Is it easier to be Protestant or Catholic?

[Augustus24]

For me it was much easier to be a protestant, because my protestantism was essentially a religion of my own creation. I liked the doctrine of OSAS so I kept it, I didnt like the real presence in the Eucharist so I trashed it, I liked Liturgical worship so I kept it, I didnt like predestination and determinism of the Reformers so I trashed it, I didnt like infant baptism so I trashed it, I didnt like the anti birth control stance of the Reformers, so I concluded they were wrong and I was right. I liked theory of the pre trib rapture and dispensationalism, so I kept it, even know I KNEW it was a recent doctrine, all those before had simply been wrong. It is easy to follow a religion that you get to design.

 

[Waiting]

However, I have Catholic friends who do “pick and choose what (they) want to believe…” and how they practice their faith, and still consider themselves good Catholics, without paying much attention to what others may say or what the official Church teaching may be.

The important thing is not what these cafeteria Catholics consider themselves, but what God considers them. God didn’t promise to bind or loose whatever the malcontents decided, but what “Peter,” the Church, decided.

 

[meltzerboy]

Great question!

I was raised Protestant (United Methodist, though I fell in the more traditionalist ‘conservative’ wing of the church) and converted to the Catholic Church at age 26 (two years ago).

I can answer the questions two different ways, and each comes to a different conclusion:

1. It’s easier to be Protestant, because the Protestant can mold his faith to fit his desires. Even within a particular tradition (UMC, in my case), one can pick and choose what to believe and what not to believe. If he feels premarital sex is okay, as an example, then he can believe that and still be in ‘good standing’ with his church. After all, say the good Methodists, we can all agree to disagree. Protestantism – at least in the ‘mainline’ denominations – is a faith that demands little of its adherents. It tends not to interfere at all with your personal likes, dislikes, desires, and habits.
2. It’s easier to be Catholic, because a Catholic knows what he is supposed to believe and the onus isn’t on him to figure it out on his own. Using the premarital sex example mentioned above, a Protestant might read the Scripture and come to his conclusion one way or another…but can never be sure that he has chosen correctly. Maybe he can fall back on his denomination doctrine, if his particular denomination has one, but even then he can never be completely sure of it. That I can go to Catholic doctrine on any matter, and know that it is defined by the Holy Church founded by Christ (God!) and protected by the Holy Spirit from leading me into error, is incredibly comforting. I know what I should believe, and that clarity makes it easy to know how I should be living.

Earlier in my faith journey, I looked at it from the first perspective (I was young, after all, and knew everything…so I was glad that I could align my religion to my hard-headed beliefs). It rang less and less true with time, and I began to constantly doubt whether the beliefs I had crafted for myself were right, and wondered how I could know either way. Thankfully, through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I came to perspective #2. It is easier to know, with clarity, what Christian faith demands of us…even if it’s sometimes more difficult in practice.

God bless you.

I like your two ways of approaching the question. BTW, you’re STILL young but also wise. Best wishes on your faith journey.

 

[meltzerboy]

The important thing is not what these cafeteria Catholics consider themselves, but what God considers them. God didn’t promise to bind or loose whatever the malcontents decided, but what “Peter,” the Church, decided.

You’re probably correct. This is just an observation in response to the prior comment on how Catholics live their faith. I’m not saying I personally endorse it.

 

[mark_a]

I see you’re in Bob Jones country. Must be interesting being catholic there!

It’s hard to believe, but there is a thriving Catholic community here. Steve Wood and Fr. Longernecker are here too, which really helps take some pressure off!

 

[Nicea325]

I’ve been both. For the first 47 years of my life, I was an active and faithful member of various evangelical Protestant churches. In 2004, my husband and I converted to Catholicism, and we’ve been active and faithful Catholics.

So which is easier?

I don’t want to post my opinion yet (mainly because I have to go to work now!). Also, I am interested in reading what others have to say.

On the surface, it seems that Protestantism is the “easier” path. No obligations, no sacraments. For many Protestants, no fear of ever losing heaven. Great music, friendly people, lots of activities for children and teenagers. Lots of activities for all ages, actually.

