1. **Protestants I know believe in the 'real presence' in a different sense.** They rely on the promise of Christ that "lo, I am with you always...." So, Jesus is present at communion, but also at every other service. You cannot logically speak of him as 'less present' here or there. He is present or not present.
2. T**hat, however, is not the same as transforming the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.** To almost all Protestants that is symbolic language, like Christ saying that he is the gate, the door, the vine, etc. He often spoke in such allegorical language, so common in the Middle East then, and still today.
3.** There were mystery cults during those times** that taught that if one consumed the blood of a god or goddess, one would take on some of the virtues, strength, etc. of that deity. Mithraism had some of that element in it. I believe the cult of Isis had a similar ritual. There is fear among many Protestants that early Christianity was influenced too much by such cults that were competing for followers.
4. **Although Judaism strongly rejected the idea of Christ as the Messiah, it did focus considerable attention upon the necessity of blood sacifice,** hence the sacrifice of live animals. This was and is part of other cultures as well.
5.** To most liberal Protestants the thought of consuming the body and blood of Christ is simply not acceptable**. It seems too 'pagan' to them, something that is no longer palatable and logical in their mind. They also would object to the idea that a priest, through a ritual, can transubstantiate - that is, change bread and wine into Christ's body and blood. They regard communion as symbolism, perhaps important and powerful symbolism, but symbolism nonetheless.
6. **Evangelical Protestants are more likely to focus on the blood sacrifice, and many of their popular hymns do that**. For example, "There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins" or "There is power, power, wonder-working power, in the blood of the lamb..." They, too, reject transubstantiation. They range from Protestants who emphasize communion to those who treat if as tangential.
7. **Liturgical Protestants, such as Episcopalians and Lutherans, stress communion much more than Protestants of Calvinist or Wesleyan or Pentecostal heritage.** There is a trend among some of these Protestants, however, such as the Methodists, to put more emphasis on communion than years ago. It once was celebrated quarterly (four times a year) in most Methodist churches. Today, it is once a month, and many churches offer it weekly at, perhaps, an early service on Sundays.
8. **The main psychological barrier to transubstantiation among Protestants (and others) is that it shares too much in common (in their minds) with cannibalism**. Yes, Catholics may be turned off by this objection, but I believe it is what millions of Protestants simply cannot accept. A poll not long ago in *US Catholic* found that about one-half of all Catholics in America doubt or reject transubstantiation, also.
God bless Catholics, Protestants and all who seek to live lives reflecting the love and commandments of Christ. May religion become more of a bridge and less of a barrier, with a growth in mutual respect for those with differing interpretations of scripture.
