Discussion: Catholics vs. Protestant

Question

Ok shanelynch, I'm going to step into your shoes for a little bit. I want to discuss and partially debate a pretty touchy subject. RELIGION - bum bum bum (scary music plays lol). Anyways, I want to know first, if you're Christian, Catholic, or neither. Why do you believe what you do? What do you believe is the difference between Catholicism and Christians? This is something that I (a non-denominational believer) was debating with a Catholic, but i'm open-minded and would like to hear everyone's opinions. Please feel free to speak freely, but friendly, from the heart, intelligently (factual), and of course keep in mind WWJD, that's the only rules. The lines are open, let's hear what everyone has to say...

Thanks,

DJ Huero ((( d(-_-)b )))

Closest explanation to my personal point of view: Quote from hisbookworm that I couldn't have said better myself:

"I am a Christian. I do not know a whole lot about Catholics, but unlike many other people who have commented on your post, I for the most part do not believe that Catholics are Christians, and that Christians are for the most part not Catholics. A "Christian" is someone who believes (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9) that Jesus Christ is God's Son, was sent by God to the earth to 'save the people from their sins'. (Matthew 1:21) They also believe that Christ died on the cross for the sins of the entire world, (Isaiah 53:5) was buried, and rose up from death on the the third day. (1 Cor. 15:3-4) That is to clear some things up about who/what a Christian is. I have nothing personal against certain religions, we're all just people (which I think is important to understand), but in most cases I do not believe that Catholics are Christians."

• yes...done. - DJ_Huero Nov 25, 2009
• Sorry, but you don't come across as open-minded. - Maureen-Earl Nov 25, 2009
• Why are we discussing this on Spandict?? - KoolKanine Nov 26, 2009
• Why not kool? - Heidita Nov 26, 2009
• Sorry, DJ, you got flagged, it is impossible to remove the "punishment", but I removed the flag of course. - Heidita Nov 26, 2009
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Answer 1

I am a Christian, but I am not a Catholic. I do not know a whole lot about Catholicism so I will not judge whether they are Christians or not. However a "Christian" is someone who believes (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9) that Jesus Christ is God's Son, was sent by God to the earth to "save the people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21) They also believe that Christ died on the cross for the sins of the entire world, (Isaiah 53:5) was buried, and rose up from death on the the third day. (1 Cor. 15:3-4) They believe that you can have a personal relationship with God and talk to him directly ( well, the Holy Spririt interprets for us, Rom. 8:26 ). They also believe a lot more, but I don't think I want to write out an essay on here about it. That is to clear some things up about who/what a Christian is. ( if any clearing up was needed) I think it is important to understand however that we are all just people (who are trying to learn Spanish/English!).

• What makes you think Catholics are not Christians? I am a Catholic, and I believe all of the things you said in this post that a Christian believes. Also, you might want to look up the statistics on how many Catholics and Protestants there are. - Maureen-Earl Nov 26, 2009
• I do not know a lot about Catholics, as i said, i was trying to clear up (in case there was clearing up needed) of who a Chistian was, so, maybe, it just the idea that i've always had in my head that Catholics aren't Christians - hlsbookworm Nov 26, 2009
• that is just my opinion, it may be faulty, but, i will have to look up info about the Catholic religion to actually base my ideas on facts that i have seen.... - hlsbookworm Nov 26, 2009
• as i said, i do not mean to "condemn" (for lack of a better word) any certain religion, we all have have the choice to choose whatever religion we feel is correct - hlsbookworm Nov 26, 2009
• OK--if you do look up info about Catholicism, I think you'll find it fits your definition of a Christian. :) - Maureen-Earl Nov 26, 2009
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Answer 2

DJ:

Let me write this very slowly so that you will understand it the first time. Roman Catholics ARE Christians.

A Catholic is a Christian. Not all Christians are Catholics.

There is no essential difference between catholicity and christianity since to be a catholic is to be a christian.