Catholics have obligations, including the Sunday Mass obligation. Catholics have sacraments. Catholics must avoid “mortal sin” or they will not go to heaven. Catholic music is often bearable, but seldom great. Many Catholic parishes are hard to make friends in. Often there are very limited activities for Catholics–maybe a Bible study, and maybe not. Probably not a weekly kids’ club–instead, the kids get “religious education”–no campfires or craft projects or sing-alongs in CCD! And youth groups–often they are pretty small, because all the Catholic teens are over at the Assemblies of God weekly youth meeting along with hundreds of other teens! Or the Catholic teens have stopped attending Church entirely, to the dismay of their parents.

But is Protestantism really easier? Hmmm…

I encourage anyone to think about and answer this question. Obviously converts to Catholicism have personal experience with both forms of Christianity, but I know a lot of Catholics who have knowledge of Protestant life and practices, too.

I do not believe it is about which is easier or harder,but one simple aspect: TRUTH. The fullness of the desposit of faith. What I acknowledge is that today many people (Catholics and Protestants alike) want God to conform to them and not vice versa. Being Christian is a WAY OF LIFE,not a suit we put on or take off when it pleases us.

 

[waxwing]

Guess this depends on whole list of things, seems like the consensus so far is Catholicism is the tougher road to follow. To balance things out thought I’d contribute some views to the contrary. This depends on the Protestant Church and/or Denomination I find the ‘do not do list’ to be much longer on the Protestant side, things like no drinking, no smoking, no dancing, constant stress/guilt trip on tithing, no gambling, vegatarian diet in SDA case, no rock music, no rap music, constantly being told armageddon is right around the corner…Now of course if you attend a Liberal Mainline or even some larger Non Den you’'ll be scratching head saying most of these aren’t on the list, but in many churches they are to one degree or another. As other posters have commented the Protestant tendency to Church Shop means if your don’t like this list there are other Churches with much smaller lists. But if your committed(key word here) to the church your in and it happens to be a one of the ones with the long list I submit that this road may be the harder one to travel.

 

[RBK]

I’ve been both. For the first 47 years of my life, I was an active and faithful member of various evangelical Protestant churches. In 2004, my husband and I converted to Catholicism, and we’ve been active and faithful Catholics.

So which is easier?

I’ve been both as well, protestant for the first 40 years. I converted in 2007. I don’t think I can say that either one was/is easier. I can, however, say which one is more fulfilling. I struggled in protestantism because I was on a search for truth. I struggled with the lack of consistent teaching. We’ve moved a lot with my husband’s job, and it was always difficult to find a new church that agreed with “our” beliefs.

The hardest thing about leaving evangelical protestantism was leaving the notion of assumed salvation. I took it for granted, and to be honest now that I look back on it, it led to a certain laziness in my spiritual life. If there’s nothing you can do to lose your salvation, then there is the temptation to act accordingly. You may skip church, pray less often, maybe compromise moral teaching…because after all, you’re still guaranteed heaven as a result of praying the sinner’s prayer and meaning it.

That I need to work at my spiritual life, to “persevere to the end,” just as I need to work at my marriage, is often difficult but it has led to a “hunger and a thirst for righteousness” that God is filling. There is also great joy and a certain sense of relief in knowing that I don’t have to figure everything out on my own anymore, that the faith has been handed on “once for all.”

It is not easy being Catholic, but I am joyfully and gratefully so. Nothing worth having comes without trials.

 

[JonNC]

I’ve been both. For the first 47 years of my life, I was an active and faithful member of various evangelical Protestant churches. In 2004, my husband and I converted to Catholicism, and we’ve been active and faithful Catholics.

So which is easier?

I don’t want to post my opinion yet (mainly because I have to go to work now!). Also, I am interested in reading what others have to say.

On the surface, it seems that Protestantism is the “easier” path. No obligations, no sacraments. For many Protestants, no fear of ever losing heaven. Great music, friendly people, lots of activities for children and teenagers. Lots of activities for all ages, actually.

