through his studies of Scripture: "There are only about 100 people in the world who actually hate the Catholic Church... the rest hate what they think the Catholic Church is."
Ask me if you have any other questions!
RJ45:
<< Catholicism, for one follows that salvation is attained by works (sacraments, i.e. communion, indulgences, matrimony, last rights, etc...) >>
No, no - Faith and acts of Love... and they do not "earn" us salvation... Christ won that for us. Through works we are actually living our faith as true members of Christ's family. True faith spreads - it shows in acts of love and charity to all those around us - and through them to God himself ("Whatsoever you do to the least of my bretheren...").
Catholics irmly believe in the necessity of faith for salvation - and we don't think we can "earn" or "buy" it.
A large misconception, held and spread by many Catholics too, is that if you "go through the motions" (go to Church, etc) you get to Heaven. They are the Lukewarm Christ warned us would be spat out.
True Catholicicsm requires faith, a true and sincere love and desire to be with God, and a life that reflects that faith and love in actions and works!
<< Catholicism, for one follows that salvation is attained by works (sacraments, i.e. communion, indulgences, matrimony, last rights, etc...) >>
No, no - Faith and acts of Love... and they do not "earn" us salvation... Christ won that for us. Through works we are actually living our faith as true members of Christ's family. True faith spreads - it shows in acts of love and charity to all those around us - and through them to God himself ("Whatsoever you do to the least of my bretheren...").
Catholics irmly believe in the necessity of faith for salvation - and we don't think we can "earn" or "buy" it.
A large misconception, held and spread by many Catholics too, is that if you "go through the motions" (go to Church, etc) you get to Heaven. They are the Lukewarm Christ warned us would be spat out.
True Catholicicsm requires faith, a true and sincere love and desire to be with God, and a life that reflects that faith and love in actions and works!
Zebo
Elite Member
- Jul 29, 2001
- 39,398
- 19
- 81
I am Roman Catholic and here is a list here is how we are different than protestants.
On Saturday mornig we go downtown and beat everyone over the head with a BIG wooden rosary and tell them all they will burn in hell should they refuse to convert. For added effect, I installed an electric charge into the large beads. At lunch time hit the Barnes & Noble. Buy up all copies of holy books of other religions, such as the Koran and the teachings of Buddha and burn them while drinkin wine. Saturday night it's time to burn someone: a protestant, atheist, or an agnostic. We save the Muslims and Jews for Sundays. Before we burn them at the stake though, we torture them and drink their blood. Sometimes, if it's a very special occasion, I wear my SS uniform. (The black one, not the white one.)
On sunday I go to Mass. In Latin, of course. The priest comes down the aisle and beats us all with a big wooden rosary. Walnut. Hurts like...Well you know. Luch hour is bible studay while I am thinking of the buring about the Burning Hour!! Like I said, on Sundays it's usually Jews or Muslims. Sometimes a few of both!!! We bring the kids and the old folks and have a picnic. It's a grand old time. Last Sunday I brought the matches.
But I think what I enjoy most about being a Catholic is being repressed and miserable. There's nothing like not living life to the fullest. I mean, who wants to enjoy things? I would hate that.
On Saturday mornig we go downtown and beat everyone over the head with a BIG wooden rosary and tell them all they will burn in hell should they refuse to convert. For added effect, I installed an electric charge into the large beads. At lunch time hit the Barnes & Noble. Buy up all copies of holy books of other religions, such as the Koran and the teachings of Buddha and burn them while drinkin wine. Saturday night it's time to burn someone: a protestant, atheist, or an agnostic. We save the Muslims and Jews for Sundays. Before we burn them at the stake though, we torture them and drink their blood. Sometimes, if it's a very special occasion, I wear my SS uniform. (The black one, not the white one.)
On sunday I go to Mass. In Latin, of course. The priest comes down the aisle and beats us all with a big wooden rosary. Walnut. Hurts like...Well you know. Luch hour is bible studay while I am thinking of the buring about the Burning Hour!! Like I said, on Sundays it's usually Jews or Muslims. Sometimes a few of both!!! We bring the kids and the old folks and have a picnic. It's a grand old time. Last Sunday I brought the matches.
But I think what I enjoy most about being a Catholic is being repressed and miserable. There's nothing like not living life to the fullest. I mean, who wants to enjoy things? I would hate that.
CarbonylXP: Thats lovely. Really mature and well thought out, honestly. I am truly "zinged" and humbled by the sheer opressing weight of your intelligent, brilliant, and marvelous wit.
Tell me, do you enjoy being a jackass in real life, or do you just play one on the Internet?
Tell me, do you enjoy being a jackass in real life, or do you just play one on the Internet?
<< I am Roman Catholic and here is a list here is how we are different than protestants.
On Saturday mornig we go downtown and beat everyone over the head with a BIG wooden rosary and tell them all they will burn in hell should they refuse to convert. For added effect, I installed an electric charge into the large beads. At lunch time hit the Barnes & Noble. Buy up all copies of holy books of other religions, such as the Koran and the teachings of Buddha and burn them while drinkin wine. Saturday night it's time to burn someone: a protestant, atheist, or an agnostic. We save the Muslims and Jews for Sundays. Before we burn them at the stake though, we torture them and drink their blood. Sometimes, if it's a very special occasion, I wear my SS uniform. (The black one, not the white one.)
On sunday I go to Mass. In Latin, of course. The priest comes down the aisle and beats us all with a big wooden rosary. Walnut. Hurts like...Well you know. Luch hour is bible studay while I am thinking of the buring about the Burning Hour!! Like I said, on Sundays it's usually Jews or Muslims. Sometimes a few of both!!! We bring the kids and the old folks and have a picnic. It's a grand old time. Last Sunday I brought the matches.
But I think what I enjoy most about being a Catholic is being repressed and miserable. There's nothing like not living life to the fullest. I mean, who wants to enjoy things? I would hate that. >>
As a Catholic, I take offense.. we don't have mass in Latin anymore!
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