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Chuck1
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Hi I was wondering if anybody can sum up what the roman catholic church teaches ?Compared to other denominations ?
Thanks
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Crumpy
Guest
In this format, it is virtually impossible to answer your question adequately.
read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Protestant denominations seem to attack nearly everything the Church teaches, so you can read the CCC and assume they frequently teach the opposite.
If you can obtain it, the book Tradition and the Church by Msgr George Agius compares the position of the CC on tradition as a source of divine revelation, which is generally rejected by protestant "denominations.’ The publisher says they don’t know of any handy summary like this elsewhere in print, on the subject of tradition. 315 pages.
Built as it is on tradition, the Catholic Church accepts as divine tradition the following: the papacy, apostolic succession, the Mass, the seven sacraments, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and prayer to the saints, prayers for the dead, and its supremacy in interpreting the Bible. I just can’t think of other things at the moment, but these are some of the BIG things.
Add to the list, the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the use of the sign of the cross, blessing of water and oil as sacramentals, and probably more.
This website covers a lot of the doctrinal issues and the splitting of hairs on such things.
read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Protestant denominations seem to attack nearly everything the Church teaches, so you can read the CCC and assume they frequently teach the opposite.
If you can obtain it, the book Tradition and the Church by Msgr George Agius compares the position of the CC on tradition as a source of divine revelation, which is generally rejected by protestant "denominations.’ The publisher says they don’t know of any handy summary like this elsewhere in print, on the subject of tradition. 315 pages.
Built as it is on tradition, the Catholic Church accepts as divine tradition the following: the papacy, apostolic succession, the Mass, the seven sacraments, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and prayer to the saints, prayers for the dead, and its supremacy in interpreting the Bible. I just can’t think of other things at the moment, but these are some of the BIG things.
Add to the list, the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the use of the sign of the cross, blessing of water and oil as sacramentals, and probably more.
This website covers a lot of the doctrinal issues and the splitting of hairs on such things.
C
Crumpy
Guest
The book by Agius (in the preceding post) gives a thorough and systematic explanation and biblical underpinning of tradition.
Again, in a brief oversimplied way, it goes like this: Jesus appointed apostles to spread the faith and get the Church started. He promised to send the Holy Spirit to teach them all truths. Think about that, and you can see that the Apostles were a living source of divine revelation and the Church was being established and growing for years before a single word of new testament scripture was written.
So, the argument goes on from there that tradition (the handing down of faith and practices from one generation of bishops to the next) was a real source of divine revelation and still is. Divine revelation ended with the death of the last apostle. But, the apostolic succession continues to hand on down the total of Divine Revelation that comes from both scripture and tradition.
Most Protestant denominations profess only the authority of scripture, and rely on private interpretation (which is really contradictory if you think about it).
Agius points out that God was not limited to just one method of teaching truth (scripture) but also employed Sacred Tradition as a source of revelation. Tradition was also a source of divine revelation in the Old Testament as well – the books of the OT being written long after the faith had been established.
Atheists and agnostics appeal to the lack of direct inspiration, which they’d rather have, over scripture and tradition as sources of Divine Revelation. God seems to have used direct revelation only to a limited extent, to establish what we call general revelation.
Anything else that anybody posts below, is most likely an extension of this fundamental difference between the CC and the other “denominations.”
Again, in a brief oversimplied way, it goes like this: Jesus appointed apostles to spread the faith and get the Church started. He promised to send the Holy Spirit to teach them all truths. Think about that, and you can see that the Apostles were a living source of divine revelation and the Church was being established and growing for years before a single word of new testament scripture was written.
So, the argument goes on from there that tradition (the handing down of faith and practices from one generation of bishops to the next) was a real source of divine revelation and still is. Divine revelation ended with the death of the last apostle. But, the apostolic succession continues to hand on down the total of Divine Revelation that comes from both scripture and tradition.
Most Protestant denominations profess only the authority of scripture, and rely on private interpretation (which is really contradictory if you think about it).