Catholics have obligations, including the Sunday Mass obligation. Catholics have sacraments. Catholics must avoid “mortal sin” or they will not go to heaven. Catholic music is often bearable, but seldom great. Many Catholic parishes are hard to make friends in. Often there are very limited activities for Catholics–maybe a Bible study, and maybe not. Probably not a weekly kids’ club–instead, the kids get “religious education”–no campfires or craft projects or sing-alongs in CCD! And youth groups–often they are pretty small, because all the Catholic teens are over at the Assemblies of God weekly youth meeting along with hundreds of other teens! Or the Catholic teens have stopped attending Church entirely, to the dismay of their parents.

But is Protestantism really easier? Hmmm…

I encourage anyone to think about and answer this question. Obviously converts to Catholicism have personal experience with both forms of Christianity, but I know a lot of Catholics who have knowledge of Protestant life and practices, too.

If I may, just a different approach to your question.

It is easier for me to be Lutheran than it would be for me to be Catholic. Why? Doctrine.

It would be easier for me to be Catholic than virtually any other Protestant communion.
Why? Doctrine. For example, OSAS is unacceptable to me, as is rejection of the real presence, or rejection of infant Baptism as sacrament.

ISTM that communions that are doctrinal in their approach are more difficult than those who have a general “personal interpretation” approach. As a Lutheran, I am bound to scripture and the confessions when it comes to doctrine.

Jon

 

[jericho777]

I have been both catholic 28 years and a born again Christian 21 years. Being Catholic is far more work and uncertainty than being a BAC. IMO there are all the man made laws and traditions that are not in the bible. Catholics are never secure in their salvation and have no eternal security which the bible states for those who are called by God for His purpose. You are always worried you will be good enough or have enough good works to enter heaven. As a BAC I have rest in Christ and His finished work on the cross alone as in Heb 4:9-11tells us. Heb 4:9-11There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

It‘s the freedom to live by faith and trust His grace. God is not just waiting to see if you are not good enough. He has called us and adopted us as sons and heirs with Christ. His Spirit bears witness with our spirit we are His.

 

[Bill_Pick]

I’ve been both. For the first 47 years of my life, I was an active and faithful member of various evangelical Protestant churches. In 2004, my husband and I converted to Catholicism, and we’ve been active and faithful Catholics.

So which is easier?

I don’t want to post my opinion yet (mainly because I have to go to work now!). Also, I am interested in reading what others have to say.

On the surface, it seems that Protestantism is the “easier” path. No obligations, no sacraments. For many Protestants, no fear of ever losing heaven. Great music, friendly people, lots of activities for children and teenagers. Lots of activities for all ages, actually.

Catholics have obligations, including the Sunday Mass obligation. Catholics have sacraments. Catholics must avoid “mortal sin” or they will not go to heaven. Catholic music is often bearable, but seldom great. Many Catholic parishes are hard to make friends in. Often there are very limited activities for Catholics–maybe a Bible study, and maybe not. Probably not a weekly kids’ club–instead, the kids get “religious education”–no campfires or craft projects or sing-alongs in CCD! And youth groups–often they are pretty small, because all the Catholic teens are over at the Assemblies of God weekly youth meeting along with hundreds of other teens! Or the Catholic teens have stopped attending Church entirely, to the dismay of their parents.

But is Protestantism really easier? Hmmm…

I encourage anyone to think about and answer this question. Obviously converts to Catholicism have personal experience with both forms of Christianity, but I know a lot of Catholics who have knowledge of Protestant life and practices, too.

it best to be a Cathloic because if you read the gosplee of John we must be a Cathloic …

 

[mwb85611]

Neither path is easy. As Christians, all work to live and show Christ’s teachings in the world. When it comes to practices, Catholicism is more confusing and harder to keep track of, though.

They’re “equal” in terms of “difficulty.”

 

[Cat]

Guess this depends on whole list of things, seems like the consensus so far is Catholicism is the tougher road to follow. To balance things out thought I’d contribute some views to the contrary. This depends on the Protestant Church and/or Denomination I find the ‘do not do list’ to be much longer on the Protestant side, things like no drinking, no smoking, no dancing, constant stress/guilt trip on tithing, no gambling, vegatarian diet in SDA case, no rock music, no rap music, constantly being told armageddon is right around the corner…Now of course if you attend a Liberal Mainline or even some larger Non Den you’'ll be scratching head saying most of these aren’t on the list, but in many churches they are to one degree or another. As other posters have commented the Protestant tendency to Church Shop means if your don’t like this list there are other Churches with much smaller lists. But if your committed(key word here) to the church your in and it happens to be a one of the ones with the long list I submit that this road may be the harder one to travel.

