Oh, my. So many comments. I apologize, I don't mean to come in here and step on any body's feet, so forgive me
for I'm a Catholic (and most Catholics step on people's toes unknowingly). I am a Catholic. I was baptized
Presbyterian, grew up in the Lutheran teachings, I currently work with many Protestants actively (Baptists,
Evangelicals, etc), however I was raised to be a Scientist. I will always be a scientist, but I am also Catholic. I
attend both Roman and orthodox Catholic Churches.
Quote by vatican92I was just
wandering how they were different. I'm a protestant so I don't really know much about
Catholics.
I'm would very much like to answer all of your questions (If you permit me to debate), with references to support
my statements. However this will take time and many posts. But I encourage comments and debate and I will try and answer
everyone's questions, protestant, Catholic, or Atheist.
Many of you are saying a lot of half truths. Well, they are more like slivers of truth. I'm not saying that these
beliefs don't separate the denominations, but more that no one here has addressed the root of the problem, the true
issue which sets the bigger picture into focus. You see, it does bother me. It's the duty of a Protestant minister
to explain the beliefs of their faith, and the factual differences between them. It's the duty of a Catholic to
know his or her own faith fully, which much of my generation does not (age 0-50). And when I see comments as many of
those mentioned above, I know, I KNOW, the Protestant ministers are not doing their job. Catholics are not following
their faith. And then both sides point fingers at each other saying "I was a .(religion A)., but now I am a
.(religion b), therefore .(religion b). is better and always will be better than .(religion a)."
NEWSFLASH: You are responsible for you own beliefs. If you don't research,
test, and truly believe in your own understandings of faith and morals, than you are doing an injustice to
yourself.
Truth is, Martin Luther, the great reformer, was very just in standing up against the Pope of his time, and might I say
very "Catholic" in doing so. The Great Reformation should not have created the great schism that it did.
It's really what's been happening afterwards that has created the schisms. You see, if Lutherans would truly
follow the faith of Martin Luther, they would be closer to the Catholic faith than they realize.
-----------------
So, to get back to the subject, "What is the difference between Protestants and
Catholics?" One word, Eucharist.
Eucharist is what we call the body and blood of Jesus Christ. To elaborate, when the priest consecrates (blesses by
transformation) the bread and wine at the altar (table), Catholics no longer believe this is just bread and wine
anymore. We truly believe that this IS Jesus Christ's real body and his real blood, even though all we see is bread
and wine. This is why we "protect" the Eucharist that is left over after the mass (church service). We place
the Eucharist in a tabernacle (a box, usually made of precious metals and locked). More about this in other
posts.
Protestants do not believe in the true presence of Jesus in their communion (blessing of bread and wine). They believe
it is a symbol and nothing more. They do have valid arguments to support this claim. First, they believe Christ died on
the cross once, and for all time. Therefore it is not needed to be repeated again and again. Like Jewish law teaches,
eating people is cannibalism and is forbidden. Finally, a good protestant theologian will argue their interpretations of
the gospel points to "symbolism" in the last supper (Jewish passover supper). They will make reference to
other uses of symbolism used in other passages from old testament teachings to support their claims.
This difference is THE ROOT issue of our current separation. This argument in belief begins the spawning of other ideas
and beliefs throughout the Protestant history. Yet, and I make this a strong point, the Catholic Church is the the ONLY
Church that has never added, modified, or removed Doctrine (more on Doctrine in other posts) since the churches
beginning. Other Protestant churches are always changing their doctrines. To prove my point, Martin Luther believed in
the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Now, it is not part of Lutheran doctrine.
Pop Quiz: Who formulated the Catholic Doctrine?
My Catholic Rebuttal to the Protestant: I love to hear a good Protestant
theologian give the numerous passages and testimonies on how cannibalism is wrong, the Jews were against this and that,
etc. because it sets themselves up for the downfall of their own logic. They will probably reference John 6:48-50, and of course some other
gospels saying "see, it is bread, nothing more" And yet, they stop there. Go back and keep reading. Keep
reading all the way through to John
6:51-69. Throughout the whole dialog, Jesus is saying, "For my FLESH IS MEAT INDEED, and my BLOOD IS DRINK INDEED"(John 6:55)!(Note: I am referencing the Protestant's well
accepted "King James" version of the bible) Of course, it says his body and blood is body and blood a
throughout John 6:51-69. But here in
that verse, Jesus wants to make crystal clear what he means. Protestant:
"but but, this is not Jewish, it goes against God's word. The Jews would not have done this." Catholic: CORRECT! 100% Correct! Keep reading... John 6:60-61 Jesus's disciples basically said WTF! In John 6:66, they left Jesus. Remember Jesus
came to Jerusalem on ass being praised. But then Protestants wonder, "why did they change their attitude, only to
put Jesus to death?" Hello! This was the point they turned away. This is the point they started to second guess
Jesus and his teachings. Do you seriously think his disciples would have walked away from Jesus if he had really meant
just symbolism through ordinary "bread and wine?" NO! To them, he WAS talking about cannibalism. And finally
John 6:67-68, "Then said Jesus unto
the twelve, 'Will ye also go away?' Then Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast
the words of eternal life." Only the 12, er 11 Apostles stayed with him. And then Judas betrayed him, etc etc. Is
this starting to make a little more sense?
