12 Simple Differences Between Catholics and Protestants
The rapid rise of the “Nones” — those unaffiliated with religious groups — was back in the news this week, when the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released its most recent study on American religiosity. Here’s what Pew had to say:
The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pace. One-fifth of the U.S. public – and a third of adults under 30 – are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever in Pew Research Center polling… Their ranks now include more than 13 million self-described atheists and agnostics (nearly 6% of the U.S. public), as well as nearly 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation (14%).
In addition, the group emphasized that, for the first time in history, there is no Protestant majority in the United States. That is, Protestants have dropped to 48 percent, whereas they comprised 53 percent of the public as recently as 2007 — a drop of 5 percent in five years. (Catholics, by comparison dropped 1 percent during the same time period — to 22 percent). As you all know, Protestants are Christians who broken off from the Catholic Church 500 years ago. Although there are more than 33,000 (!!) Protestant denominations, all of them still operate in ways that are separate and distinct from the Catholic Church. But what are the differences, really? I mean, all Christians Churches hold the same core value: Jesus Christ was the son of the God who died for our sins, arose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. Isn’t the rest just window-dressing?
Well, here, you decide.
Twelve Differences Between Catholics and Protestants:
1. The Pope. Catholics have a Pope, which they consider a vicar for Christ — an infallible stand-in, if you will — that heads the Church. Protestants believe no human is infallible and Jesus alone heads up the Church.
2. Big , Fancy Cathedrals. Catholics have them; Protestants don’t. Why? Catholicism says that “humanity must discover its unity and salvation” within a church. Protestants say all Christians can be saved, regardless of church membership. (Ergo… shitty, abandoned storefront churches? All Protestant.)
3. Saints. Catholics pray to saints (holy dead people) in addition to God and Jesus. Protestants acknowledge saints, but don’t pray to them.
4. Holy Water. Catholics only.
5. Celibacy and Nuns. Catholics only.
6. Purgatory: Catholics only.
7. Scripture: The be-all, end-all for Protestants is “the Word of God.” For Catholics, tradition is just important as scripture — maybe even more so.
8. Catechism: Protestant kids memorize the Bible. Catholic kids get catechism.
9. Authori-tay: In Catholicism, only the Roman Catholic Church has authority to interpret the Bible. Protestants hold that each individual has authority to interpret the Bible.
10. Sacraments: Catholic are the only ones to have the concept of the seven sacraments (baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, and matrimony). Protestants teach that salvation is attained through faith alone.
11. Holidays: Catholics have 10 Holy Days of Obligation (which mean they must go to Mass). Protestants are more like, “Just come to church on Christmas, that’s all we ask.”
12. Communion: In Catholicism, the bread and wine “become” the body and blood of Jesus Christ, meaning that Jesus is truly present on the altar. In Protestantism, the bread and wine are symbolic.
This post originally appeared in October 2012.
Perhaps not big enough for your list, but there’s also the Lord’s Prayer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0thRUS1wUw
There seems to be some problems about what I as a catholic believe. First, we believe the Pope is ONLY infallible when he teaches a public doctrine. Second, we have large cathedrals not because we think we need gold and stuff to worship God. The fact is we have been around for 2,000 years (founded by Christ) so we have had a long time to build these magnificent cathedrals. When have all this fancy stuff to worship God because he deserves to be worshipped with the most costly of stuff. Third, we don’t pray to saints as if we worship them. We pray that they may pray to God for us, because they are with Him. Fourth, Our kids do not just study the Catechism and not the bible. The catechism would not have existed without the bible. So of course we read the bible. Fifth, We DO believe that at mass the bread and wine are transformed (not in appearance, smell, or taste) into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. I encourage anyone wishing to learn more about the Catholic faith for any reason to visit: http://www.catholicscomehome.org
Thanks and God Bless!!!
Thanks, Jake. I didn’t see any contradictions here to what I wrote in my blog, but for the word “worship” being used in connection with saints. Not sure that’s inaccurate technically speaking, but I’ve changed it to “pray” just to be safe. Thanks for weighing in!