I’m glad you brought up the “List of Rules.” This is one of the dirty little secrets of evangelical Protestantism–I keep waiting for an evangelical to write a book about this topic. It would be a best-seller, but it would destroy his/her reputation and probably mean that they would never, ever be invited to speak at a seminar or conference or retreat again.

Maybe I should write it. I’m not a celeb, and I’m not a speaker!

I agree with you that this “List of Rules” makes Protestantism harder than Catholicism. Yes, Catholics have rules, lots of them, but the “rules” are WRITTEN OUT for all to see! There is no “secret list of rules” that you have to figure out for yourself or risk being shunned by your fellow Christians.

Years ago here on CAF, I wrote out that List of Rules for Evangelicals. You mentioned a lot of them, although I don’t think I had the SDA vegetarian diet on my list–good call! I also agree with the “guilt trip” about tithing–good call, too. That’s a really hard rule to follow, so most evangelicals just end up keeping quiet and living a lie about their tithing habits.

The one that my husband and I regret is the “No Dancing” rule. Both of us grew up in denominations where dancing was forbidden. And of course that meant that we never learned to dance. A few years ago, we signed up for ballroom dancing at Arthur Murray, but it costs a lot ($500 for only a half-dozen weeks), so we really didn’t want to continue. My husband seemed to pick it up a little, but he still looked pretty shaky. As for me, I was so self-conscious–I just couldn’t seem to get the hang of anything, and I was so awkward. It didn’t help that my feet/ankes are a mass of pins and inserts after two surgeries, and my knees are bone-on-bone. But I think that even if I had good feet and knees, I would still be a super-duper clutz on a dance floor. I think that a part of my mind still believes that dancing is a sin. I really regret the Dancing is a Sin rule. I’ve written several novels, and in all of them, the protaganist always likes to dance and is good at it.

Another rule that my husband and I grew up with was “No card-playing.” Things like Crazy Eights and Old Maid were OK, but not the “real” card games. My husband is a very intelligent man, but when it comes to cards, a three-year old could beat him. He has no “card sense” at all. And to me, cards are like a foreign language–I just can’t seem to comprehend what a “trick” is and I can never remember any of the rules to any of the games. Oh, well. There are lots of ways to play games and have fun without cards, so I don’t think we’re missing too much.

Anyway, this “List of Rules” is one reason why I believe Catholicism is “easier” than Protestantism.

 

[Cat]

Another reason why I think Catholicism is “easier” than evangelical Protestantism is that a Catholic is not expected to be involved with multiple ministries in their church.

Many Catholics have some involvement in one or maybe if they’re really fanatics, two ministries in their local parish.

But an evangelical Protestant is literally involved with some church ministry almost every day or evening. I am totally serious when I say that my husband and I were in the church or working at home on something for the church (preparing Sunday school lessons, writing articles for a church newsletter, writing songs/hymns, going over a budget, praying, reading and studying the Bible, etc.) 5-6 evenings or days a week. We very seldom had a day where there was no church responsibility.

My list of “ministries” would break down CAF. I was a “Super Woman” in my churches over the years. Most of my ministries were with children and/ or teenagers. I worked in VBS for 30 straight years, including the week before my wedding. I also taught Sunday school, Pioneer Clubs, Youth groups, children’s choir, and children’s missionary conference–all of these at once, while I was raising my babies and toddlers! It just seemed normal for me back then to be doing so much. Lots of women did more than I did!

I would routinely get up early in the morning so that I would have time to prepare for all these ministries, and I was often up until late at night.

Along with all the above, I also played piano–I started playing piano in church on a regular basis when I was 12 years old. A piano player is almost as valuable in an evangelical church as a tither!

My husband was a little more limited in his ministries because he worked outside of the home and I didn’t. But he still had a full plate of ministries.

There are times now that I am Catholic when I am racked with guilt because I do so little in my parish. I still play piano when I am needed, although most of our Masses are accompanied by pipe organ. I attend one Bible study–just one! I volunteer with the parish school. And that’s about it.

