Differences between Catholicism and Protestantism

[JRKH]

With due respect here, why should I enlighten you? You are the one who made those general statements about Protestants which are obviously less than genuine.

Justy,
Excuse me for butting in here but I think you are reading too much into Journeyman’s intent. To me it appears that Journeyman has made the common mistake of lumping all Protestants together under one general doctrinal “tent”, - a mistake I myself have made.
We are trying to explain to him that such a view is not correct.
I believe him to be perfectly sincere

Peace
James

 

[Justy90]

Justy,
Excuse me for butting in here but I think you are reading too much into Journeyman’s intent. To me it appears that Journeyman has made the common mistake of lumping all Protestants together under one general doctrinal “tent”, - a mistake I myself have made.
We are trying to explain to him that such a view is not correct.
I believe him to be perfectly sincere

Peace
James

I’m not so inclined to buy into that. On one hand you have the alleged 30,000 plus Protestant denominations that supposedly cannot agree on anything and then on the other hand you have Protestantism as this one ultimately rebellious and wrong entity. You can’t have it both ways.

 

[JRKH]

I’m not so inclined to buy into that. On one hand you have the alleged 30,000 plus Protestant denominations that supposedly cannot agree on anything and then on the other hand you have Protestantism as this one ultimately rebellious and wrong entity. You can’t have it both ways.

I have alleged nothing. Others will tend to toss around the 30,000 number but I do not. In fact if you look at the thread I linked earlier (In post number 4), you’ll see that my intent in starting that thread was to examine the validity of the “30,000” number by looking at doctrinal differences instead of "Structural or “Heirachial” differences.

However, if you wish to persist in your refusal to help enlighten the OP that is your perogative.

Go in Peace

Peace
James

 

[shawn38]

I am trying to get a good handle on the major differences between the Catholic Church and Protestant churches. From my reading and studying, here are some differences that I have noticed. Am I correct in these statements—

1. Protestantism does not generally recognize the transforming or transfiguring effect of the incarnation. They believe that humanity suffers under the weight of their sin until they die at which point God looks away from their sin and they are saved based on the death of Christ.
2. Because of #1, most Protestant churches do not believe in the sacraments since the sacraments do not give us graces and therefore do not have the ability to transform us.
3. Protestants declare their faith in God and Jesus and from that point they are saved. It is all about faith and not about any kind of works, while the Catholic Church says that works are coupled with faith.
4. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross covers all of the sins of the believer and there is nothing else that man must do to be saved. The Catholic Church says that man participates in his own salvation through the gift of graces from God.
5. Catholics believe that God’s grace allows us to be an instrument of salvation for ourselves and for others. Protestants do not believe this.

Thank you for any replies.

We don’t believe in the transubstantiation. To do so would mean that Christ’s death was not sufficient. Christ died once for all sin. It was not perpetual.

Protestants believe you must repent and believe. Works is a by product of that faith and your love to glorigy God.

Adoration of Saints and relics: Adoration is nothing more then worship. Worshipping relics would be idolitry. Only God is worshipped.

Mariology is a hugh difference too.

Sacraments:

There’s a hugh difference between Catholicism and Protestism.

 

[Justy90]

I have alleged nothing. Others will tend to toss around the 30,000 number but I do not. In fact if you look at the thread I linked earlier (In post number 4), you’ll see that my intent in starting that thread was to examine the validity of the “30,000” number by looking at doctrinal differences instead of "Structural or “Heirachial” differences.

However, if you wish to persist in your refusal to help enlighten the OP that is your perogative.

Go in Peace

Peace
James

I didn’t claim that you alleged anything personally. And my refusal to enlighten the OP in my opinion is just feeding into a pointed argument. The OP has a far greater grasp on the ideals of Protestantism being far more than one entity than he wishes to lead on.

 

[ralphinal]

We don’t believe in the transubstantiation. To do so would mean that Christ’s death was not sufficient. Christ died once for all sin. It was not perpetual.

I don’t see the connection. Transubstantiation is the Catholic understanding of the Real Presence. How does that mean Christ’s death was not sufficient?

Protestants believe you must repent and believe. Works is a by product of that faith and your love to glorigy God.

And if you do nothing other than repent and believe, are you saved?

Adoration of Saints and relics: Adoration is nothing more then worship. Worshipping relics would be idolitry. Only God is worshipped.

Dulia and latria. Two different things.

Have you ever called a child adorable? Have you ever told someone that you will love them forever?

Mariology is a hugh difference too.

Sacraments:

There’s a hugh difference between Catholicism and Protestism.