One more thing, how about the argument of celebrating the Eucharist "multiple times" as opposed to one. Well,
this is a concept that the Protestants have a hard time comprehending. You see, Catholics also believe that the
Eucharist is only celebrated once, only once and for all time. But then how can one celebrate the Eucharist over and
over again? Well, this is an example of Church doctrine getting changed by the protestants because of a lack in the
faith of mystery (more on this in another post). Catholic doctrine teaches the Eucharist can only be celebrated once,
yet once through many and all celebrations of the Eucharist for all time. For many generations this has been a mystery,
but for those with a simple grasp of time travel & higher dimensions, one can understand: if a being is outside our
current space-time, that being can make one object appear in many places at many points in time, and yet still be the
same, one, object. But maybe protestants don't believe in theoretical physics, or Einstein either(^_^)
Well, that was a lot, and if you read all of this, I sincerely thank you. Please feel free to comment, question, and
debate. I welcome all. And I hope this is the beginning to answering your question. ;)
merged: 12-01-2005 ~ 11:39pm
Hello, I'm back again. Nobody has commented on my previous post. Either many people are contemplating over my
statements, or the people flat out don't care. Oh well, I said I would be back to post more info, so here I
am.
Quote by vatican92I know
Catholics have a pope and the Vatican (my username!) but how do Catholics believe they go to heaven? Protestants by
believing in Jesus and accepting into our heart. ....Are Catholics and Protestant really different enough to be
considered to be called a different religion?
If your protestant minister has been teaching you this (or leading you to believe this in so many words, same
difference) then I apologize. You see, Christianity is a religion, as too Shinto, Muslim, Buddhism, etc. But
Catholicism, Lutheran, Baptist, Seventh-day Adventist, etc, are all Denominations of Christianity. How do Catholics
believe we get to heaven? The same as all Christians do, by following the teachings of Jesus Christ and accepting him in
your hearts as the true Son of God.
How people have interrupted Jesus's teaching is where we get into various denominations. People throughout history
has disagreed with the teaching of Catholic church, (the very first church I might add, founded by Jesus Christ, which
no other denomination can claim. If you don't believe me look it up in any almanac) and it has always been for one
reason:
People have disagreed with Church doctrine. This has happens from three
angles:
- People didn't understand the interpretation, therefore disagree
- People were mislead as to the true interpretation (Catholic clergy, lay people, and non-catholics are to blame, and
still to blame for it today)
- People disagree because it conflicts with their own personal morals (like hot topics: divorce and annulment)
Quote by vatican92I
don't really like the idea of Vatican though because the members of the Vaticans are humans too. They aren't
special or more likely to go to heaven.
That's right, they too are human. You can talk to them :) They are not anymore special than you or I, or the pope,
or your minister, or the president, ....or are they? It depends are your definition of "special."
In the field of Physics, Einstein was special. In the field of leadership, President Kennedy was special. In the field
of Basketball, Michael Jordan was special. Those who have 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 year college degrees are all special. Those in
our armed forces are special. So, why can't priests, monks, nuns, etc be special too just like ministers?
You see, there is something about this that narrows one's focus on the term "special." It's because
we are taking about the field of God. The afterlife. The difference between eternal damnation of pain and suffering or
eternal glory of peace and tranquility. We all want to go to heaven. And when we understand a single cell of truth about
heaven, we are want to proclaim our beliefs as true and if necessary break the minds of those who do not conform to our
own idea's and understandings of that truth. Am I being harsh? Think about it. How many times have you said,
"You just don't understand," or "your dumb, you're going to hell," or even just shake your
head and think those things? I admit I've done it too. And to this day the whole reason there still is not a single
religion is because we are all neglecting the one attribute that so many teachers of other religions, including Jesus
Christ has continuously tried to teach us....Love, love through forgiveness and patience. Or, as in Jesus's words,
the greatest of all commandments is to love God. The second, "...is to love thy neighbor as thyself." And then
all other commendants would fall into place.
In my opinion, I would want people to have patience with me and forgive me all of my transgrations, so I can learn to be
the same kind of person for others. As an example, the next time a car cuts me off instead of giving him/her the finger
or my angry put-downs, instead I remember to say a prayer that his/her day goes better, that God may take theer anger
and stress away. Something more to think about.