My husband is an usher, and for several years he helped with RCIA, but now the priests do all of RCIA and there are only a few laypeople involved. So that’s about all my husband does.

Catholicism is really nice and EASY compared to life in the evangelical churches!

Now perhaps if we had been raised Catholic, we might have more ministries in our parish. But even the “super Catholics” that I know are not hyper-involved like we were back in our evangelical Protestant churches. So I think it’s a Protestant thing, and I don’t miss it one bit.

 

[TrueLight]

Another reason why I think Catholicism is “easier” than evangelical Protestantism is that a Catholic is not expected to be involved with multiple ministries in their church.

Many Catholics have some involvement in one or maybe if they’re really fanatics, two ministries in their local parish.

But an evangelical Protestant is literally involved with some church ministry almost every day or evening. I am totally serious when I say that my husband and I were in the church or working at home on something for the church (preparing Sunday school lessons, writing articles for a church newsletter, writing songs/hymns, going over a budget, praying, reading and studying the Bible, etc.) 5-6 evenings or days a week. We very seldom had a day where there was no church responsibility.

My list of “ministries” would break down CAF. I was a “Super Woman” in my churches over the years. Most of my ministries were with children and/ or teenagers. I worked in VBS for 30 straight years, including the week before my wedding. I also taught Sunday school, Pioneer Clubs, Youth groups, children’s choir, and children’s missionary conference–all of these at once, while I was raising my babies and toddlers! It just seemed normal for me back then to be doing so much. Lots of women did more than I did!

I would routinely get up early in the morning so that I would have time to prepare for all these ministries, and I was often up until late at night.

Along with all the above, I also played piano–I started playing piano in church on a regular basis when I was 12 years old. A piano player is almost as valuable in an evangelical church as a tither!

My husband was a little more limited in his ministries because he worked outside of the home and I didn’t. But he still had a full plate of ministries.

There are times now that I am Catholic when I am racked with guilt because I do so little in my parish. I still play piano when I am needed, although most of our Masses are accompanied by pipe organ. I attend one Bible study–just one! I volunteer with the parish school. And that’s about it.

My husband is an usher, and for several years he helped with RCIA, but now the priests do all of RCIA and there are only a few laypeople involved. So that’s about all my husband does.

Catholicism is really nice and EASY compared to life in the evangelical churches!

Now perhaps if we had been raised Catholic, we might have more ministries in our parish. But even the “super Catholics” that I know are not hyper-involved like we were back in our evangelical Protestant churches. So I think it’s a Protestant thing, and I don’t miss it one bit.

I totally understand.

I’d say it is easier to be Catholic if you accept all the teachings of the Magesterium, CCC etc. There is so much that is laid out for you. Of course if you are not really practicing aside from going to mass, then things are ridiculously easy as it is for non-practicing protestants.

I can attest to the list of Rules in the Protestant churches which vary based on denomination or even within churches in a domination.

My mom is Baptist and my grandmother was Pentecostal, so I toggled between both churches before I found the Reformed church I attend now.

Rules
So here were some of the rules

• no drinking
• no smoking (you were a real sinner if you smoked)
• no dancing and no going to parties
• no listening to non-Christian music except maybe classical
• no going to the movies
• no wearing pants
• no makeup
• no getting involved in the arts (No broadway stars or theater majors). In fact, I remember overhearing a girl tell an older woman how she got into Alvin Ailey and the woman said, “Oh, well I try to be involved in the things of the Lord only.”

**All Day Sundays
**
I can also attest to the length of time I spent in church. My grandmother’s church has Sunday school at 10 AM and service at 11:30 - 12. Sometimes the sermon is 2 hours long. Then you have fellowship and different groups meeting which would end about 4 - 4:30. Then you’d have an evening service at 5 PM. If you left church early, then you might be seen as not being spiritual enough.

Saved by Faith Alone?
Also, even though protestants believe we are saved by faith, it is not so cut and dry in a lot of churches. Some churches judge you by actions that they don’t believe reflect someone who is “saved” so there is always the question of “am I really saved?”

And there are a lot of churches that do not condone premarital sex; but they are not usually outright against birth control.