Ok

 

[MrZetterlund]

I am trying to get a good handle on the major differences between the Catholic Church and Protestant churches. From my reading and studying, here are some differences that I have noticed. Am I correct in these statements—

1. Protestantism does not generally recognize the transforming or transfiguring effect of the incarnation. They believe that humanity suffers under the weight of their sin until they die at which point God looks away from their sin and they are saved based on the death of Christ.
2. Because of #1, most Protestant churches do not believe in the sacraments since the sacraments do not give us graces and therefore do not have the ability to transform us.
3. Protestants declare their faith in God and Jesus and from that point they are saved. It is all about faith and not about any kind of works, while the Catholic Church says that works are coupled with faith.
4. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross covers all of the sins of the believer and there is nothing else that man must do to be saved. The Catholic Church says that man participates in his own salvation through the gift of graces from God.
5. Catholics believe that God’s grace allows us to be an instrument of salvation for ourselves and for others. Protestants do not believe this.

Thank you for any replies.

As for # 2, I don’t really know what a sacrament is. But I’m sure you’re transformed when you are born again, and in other words, become an actual Christian.

For #3, the Bible says good works are proof of faith. But good works cannot buy you salvation. Because we are saved by God’s grace, and no man shall boast when he’s in heaven.

#4, ditto.

For number 5, I don’t know why you came to this conclusion, but our church highly encourages this. I can’t tell you how many times I heard my pastor say for us to be “a beakon of light.”

 

[imkingdad]

I am trying to get a good handle on the major differences between the Catholic Church and Protestant churches. From my reading and studying, here are some differences that I have noticed. Am I correct in these statements—

1. Protestantism does not generally recognize the transforming or transfiguring effect of the incarnation. They believe that humanity suffers under the weight of their sin until they die at which point God looks away from their sin and they are saved based on the death of Christ.
2. Because of #1, most Protestant churches do not believe in the sacraments since the sacraments do not give us graces and therefore do not have the ability to transform us.
3. Protestants declare their faith in God and Jesus and from that point they are saved. It is all about faith and not about any kind of works, while the Catholic Church says that works are coupled with faith.
4. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross covers all of the sins of the believer and there is nothing else that man must do to be saved. The Catholic Church says that man participates in his own salvation through the gift of graces from God.
5. Catholics believe that God’s grace allows us to be an instrument of salvation for ourselves and for others. Protestants do not believe this.

Thank you for any replies.

---

short list
Catholics Right, Prots Wrong.

 

[MrZetterlund]

---

short list
Catholics Right, Prots Wrong.

Not based off of this list we’re not.

As for # 2, I don’t really know what a sacrament is. But I’m sure you’re transformed when you are born again, and in other words, become an actual Christian.

For #3, the Bible says good works are proof of faith. But good works cannot buy you salvation. Because we are saved by God’s grace, and no man shall boast when he’s in heaven.

#4, ditto.

For number 5, I don’t know why you came to this conclusion, but our church highly encourages this. I can’t tell you how many times I heard my pastor say for us to be “a beakon of light.”

I suspect this thread is driven by a bias

 

[Journeyman]

Wow, for those of you who think I have some sort of bias or am asking leading questions etc…, you are wrong.

I took a college class a few years ago and in my notes I had comparisons of the Catholic church and the churches of the reformation. I was simply curious as to whether the differences were correct. Since some responses state that it might be dependent upon the particular denomination, I was further searching for how correct/incorrect those statements might be for those denominations. There is no ulterior motive, or bias or anything. Just looking for honest answers and an exchange of ideas.

 

[Journeyman]

Not based off of this list we’re not.

As for # 2, I don’t really know what a sacrament is. But I’m sure you’re transformed when you are born again, and in other words, become an actual Christian.

MrZetterlund—If one is “born again” does that mean that the transformation is immediate at the time of being born again (such as an altar call).

 

[Tomster]

MrZetterlund—If one is “born again” does that mean that the transformation is immediate at the time of being born again (such as an altar call).

I have a related question. What if a person who has been “born again” backslides? Was he ever “born again” in the first place?

 

[MrZetterlund]

MrZetterlund—If one is “born again” does that mean that the transformation is immediate at the time of being born again (such as an altar call).

Om… I don’t know what an “altar call” is, but the “transformation” or in other words “to become an actual Christian” if that’s what you mean, could take some time in some cases, or in others, be immediate. There’s different ways one goes about “transforming.”
Some ditch their past lives in a split like the apostle Paul. Some struggle with sin like Saint Augustine when he was young, or Brian “Head” Welch who had a few falls before giving up crystal meth and cocaine after he turned to Christ.

So it really depends. Sorry, I wouldn’t know if you had a bias. Denominations are different. Protestant churches have different meanings for “the truth.” I believe Catholosism is the true church of Christ. We Baptists stay away from the controversity.

