NationStates Jolt Archive

What is the difference between Catholicism and Protestanism, as well as any other Christian sects, like Orthodoxy? I've wondered this for so long, yet no-one I've asked has ever known.

What is the difference between Catholicism and Protestanism, as well as any other Christian sects, like Orthodoxy? I've wondered this for so long, yet no-one I've asked has ever known.

I'm probably going to get stomped on by someone who knows better... but I thought the differences were to do with schisms over dogma and/or interpretations of the Bible and things like divine representation (ie not all sects accept the Pope, I believe).

Sorry, I'm sure you're looking for a more informed answer but that's the best I've got.

What is the difference between Catholicism and Protestanism, as well as any other Christian sects, like Orthodoxy? I've wondered this for so long, yet no-one I've asked has ever known.

For the Catholics and Orthodox, there is very little difference. The largest one is a matter of authority. The Catholics believe that the highest church authority is the Pope, while the Orthodox believe that the highest authority is the church council. There are also some minor issues, like the inclusion of some phrase (which escapes me at the moment) in the Nicene Creed.

Between Catholics and Protestants is quite different. Protestants take the Bible as the only source of power in the church, while Catholics include the church tradition as well. There are numerous other differences as well, which vary depending on which denomination were talking about here. The Anglicans are the most like the Catholics, and the Lutherans are also pretty close. This is all pretty well explained by teh way that the Reformation worked, and the ideas of the individual reformers (Luther, Calvin, etc).

some protestant secs also belive in a thing known as the "chosen" in which your desinty is already predetermine... weather you will go to heaven or hell.. those going to heaven have been forgiven of their sins before their birth thought to be pure and are most likely to act in a manner most like what jesus would have wanted.. while the rest (the majority) are damned no matter the action... others exclude certain sacraments which the Catholic church hold as vital ( repentance (protestants), baptisim (baptists), communion) ... also some secs dont belive in the virginity and holyness of Mary, jesus's mother.. For the cahtolic faith, she is a an extremely important figure often making great efforts to help those in need reach salvation even if they are not the purest of people. Some secs put more importance on Jesus while others almost ignore him and put it all on God himself... there are many differences between the secs..