I remember growing up, I used to have a real fear of going to hell. I used to fear that I would be left behind at the “rapture”. I would wake up from nightmares and check and see if my grandmother was there because I knew if anyone was going to heaven and would be caught up in the rapture – she would.
**
Switching to Another Church if You Disagree With Doctrine**
Switching to another denomination is not always easy. For example, if you are in a full gospel church and believe in speaking in tongues, it won’t be easy to suddenly switch to a Methodist church. Your former fellow church members will judge you even to the point of saying you are not “truly serving the Lord”. Furthermore, you have to make a cognitive shift in order to agree to be in a church that doesn’t believe in the things you have believed all your life.

Even now, I meet some old church members and the first thing they ask me if where I attend now. When I tell them I attend a reformed church, they regard me with either a superior or saddened stare and then mumble that they hope the church is serving the Lord.

So it all depends on the denomination.

 

[ForeverGrace]

If it’s hard to be a Christian then something is fundamentally wrong. Jesus said “My yoke is easy”.

Loving Jesus is natural and it should be a joy. When you have the mind of Christ within you, nothing is too hard. Pleasing the Lord is not a list of do’s and don’ts. It’s a matter of allowing the Holy Spirit to work within oneself.

Romans 8:28-39. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

 

[meltzerboy]

If it’s hard to be a Christian then something is fundamentally wrong. Jesus said “My yoke is easy”.

Loving Jesus is natural and it should be a joy. When you have the mind of Christ within you, nothing is too hard. Pleasing the Lord is not a list of do’s and don’ts. It’s a matter of allowing the Holy Spirit to work within oneself.

Romans 8:28-39. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Very good point! It’s similar in Judaism: to love G-d and help others with joy, even if this involves 613 commandments (many of which are nominal).

 

[guanophore]

If it’s hard to be a Christian then something is fundamentally wrong. Jesus said “My yoke is easy”.

Loving Jesus is natural and it should be a joy. When you have the mind of Christ within you, nothing is too hard. Pleasing the Lord is not a list of do’s and don’ts. It’s a matter of allowing the Holy Spirit to work within oneself.

Romans 8:28-39. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Do you believe that Christians suffer?

Do you believe suffering is always easy?

What is it about taking up one’s cross and carrying it is “easy” ,in your opinion?

What was “easy” about the cross Jesus carried?

 

[Carlan]

Do you believe that Christians suffer?

Do you believe suffering is always easy?

What is it about taking up one’s cross and carrying it is “easy” ,in your opinion?

What was “easy” about the cross Jesus carried?

Much esier to skip the hard stuff, don’t you know?Peace, Carlan

 

[Bill_Pick]

I’ve been both. For the first 47 years of my life, I was an active and faithful member of various evangelical Protestant churches. In 2004, my husband and I converted to Catholicism, and we’ve been active and faithful Catholics.

So which is easier?

I don’t want to post my opinion yet (mainly because I have to go to work now!). Also, I am interested in reading what others have to say.

On the surface, it seems that Protestantism is the “easier” path. No obligations, no sacraments. For many Protestants, no fear of ever losing heaven. Great music, friendly people, lots of activities for children and teenagers. Lots of activities for all ages, actually.

Catholics have obligations, including the Sunday Mass obligation. Catholics have sacraments. Catholics must avoid “mortal sin” or they will not go to heaven. Catholic music is often bearable, but seldom great. Many Catholic parishes are hard to make friends in. Often there are very limited activities for Catholics–maybe a Bible study, and maybe not. Probably not a weekly kids’ club–instead, the kids get “religious education”–no campfires or craft projects or sing-alongs in CCD! And youth groups–often they are pretty small, because all the Catholic teens are over at the Assemblies of God weekly youth meeting along with hundreds of other teens! Or the Catholic teens have stopped attending Church entirely, to the dismay of their parents.

But is Protestantism really easier? Hmmm…

I encourage anyone to think about and answer this question. Obviously converts to Catholicism have personal experience with both forms of Christianity, but I know a lot of Catholics who have knowledge of Protestant life and practices, too.

Just remember what Our Lord said "This is my body.This is MY blood and He said it in two gosple