What is the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism?

[Jesse Mccree]

Hello,
I am curious about the major differences between Catholic and Protestant churches.

What did protestant reformers like Martin Luther find wrong about the Roman Catholic Church?
How are they different in beliefs?
Do they believe in the same Bible?
Why do Catholic churches honor Mary while Protestant mostly don't?
Where and how did the Catholic church find evidence of purgatory? Why doesn't the Protestant church believe in the existence of purgatory?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kenny]

Hello,
I am curious about the major differences between Catholic and Protestant churches.

What did protestant reformers like Martin Luther find wrong about the Roman Catholic Church?
How are they different in beliefs?
Do they believe in the same Bible?
Why do Catholic churches honor Mary while Protestant mostly don't?
Where and how did the Catholic church find evidence of purgatory? Why doesn't the Protestant church believe in the existence of purgatory?

Thanks in advance.

Some beliefs are the same and some aren't.. I'm sure we can go into great depths but an overall look:

1) Martin Luther found that scriptures said that righteousness was a free gift and that you didn't have to "give to the church for your sins and/or the sins of those who have passed away". Probably the most important difference (in the time of Luther). It has changed somewhat since then, if I am not mistaken
2) Catholic belief system holds that when the Pope gives an edict, it is from God. Protestants don't.
3) Protestants will hold to the word and not to tradition while Catholics will also hold to tradition (I believe)
4) Protestant hold Mary in high esteem but not that she was immaculate as Catholics would hold to. Additionally, Catholics believe she remained a virgin while protestants won't hold to that position.
5) Same Bible but Catholics will hold to the position that the Apocrypha is also scripture while protestants will hold that it is just historical but not scripture
6) Protestants don't believe in purgatory because we believe that the payment for sins was already paid for.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

What did protestant reformers like Martin Luther find wrong about the Roman Catholic Church?

I think the rituals.

How are they different in beliefs?

Roman Catholics believe one can only come to the full body of christ through Baptism and participating at the Lord's Supper. They believe the relationship with christ is communal: they worship as a body and body traditions are just as important as scriptural ones.

Many, not all protestants, believe that the source of coming to the full body of christ is through study and/or following the teachings of the bible. It's built on the individual relationship with christ: they follow christ individually and worship is not as important as scriptural obedience.

Do they believe in the same Bible?

They believe in the same gospels. Their interpretations are extremely different.

Why do Catholic churches honor Mary while Protestant mostly don't?

Catholics (I can't speak for all) believe Mary is Jesus' Mother and because she is Jesus' Mother and no one else's, they give her more respect.

Protestants (I can't speak for all) believe the only person who deserves reverence is jesus christ and no one else.

Why doesn't the Protestant church believe in the existence of purgatory?

Because a lot of the founders of many protestant churches feel its umbilical. Catholicism is a tradition based church. Traditions of different teachings are seen as sacred just as those in the bible since they believe the former is dependent on the latter.

That's the informative version. If you want debate, you can ask to slide this to the religious debates section.

 

[Kenny]

PS

When I say "Catholics", I am referring to the general position of the Church. There are Catholics who will be varying degrees of Protestant beliefs but remain in the Catholic church.

 

[Kenny]

Payment for sins isnt for everyone. 'For whoso believeth', not everyone. Unless you mean one way ticket to hell, otherwise, then, yeah.

I'm sure there are varying positions but I believe it is "for whosoever believeth in Jesus". Sins are paid for except it isn't manifested in your life until you believe. (Even that position would have nuances. I'm glad that God decides and not man)

I seem to find scriptural support for my position but there are varying positions in any belief system

 

[metis]

Us Catholics are far better looking and much better lovers.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Payment for sins isnt for everyone. 'For whoso believeth', not everyone. Unless you mean one way ticket to hell, otherwise, then, yeah.

Since ' death ' is the price tag that sin pays according to Romans 6:23,7 then yes, ' death payment ' for sins is for everyone.
If we could stop sinning we would Not die, because we can't stop sinning we die.
As far as a one-way ticket to hell: I find Jesus went to hell the day he died as per Acts of the Apostles 2:27.
If biblical hell is a one-way ticket then Jesus would still be in hell.
So, I wonder to which ' hell ' you are referring. The Bible's hell, or some religious-myth hell taught as being Scripture.
Since Jesus and the OT teach ' un-conscious sleep in death ', then biblical hell is just mankind's stone-cold temporary grave for the sleeping dead. Even the word cemetery means ' sleeping place ' Not torture place.
- John 11:11-14; Psalms 6:5; Psalms 13:3; Psalms 115:17; Psalms 146:4; Isaiah 38:18; Ecclesiastes 9:5

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Hello,
I am curious about the major differences between Catholic and Protestant churches.

Dogma.

 

[Woberts]

inb4 the OP is a high school student or something and he's getting us to do his homework for him.