Agius points out that God was not limited to just one method of teaching truth (scripture) but also employed Sacred Tradition as a source of revelation. Tradition was also a source of divine revelation in the Old Testament as well – the books of the OT being written long after the faith had been established.
Atheists and agnostics appeal to the lack of direct inspiration, which they’d rather have, over scripture and tradition as sources of Divine Revelation. God seems to have used direct revelation only to a limited extent, to establish what we call general revelation.
Anything else that anybody posts below, is most likely an extension of this fundamental difference between the CC and the other “denominations.”
P
PiousTemplar
Guest
This seems to be fairly good:
religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/catholic_protestant.htm
The Catholic Church was started by Christ on Peter 2000 years ago. Protestant Churches are recent.
religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/catholic_protestant.htm
The Catholic Church was started by Christ on Peter 2000 years ago. Protestant Churches are recent.
C
Crumpy
Guest
What holds the Catholic Church together is the presence of Jesus Christ who promised to be with us always to the end of the world, and the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide us.
the keystone of Protestantism is a rejection of the teaching authority of the Church, and particularly, of the Pope. Protestants have “their” verses to support “sola scriptura” (the Bible alone as the final authority) and to support the “sufficiency of scripture”. Unfortunately, that is NOT the Church that was founded by Christ.
Christ did not write a book or tell His apostles to write one, either. What He DID say is, “he who hears you hears Me.” Divine revelation, in fact, comes to us in scripture and in tradition. And, this, as Agius points out, was the position of the Church from the earliest centures.
Agius uses the Biblical evidence and that of the early Church Fathers to show that the Protestant positionS (plural, because there is no central authority in Protestantism) are inconsistent, contradictory, and illogical.
Christ prayed to His Father for the unity of the Church. This was not an eschatological prayer pointing to the end of time, Agius argues, a unity to be achieved only at the end of time. No, the prayer of Christ has to be effective and He created a Church that was unified in faith and organization and power.
Scripture came OUT OF the tradition of the Church. (If the Church did not already possess authority and power, why should anybody have believed what was being written?)
The multiplicity of the “denominations” of Protestantism are a testament to their not being the unified Church that Jesus established on earth. These churches often hold opposing and contradictory views. Jesus did not make faith a matter of chance, of finding the right church, when something so important as salvation is at stake.
the keystone of Protestantism is a rejection of the teaching authority of the Church, and particularly, of the Pope. Protestants have “their” verses to support “sola scriptura” (the Bible alone as the final authority) and to support the “sufficiency of scripture”. Unfortunately, that is NOT the Church that was founded by Christ.
Christ did not write a book or tell His apostles to write one, either. What He DID say is, “he who hears you hears Me.” Divine revelation, in fact, comes to us in scripture and in tradition. And, this, as Agius points out, was the position of the Church from the earliest centures.
Agius uses the Biblical evidence and that of the early Church Fathers to show that the Protestant positionS (plural, because there is no central authority in Protestantism) are inconsistent, contradictory, and illogical.
Christ prayed to His Father for the unity of the Church. This was not an eschatological prayer pointing to the end of time, Agius argues, a unity to be achieved only at the end of time. No, the prayer of Christ has to be effective and He created a Church that was unified in faith and organization and power.
Scripture came OUT OF the tradition of the Church. (If the Church did not already possess authority and power, why should anybody have believed what was being written?)
The multiplicity of the “denominations” of Protestantism are a testament to their not being the unified Church that Jesus established on earth. These churches often hold opposing and contradictory views. Jesus did not make faith a matter of chance, of finding the right church, when something so important as salvation is at stake.
F
FromTheAshes777
Guest
Greetings friend,
I highly recommend this book, it is excellent and a clear concise explanation of the faith:
amazon.com/This-Faith-Complete-Explanation-Catholic/dp/0895556421
it has been a great help to me on my journey…I plan to leave a Baptist Church to be recieved into the Catholic Church as well.
I highly recommend this book, it is excellent and a clear concise explanation of the faith:
amazon.com/This-Faith-Complete-Explanation-Catholic/dp/0895556421
it has been a great help to me on my journey…I plan to leave a Baptist Church to be recieved into the Catholic Church as well.
