Catholics vs. Protestants: a different perspective
Submitted by Splash! on 2002-09-20 03:42:49, Friday
In reply to From someone currently studying catholicism submitted by Drifter on 2002-09-19 08:44:21, Thursday
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I don't have the time to do this, but since no one has given the other view, I guess I will, trying not to turn this into a debate. Please understand that I'm only giving statements, and that my tone of voice is neither angry nor sarcastic. The fundamental difference between catholicism and protestantism is the catholic belief of bible + tradition vs the protestant belief of bible only. Protestants (a misnomer by the way) consist mainly of Christians who measure everything by the Scriptures, but the Catholic Church states that it alone has the authority to interpret scriptures. Unlike Protestants, Catholics do not view the Bible as greater or equal to tradition. The catholic church was the only christian church for many years... Protestants believe there have always been Christians outside the Catholic church since the time of Jesus, oftentimes having to go underground or else be killed as martyrs by non-believers or others who believed themselves to be Christians. [Catholics] claim to be able to trace their church back to the times of Jesus... Protestants claim that the Catholic church was brought into being in 312 A.D. by Roman Emperor Constantine as a way to end tensions between pagans and Christians through merging their two religions. The pope is the person they believe holds the position once held by Peter (whom Jesus gave the duty of founding the church)... Protestants do not believe that Jesus handed the authority of the "church" over to any man; though, power has been made available to Christians through the Holy Spirit by the Name of Jesus. For that reason, catholics believe that they hold an authority granted by God that other churches do not have. Protestants (though identifying with many denominations) believe that the One True Church is a "body of believers" all across the world who believe their salvation is in Jesus alone and that He alone has all authority. Catholics also realize that the bible is something they themselves put together in the council of Nicea... Protestants believe the final books of the Bible were written almost three hundred years before the formation of the Catholic Church, and they include scripture that don't mention the Catholic Church or any member of the Catholic order besides bishops who must be married. [Catholics believe] that christianity predates the bible. Therefore, their emphasis is not on the bible only but also on the traditions they have kept alive from the early years and on the decisions of the Pope (whom they believe holds authority granted by God by virtue of being Peter's successor). Protestants believe that if Catholicism predates the Bible that the Bible should include many of the traditions of the Catholic Church. It doesn't. [Protestants] believe that the catholic church strayed from the truth... Protestants believe that from the beginning the Catholic Church never had the Truth. [Protestants believe that] Martin Luther brought true christianity back to the forefront by breaking from the catholic church and promoting the beleif in the bible as the only source of truth. Many Protestants do not believe that they came out of or broke from the Catholic Church -- only that Luther brought the tradition vs. Bible controversy to the forefront; though, he still held onto some Catholic practices. Calling non-Catholics "Protestants" implies a break from the Catholic Church; however, Protestants do not believe the first church was the Catholic Church, but instead that the first churches were groups of believers who met in homes studying the words of Jesus and the teachings of the early apostles. There are many differences in the way catholics worship vs the way protestants worship and in many of their beleifs (such as prayer for the intercession of saints or Mary). Catholics believe that Christ Himself instituted seven sacraments (religious practices) and that the first five of these are indispensable for salvation, the main one being baptism into the Catholic Church. Protestants don't believe in what they'd call "ritualistic" religious practices. But all of these differences boil down to the fundamental difference of whether you accept the bible as the only source of truth, or if you accept the bible + the traditions handed down by Peter and his successors (all the way down to the current Pope). Protestants believe the main difference is whether our salvation is made complete in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross or whether our salvation is a work in progress that can only be completed by ourselves, mainly through sacraments, suffering, and Purgatory. Catholics believe the latter and do not believe that Jesus' work was complete. Protestants believe salvation is through grace by faith in Christ alone. |
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