How could anyone discuss the difference between catholics and christians when to be the one is to be the other. It would be like identifying differences between black and black when both blacks are from the same paint can.

• I think you should take a look at hisbookworm's post, you see my response to this. - DJ_Huero Nov 27, 2009

Answer 3

Well, one thing is for sure...God's not going to ask us which church we went to. It does matter to Him, however, if we believe Him and if we follow what he says. He is quite clear in His instructions. We have free will, so we certainly can "get by" with disobeying Him while we live in the flesh, but ultimately, we won't get away with it. We don't close the books; God closes the books. Are Catholics Christian? Are Protestants Christian? Are half of the people who call themselves Christian really Christian? Looking at it from a human perspective, we give the term "Christian" a broad definition. I'm quite certain that God does not. In fact, I'm staking my eternity on it.

• I agree, and you're exactly right, if we follow what he said, not the Pope, or any priest for that matter. They are supposed to act as guidance, but only a real relationship with Christ will do the trick (sort of speak). =) - DJ_Huero Nov 27, 2009

Answer 4

DJ, this is like trying to debate the difference between Cars and Cadillacs.

• ok, adressed that. =) - DJ_Huero Nov 25, 2009

Answer 5

You ask the question why do I believe in what I believe in? I believe in Jesus Christ because I want to be saved by Him. When I say being saved by Him I really mean that I don't want to go to hell when I die. My Final destination is being in Heaven with Jesus Christ. And In order for one to go to heaven one must be a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ. This doesn't mean that I am not going to make any mistakes, it means that a person must not give up on having his or her faith in Jesus if he or she would like to go to heaven one day. John 3:16 for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but shall have everlasting Life. This scripture means that one must believe in Jesus in order for one to have heaven as his or her everlasting home.

• awesome, and thanks for the detail. I agree - DJ_Huero Nov 25, 2009
• I couldn't agree with you more, that is an awesome explaination - sirrocky12 Dec 9, 2009

Answer 6

This is a great question, but at the same time this can be a very controversal subject. And I hope I don't offend anyone by responding to this question in this way: True Christians and True Catholics are in the same boat because True Christians and True Catholics both are firm believers and followers of Jesus Christ. There is no big difference between a true Christian and a true Catholic because they both share the most important thing in common and that is that they both have Jesus in their lives.

Answer 7

First of all, I'm not Roman Catholic and have never been so. And I am not like some here who I believe are over-simplifying the definition of "Christian."

But "Christianity" has a definition that goes beyond acknowledging the historical person of Jesus and perhaps calling yourself a follower of him and his teachings.

Historically, Christians have believed the following:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic (universal) church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Catholics certainly believe all these things, and are certainly within the bounds of Christianity.

The statement that Catholics wrote their own Bible is absolutely untrue. Catholic Bibles include some additional material, but it is material that was written before the birth of Christ and has been in circulation within the Christian church since the beginning.

Catholics do hold that church tradition is of equal authority with scripture, a position that I believe is error. And it is that error that leads the the other errors- prayers to the saints, etc.But error doesn't disqualify them from being Christians, for if it does then we are all disqualified.

The fact is, Catholics hold to the core of the essence of Christianity, and are Christian just as much as the various protestant and evangelical denominations.

• If I can comment on my own post- Catholics wrote the creed I quoted above whichs defines Christianity. Shouldn't that answer the question? - Goyo Nov 28, 2009

Answer 8

Muslims consider Jesus another in the line of prophets, but not the Savior or Son of God. I am by no means an expert in this area, but I took a college course about Islam about the time of the revolution in Iran. The teacher was from Iran. She said Muslims considered the words of Jesus in their teachings.

I think religions by and large are the product of the thoughts of mankind.All of us embellish and distort the kernels of truth bestowed on us by enlightened beings/prophets or whatever word we may apply. Then we argue and fight wars over these man made embellishments and misinterpretations.As I recall Martin Luther may have been trying to strip some of these embellishments of man from the dominant faith in Europe at the time.