C
Chris_Etzel
Guest
americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0904.asp
It’s called 9 things that make us Catholic. It was the first handout we got in RCIA. If you’re from a Baptist background ,this should give you the insight you need to make a reasonable comparison.
If you would like some good reading, there’s a book called “Born Fundamentalist. Born Again Catholic” by David Currie, that I read last year and it explained a lot.
Hope this helps!
It’s called 9 things that make us Catholic. It was the first handout we got in RCIA. If you’re from a Baptist background ,this should give you the insight you need to make a reasonable comparison.
If you would like some good reading, there’s a book called “Born Fundamentalist. Born Again Catholic” by David Currie, that I read last year and it explained a lot.
Hope this helps!
C
Chuck1
Guest
Great thanks for everyone’s help , but can anyone give me like the top 5 core values of what the church believes like can anyone also explain toe what sacraments are and why we do it because it’s not about earning your way into and for because god gives us that free right ?
C
ConstantineTG
Guest
Here’s the summary in two words:Hi I was wondering if anybody can sum up what the roman catholic church teaches ?Compared to other denominations ?
Thanks
THE TRUTH
C
Chatter163
Guest
>>Religion: Roman Catholic/Baptist<<
Sorry, but this is not possible…One or the other.
Sorry, but this is not possible…One or the other.
C
Chuck1
Guest
Yes I know that which is why I want to know what the church basically teaches like that baptists teach that your saved by faith not by doing stuff and sarod our way into the righteousness of god ? Does the RC church teach that etc that type of thing>>Religion: Roman Catholic/Baptist<<
Sorry, but this is not possible…One or the other.
C
Chris_Etzel
Guest
You already know the Baptist faith’s values.
The core differences are:
Pope
Autonomy
Purgatory
Sacraments
Mary/Saints
Baptists generally believe the Pope to be a Christian, but he holds no place of authority for them. They do not regard his opinion as anything of value. In fact, in some of the more ‘southern’ Baptist churches I attended, he was not treated with kind words. Catholics believe the Pope is the Successor of Peter, the representative for all Christians and holds primacy of place among Bishops.
Baptists believe in local autonomy, although they pay to be part of an affiliated Baptist group (CBF, SBA, IFB … ) and no central Authority outside Holy Spirit and Scripture. Catholics look to the Magisterium for guidance and to protect and preserve the deposit of faith. Catholics have limited autonomy at the local level, but under the watchful guidance of the local Bishop.
Baptists fall into two categories for afterlife: Believer’s sleep, and total separation. Either we fall asleep until Christ returns or we’re totally separated in Heaven from Earth and cannot communicate with our Earthly brethren. Catholics believe we’re one body of Christ, in this world and the next. We believe that when we die we are immediately judged and those destined for heaven go through a purgation, a preparation for meeting Christ. If we die in a less-than-perfect state of Grace, though free of mortal sin, we’re cleansed and made ready to enter Heaven since nothing unclean can enter.
Baptists believe in Ordinances (Christ said do it, but that’s where it ends). So baptism, although an outward profession of faith in Baptist/Evangelical circles, is not necessary for salvation. Catholics believe it washes away the stain of original sin (1 Peter 3:18-21). There are two ordinances in Baptist faith (Marriage and Baptism) there are 7 Sacraments in Catholic faith: (Marriage, Holy Orders, Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, Eucharist, Confirmation, Confession).
And Baptists believe Mary was just another woman, destined to give birth to and raise the Christ child, but not worthy of reverence. I’ve actually heard a Sermon by an Evangelical Minister where he gave Rahab more honor than Mary, on Mother’s day no less. Catholic Christians believe that as the Mother of God (Christ = God, Mary = Christ’s Mom) that we can appeal to Mary and ask her to pray FOR us, not DO anything for us. She is ‘blessed among women’ and as is evident at the wedding at Cana, she has a special connection with Christ.
