The Main Differences & Similarities Between Protestantism & Catholicism

Up until about four years ago I had never had any experience with Catholicism. Then I met a lady at work who teaches the Catholic instructional classes at her church and we became fast friends. After sitting down to a long lunch one day we worked out a list of the basic Differences & Similarities between Protestantism & Catholicism

Through our conversation I became aware of three major differences between Protestantism & Catholicism:

1) Purgatory

According to Wikipedia purgatory is:

"Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for Heaven."

Catholics believe that a person's soul goes to purgatory before it goes to heaven, while Protestants believe that a person's soul is immediately present before God for judgment upon death.

2) Prayers To Saints

SYL.com explains that Catholicism holds that departed brothers and sisters in Christ, which they refer to as "Saints," can intercede for them and offer prayers to God on their behalf.

Protestantism teaches that no such intercession is necessary as we have full and unimpeded access to God our father at all times. Protestantism further instructs that according to Deuteronomy 5:8 the Bible teaches that Christians should not worship or pray to any "graven images" or "idols" which would prevent them from praying to the statues or images of "Saint."

3) Priests

Religionfacts.com defines a "Priest" as a mediator between God and man. A mediator intercedes or comes between two parties, to plead before one of them on behalf of the other. "Mediation" means a standing in the midst between two (contending) parties, for the purpose of bringing them together.

Catholicism teaches that this is necessary because God has a problem with our sin that creates a barrier between us and God so that we cannot come into his presence until this barrier is removed. According to Catholic tradition, God appoints priests for us to go through to come to God and relate to him.

Protestantism teaches that no such mediation is necessary as we have full and unimpeded access to God our father at all times. We can talk to, pray to, or come into the presence of God freely and at any time. The sacrifice of Jesus' life upon the cross is seen by Protestants as the final sacrifice necessary to be made by our "High Priest" Jesus. It is seen as the ultimate and everlasting atonement which forever removes the barrier between us and God.

I also became aware of several similarities between Protestantism & Catholicism:

1) Free Will

Both Protestantism & Catholicism teach that, while man has a sin nature, they have the free will to choose to do evil or good. They both further hold that one should ask for Gods help at all times to know which actions are the right ones and should pray for guidance and strength when attempting to change bad habits or improve themselves.

2) Result of Adam's Original Sin

Both Protestantism & Catholicism believe that the result of Adam's original sin in the Garden was that man became corrupt and from then on inherited a sin nature (or became prone to preferring to sin)

3) Jesus

Both Protestantism & Catholicism believe that Jesus Christ was and is the only Son of God and that Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins and provide salvation.

4) Trinity

Both Protestantism & Catholicism teaches of the trinity of God. Clarifying Christianity defines the trinity as the belief that God is one being represented by three distinct parts: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three parts of God are separate, with separate duties and responsibilities yet they are all one and equally God.

During our conversation we were able to compare our differences in a civil manor. I became aware that there were substantially more differences that there were similarities between Protestantism & Catholicism. It was still refreshing to find that there were still a few similarities that remained. If people focus more on how we are similar rather than different, I think there can be a great many learning opportunity out there for us all.

Religionfacts.com
SYL.com
Clarifying Christianity