 

[Tomster]

I am trying to get a good handle on the major differences between the Catholic Church and Protestant churches. From my reading and studying, here are some differences that I have noticed. Am I correct in these statements—

1. Protestantism does not generally recognize the transforming or transfiguring effect of the incarnation. They believe that humanity suffers under the weight of their sin until they die at which point God looks away from their sin and they are saved based on the death of Christ.
2. Because of #1, most Protestant churches do not believe in the sacraments since the sacraments do not give us graces and therefore do not have the ability to transform us.
3. Protestants declare their faith in God and Jesus and from that point they are saved. It is all about faith and not about any kind of works, while the Catholic Church says that works are coupled with faith.
4. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross covers all of the sins of the believer and there is nothing else that man must do to be saved. The Catholic Church says that man participates in his own salvation through the gift of graces from God.
5. Catholics believe that God’s grace allows us to be an instrument of salvation for ourselves and for others. Protestants do not believe this.

Thank you for any replies.

Journeyman,

It is an interesting phenomenon of religious history that the heresy of Luther, taking its rise in a proud rebellion against the teaching authority of the Church, issued in a pessimistic theology which, exaggerating the effects of original sin, presented human nature as intrinsically corrupt. The human will, bereft of freedom, was radically incapable of pursuing the good, the human reason was powerless to know the truth. As man’s broken will must submit passively to the grace of God, so must his mind now, darkened by sin, allow itself to be led by an occult and irresistable force, a blind and unreasoning faith. Hence, the many, many divisions of Protestantism.

 

[Eutychus123]

The Reformation(s) were political in nature as well as religious. Secular governments used them to break/reduce the political power of the Church. In the US, our guarantees of religious freedom allow for the multiplicity of Christian and other groups. I wouldn’t want to go back to a one Church system enforced by the coercion of the government.

 

[JRKH]

The Reformation(s) were political in nature as well as religious. Secular governments used them to break/reduce the political power of the Church. In the US, our guarantees of religious freedom allow for the multiplicity of Christian and other groups. I wouldn’t want to go back to a one Church system enforced by the coercion of the government.

You are absolutely correct. Especially in the first part of your statement. If the theological issues had remained just that, theological, it is most likely that the issues would have been ironed out by now.
It was the greed and averice and nationalism of the princes etc that contributed the most to the institutionalizing of the protestant movement.

I do also agree that our guarentees of religious freedom are a good thing,

Peace
James

 

[mangy_dog]

I am trying to get a good handle on the major differences between the Catholic Church and Protestant churches. From my reading and studying, here are some differences that I have noticed. Am I correct in these statements—

1. Protestantism does not generally recognize the transforming or transfiguring effect of the incarnation. They believe that humanity suffers under the weight of their sin until they die at which point God looks away from their sin and they are saved based on the death of Christ.
2. Because of #1, most Protestant churches do not believe in the sacraments since the sacraments do not give us graces and therefore do not have the ability to transform us.
3. Protestants declare their faith in God and Jesus and from that point they are saved. It is all about faith and not about any kind of works, while the Catholic Church says that works are coupled with faith.
4. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross covers all of the sins of the believer and there is nothing else that man must do to be saved. The Catholic Church says that man participates in his own salvation through the gift of graces from God.
5. Catholics believe that God’s grace allows us to be an instrument of salvation for ourselves and for others. Protestants do not believe this.

Thank you for any replies.

Please pardon my simplistic response:

Catholic & Protestant
Complete and incomplete.
Caf and decaf.
leaded and unleaded

Sorry, told you it was simplistic.

 

[Eutychus123]

#2 Varies by Protestant Church.
Baptists recognize - Baptism and Communion.
Methodists differentiate between Biblical Sacraments - i.e. Baptism and Communion, and Sacrements of the early church, i.e. the other 5
Anglicans - Seven sacraments.

And so on.

 

[Hisalone]

You are absolutely correct. Especially in the first part of your statement. If the theological issues had remained just that, theological, it is most likely that the issues would have been ironed out by now.
It was the greed and averice and nationalism of the princes etc that contributed the most to the institutionalizing of the protestant movement.

I do also agree that our guarentees of religious freedom are a good thing,

Peace
James

What was the Roman Catholic Church doing so intertwined with politics of all the various nations? Another reason you place the blame of The Reformation at the feet of the RCC.

 

[Hisalone]

I have a related question. What if a person who has been “born again” backslides? Was he ever “born again” in the first place?

Salvation is a process that begins with an event. When you are first born you are not born an adult but grow into it. Same with the spiritual life.