In my humble opinion those are the 5 core things that really stand out as our theological differences. I’m still a new Catholic (was Baptist for 27 years), so others may be able to add to/clarify any of these.
Seriously, that link I sent to “the 9 things that make us catholic” are the core beliefs of Catholics.
The core differences are:
Pope
Autonomy
Purgatory
Sacraments
Mary/Saints
Baptists generally believe the Pope to be a Christian, but he holds no place of authority for them. They do not regard his opinion as anything of value. In fact, in some of the more ‘southern’ Baptist churches I attended, he was not treated with kind words. Catholics believe the Pope is the Successor of Peter, the representative for all Christians and holds primacy of place among Bishops.
Baptists believe in local autonomy, although they pay to be part of an affiliated Baptist group (CBF, SBA, IFB … ) and no central Authority outside Holy Spirit and Scripture. Catholics look to the Magisterium for guidance and to protect and preserve the deposit of faith. Catholics have limited autonomy at the local level, but under the watchful guidance of the local Bishop.
Baptists fall into two categories for afterlife: Believer’s sleep, and total separation. Either we fall asleep until Christ returns or we’re totally separated in Heaven from Earth and cannot communicate with our Earthly brethren. Catholics believe we’re one body of Christ, in this world and the next. We believe that when we die we are immediately judged and those destined for heaven go through a purgation, a preparation for meeting Christ. If we die in a less-than-perfect state of Grace, though free of mortal sin, we’re cleansed and made ready to enter Heaven since nothing unclean can enter.
Baptists believe in Ordinances (Christ said do it, but that’s where it ends). So baptism, although an outward profession of faith in Baptist/Evangelical circles, is not necessary for salvation. Catholics believe it washes away the stain of original sin (1 Peter 3:18-21). There are two ordinances in Baptist faith (Marriage and Baptism) there are 7 Sacraments in Catholic faith: (Marriage, Holy Orders, Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, Eucharist, Confirmation, Confession).
And Baptists believe Mary was just another woman, destined to give birth to and raise the Christ child, but not worthy of reverence. I’ve actually heard a Sermon by an Evangelical Minister where he gave Rahab more honor than Mary, on Mother’s day no less. Catholic Christians believe that as the Mother of God (Christ = God, Mary = Christ’s Mom) that we can appeal to Mary and ask her to pray FOR us, not DO anything for us. She is ‘blessed among women’ and as is evident at the wedding at Cana, she has a special connection with Christ.
In my humble opinion those are the 5 core things that really stand out as our theological differences. I’m still a new Catholic (was Baptist for 27 years), so others may be able to add to/clarify any of these.
Seriously, that link I sent to “the 9 things that make us catholic” are the core beliefs of Catholics.
D
dcana
Guest
I have to respectfully disagree with this statement. I think most Protestants would agree with most of the Catechism. That’s not to say there aren’t many fundamentally significant differences. One of the problems with the question is the following question: “What, exactly, is a Protestant?” Essentially, their name gives away the answer. They are** not** Catholics, and they know they are not Catholics and that the Catholic Church is wrong, in one way or another, to one degree or another. This is essentially the only thing they all have in common. There are even huge differences in the understanding of the two slogans of the Revolt (oh, sorry, I mean “Reformation”): sola fide and sola scriptura. Sure, since there are tens of thousands of different denominations, you can probably find at least one that disagrees with just about every teaching of the Church (sort of).Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Protestant denominations seem to attack nearly everything the Church teaches, so you can read the CCC and assume they frequently teach the opposite.
The “sort of” I mentioned above is the one set of beliefs that we basically all share: Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox, namely, the fundamental truths concerning the nature of God Himself. That He is the Creator, is One God in Three Persons, is love and perfect truth/beauty/wisdom (etc), is omnipotent and omniscient, that the Father sent the Son to be the Redeemer of the world, along with other basic Christological doctrines, and so on. In my opinion, it is the radically different beliefs regarding these most basic of doctrines that makes Mormons and JW’s non-Christian, despite their protests to the contrary.
God Bless
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