Protestants do not think, “Just come to church on Christmas, that’s all we ask.” Protestants don’t have required days of attendance, but you’ll never catch a truly faithful protestant of any variety claiming that church on Christmas is a no-fail way to heaven. In fact, service, faith, and a deep relationship with Christ is much more accurate. Your interpretation of Protestants made me a little sad.
Thanks for writing; I meant no offense. While this post was intended to be taken on the lighter side, it’s also accurate — at least historically so. Please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_fide for more information on the Protestant “by faith alone” doctrine. It’s central to the church and distinguishes it from Catholicism more than anything else. It’s unfair to say “truly faithful Protestants” attend church regularly. In fact, I think there are plenty of faithful Protestants who don’t attend church at all.
Hi – saw this blog linked on the Washington Post. Just wanted to point out that #10 is inaccurate. In most cases it is impossible for everyone to receive all 7 sacraments. Holy orders (being ordained a priest; for men only) and matrimony are mutually exclusive. The only one “required” for salvation is baptism. Also, one receives the sacraments, one does not perform them.
The only way it would be possible for someone to receive all 7 would be if a man was married, then his wife died and he subsequently became a priest. Not a common scenario.
Thanks so much! Have edited No. 7 to reflect your comment.
Once heard Christianity described as-”The only firing squad that stands in a circle.”
I refused to stand anymore in “The Holy Huddle” and argue over esoteric nonessentials as I observed the world going to hell.
One shift in ER during my residency where saw 3 rape victims. Oldest was 10 years, the youngest 10 months….meanwhile deeply religious people argue over superficial items like which baptism is best or which communion is correct.
As JC said-People will strain at passing a gnat while swallowing a camel.
I realize these are meant as a simple guide but they have some issues.
The pope isn’t considered infallible, this is a common protestant misunderstanding. Only ex-cathedra pronouncements are considered infallible, and even these have been clarified or altered through history.
Also there’s more than one pope. The orthodox church has a pope (the pope and patriarch of alexandria).
There are non-catholic cathedrals. The anglican (episcopal) church has plenty.
There are non-catholic nuns (anglicans again as well as orthodox).
Other churches have catechism, though it’s more prominent in catholicism.
You’re right though that I don’t know of any protestant denominations that believe in transubstantiation.
Hmmm. Well, the infallibility thing is a tough one. I understand there is some debate about whether doctrine or authority figures can be truly infallible, but it’s my understanding that the “infallibility” of the church is a basic and fundamental difference between Catholics and Protestants.
As for Orthodox or Anglican churches, those are indeed Christian denominations, but they aren’t Protestant. Even Episcopalians seem borderline!
Having said that, you are right about the cathedrals. It’s not technically true that Catholics are the only Cathedral-builders. But, for the record, Protestants are the only ones who operate storefronts.
Absolutely. Any infallibility is tricky, especially when you have 2k years of history in which to be fallible. I think there’s a difference between the pope being infallible and church doctrine being infallible.
The anglican/episcopalian church is a tricky one. It’s not catholic but you’re right it did not come out of the protestant reformation though it certainly has protestant aspects. I think the anglican communion generally considers itself a middle way encompassing people of both protestant and catholic beliefs.
The orthodox church mostly just gets ignored in the US as though it doesn’t exist. But the orthodox church is pretty big and has been around a long long time.
Oh one other thing that’s quite catholic-specific is the view that there is no remission of sins without confession (I don’t recall how important this is in the orthodox church).
Unsure if I’ve told these denominational jokes before-sorry if repeats.
Jews don’t recognize Jesus. Protestants don’t recognize the Pope. Baptists don’t recognize each other in the liquor store….
The drought has been so bad this summer; for baptism-the Baptists have started sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-ones, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water.
Why don’t Baptists make love standing up? God forbid someone might see them and think they are dancing!
I feel like there would be a lot of variation in the different Protestant churches. Are there any who do things like Communion or the like?
Yes, Protestant churches do communion; they just see the bread/wine as symbolic. And how often they take communion varies from church to church, whereas in Catholicism it’s part of the Sunday Mass. There are, of course, variations within Protestantism — lots of them! But this list deals with over-arching differences, which should (unless I’ve screwed up something!) be true for all denominations.