I try to see what a basic good or truth might be. And I am just human too. I do my best to be the best human being I can and hope things work out after my end.

One more point I forgot to make. The teacher in the course on Islam says Allah/God gave Mohommad the Quran because humankind was just too ignorant to understand and implement the more mystical message of Jesus' teachings.The Quran spells out explicit guidelines for behavior since it was too complicated for folks to think through the right way to be, behave, and treat each other.

Answer 9

I don't consider catholics christians, and many people I've grown up around and associate believe the same. That's the reasoning bhind the first title. Catholics kind of do the own thing and write there own Bible from what I've observed and looked into.

Just because you don't consider them Christian doesn't make it so. By definition, Christian means Christlike. There are many devout people of every denomination that are trying to live that lifestyle. And yes we all do stumble. As far as their bible goes, they have books they consider cannon that protestants don't.

• Yes but the "catholic faith" doesn't directly follow the Bible (Christ's word), if anything they only study it. But if you call that Christlike, then you have Muslims qualifying too, and they certainly aren't. lol - DJ_Huero Nov 25, 2009
• And by study I mean read it like just another book. - DJ_Huero Nov 25, 2009
• What do you mean when you say Catholics don't "follow" the Bible? Do you have anything specific in mind when you say that? - Maureen-Earl Nov 26, 2009
• Well, first, they pray/worship Mary, when last time I recalled Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross for your sins, not her. He said to worship him, and none other. - DJ_Huero Nov 27, 2009
• Yes, you are completly right DJ Huero. Mary is not God. - sirrocky12 Dec 9, 2009

Answer 10

I think you mean the difference between protestants and Catholics.

There is only one real difference, protestants pretty much think we are all in touch with God while Catholics believe the pope is the closest person to god, followed by the priests.

The Catholics also believe that instead of praying directly to God you can pray to other people, saints or the mother of Jesus, and have them use their sway with God to convince him to do what you please. Sort of like in the odyssey when Achilles asks his mother to convince Zues to help him punish Agamemnom and restore his own honor and treasure.

If you live in the U.S.: Protestantism has also been the preferred religion of the dominant group in the U.S. since its creation. They have mostly looked down on Catholics and Jews because they were afraid that one of these two religions would take over because when immigrants from one country come in mass numbers they often take their religion with them, this is one reason why the second wave of Irish had so much difficulty assimilating. The feared allegiance to the pope only makes things worse. How can you be an American when you listen to the Pope?

There really isn't that big of a difference.

• I highly respect this, and this really has to be my favorite so far. I wouldn't call it being afraid, and I definently don't look down on anyone, but there's been tension. Jews are Christs people though, he was the "king of the jews". - DJ_Huero Nov 25, 2009
• Catholics don't believe that the Pope is "closer" to God than anyone else. Everyone is a child of God (whether they want to be or not, but that's a different thing altogether...). The pope acts as a representative of Jesus (established in Mt 16: 18). - Maureen-Earl Nov 25, 2009
• Also, I'm personally offended at your misconception of praying to saints as a way to "sway" God. Praying to saints is a form of communication that Catholics commonly believe in, but it is no substitute for praying to God. - Maureen-Earl Nov 25, 2009
• (Also, Peter as the first Pope is confirmed in John 21 by Jesus after the Resurrection.) - Maureen-Earl Nov 25, 2009
• John 21:20-22 - DJ_Huero Nov 27, 2009
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Answer 11

They have been known to re-write God's word (I guess to suit there beliefs) and call it the Bible. - DJ_Huero

DJ Huero: ¿Alguna vez has leído algún pasaje de una Biblia "Católica" y compararla contra una Biblia "Protestante" para ver las diferencias? Asumo que ambas están a la venta en las librerías.

• Aún y cuando provengo de una familia católica, no voy a defender a ultranza las acciones del Papado. La Iglesia Católica, como cualquier otra institución creada y manejada por seres humanos, ha estado sujeta a las pasiones de sus dirigentes a través de la historia.

• Debemos recordar que la Reforma Protestante fué un proceso que tuvo lugar durante la primera mitad del siglo XVI, cuando la Iglesia Católica ya llevaba 1500 años de existencia, por lo que, junto con la Iglesia Anglicana y la Iglesia Ortodoxa, comparten una gran base común de creencias y valores.

• La humanidad se podría haber ahorrado tantas guerras y masacres innecesarias si cada quien aprendiera a ponerse en los zapatos del vecino y tolerar las diferencias de opinión. Aún estamos a tiempo.

• Well said Mokay, (As a beginner espagnol estudiante, I was pleased to be able to understand most of what you wrote) Anyways, your answer seems to me to be the most "Christian" --Gary - garytruckey Nov 25, 2009
• Concuerdo contigo. Jesus es verbo y no sustantivo. ;) - EdiOswaldo Nov 25, 2009

Answer 12

I have been in taxis all over South America. I can state for a fact (from my own experience) that the more religious artifacts a taxi-driver has in his cab, ie statues, crucifixes etc., the more likely it is that he will cheat you with the fare. My survey may be unscientific, but my knowledge comes from many years of being "ripped-off".

• jajaja, thanks for breaking the ice. - DJ_Huero Nov 27, 2009

Answer 13

I thought Catholics were Christian?

Answer 14

There are mamy points of difference between what Catholics believe and what others such as Baptists, or Persbyterians, or Pentecostals, etc.

Catholics have seven sacraments, the participation of which is essential to your being saved or on your way to heaven. Such sacraments are baptism, by a R.C. priest, confession, Holy Eucharist (communion) and other such which according to Catholics are essential to be saved, and even then no one is sure. There is also the matter of the teachings of the Church being as authoritative as the Bible.

For most Fundamentalist Protestants such as Baptist, the only authority is the Bible. Infant baptism is not valid---one must be "born again" and know it. An infant is incapable of that. Furthermore the infant/child is in a state of grace until he/she reaches the "age of accountablilty" when one becomes responsible for one's sins.

Becoming a Christian for the Baptist and those of similar faith, is not a matter of being born into a church. One must make a choice to be born again or not.

Both groups revere Jesus Christ and honor the Virgin Mary and other saints, but Catholics regard them in a way that others do not.

There has been a lot of hard feelings and warfare over whose teachings are right, but all these groups consider themselves Christian, even as Shiites and Sunnis and Wahabis all consider themselves true Muslims while at war with each other.

• The 7 sacraments are each a special interaction between God and His people that he gave to us as a gift. They are not believed to be mandatory to get into Heaven, but if you love God and are a Catholic, you'll probably participate in at least 2 of them.. - Maureen-Earl Nov 26, 2009
• ...in your lifetime (Baptism and Communion). It would be very difficult to be able to participate in all 7 in your lifetime, especially because that would require you to either be a Protestant pastor who converts to Catholicism or a widower who becomes.. - Maureen-Earl Nov 26, 2009
• ...a priest since 2 of the sacraments are Matrimony and Holy Orders (the sacrament through which a single man becomes a priest, although a Protestant pastor who is already married can also become a priest). How do Catholics regard Mary and the Saints... - Maureen-Earl Nov 26, 2009
• ...in a different way than Protestants do? I know that Catholics have special days to honor them and are even supposed to go to Mass for some of Mary's special days, but as far as I know, the main difference between the way Catholics and Protestants... - Maureen-Earl Nov 26, 2009
• ...regard Mary and the other Saints (I should have said "other Saints" earlier, too, my bad) is that Catholics believe that we can communicate with the Saints in Heaven in a similar way to the way we pray to God although since they're only human it... - Maureen-Earl Nov 26, 2009
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Answer 15

Simply stated a christian is one who believes in and follows the teachings of Christ Jesus. Catholics as well as Protestants (Baptist, Methodist, etc.) are considered christians. Some non christian religions are Judaism, Islam, Buddhism.