Catholics vs. Protestants?

1. Most Protestants don't believe in consubstantiation (that the bread and wine is BOTH bread and wine *and* body and blood) instead of transubstantiation (the bread and wine at some spiritual level cease to be bread and wine and become wholly Body and Blood) and instead believe that the bread and wine remain just bread and wine... and that's it.

2. Yes, they do. But there's a difference in how we use the term. Catholics and Protestants both use the term 'saint' to mean all believers, as that is what is said in the Bible. Catholics have an additional definition of 'Saint' which is 'someone we know is in heaven.' We will all be Saints in Heaven someday, God willing.

3. Err... The wholly realized Catholic and Protestant positions are actually very similar, with slight differences in focus. The Catholics believe that works are a necessary part of faith, and that without works, faith cannot flourish (Faith without works is dead). Protestants believe that works flow from a healthy faith (Faith without works is dead), but that faith comes first, followed by works, rather than faith and works co-occurring. Its... really not that different. That said, the 'simplified' version of 'if one believes, one will be saved' is... very hard to defend biblically.

4. As the Mother of Jesus. This... is a hard question to answer as many Protestants view her very differently, although if you are asking about non-denominationals, by and large they have rather negative views about her as a reaction against the 'Catholic idolatry' (also Anglican, Lutheran, Orthodox, etc etc etc) of her.

5. Ranges, again, from 'cool guy' to 'anti-christ.' Although not *every* Pope can be the antichrist... obviously.

6. Nondenominationals do not. Some of the more high-church Protestants (anglicans, lutherans) do.

7. Not for non-denoms, unless you count the Jesus Prayer. For the high-church ones, yes, although usually not all 7 that the Catholics have.

8. Singing, a sermon, a donation. There is no liturgy to speak of, just whatever the worship leader and pastor feel like doing that particular day.

9. No.

And... let me correct you on your third update. Mary and the Saints are *not* Mediators. There is only one mediator, and that is Jesus. Mary and the Saints are Intercessors, in that they intercede (pray for us) to Jesus and the Father. Its an important distinction.

You're likely to get a unique answer to each of those questions for every protestant you ask. Protestantism isn't a religion, it's a category of an ever growing number of religions that obstinately reject the authority of the Catholic Church and deny a need to be obedient to that Church which Christ founded.

But, in my experience, most protestant people don't really recognize that. Most are probably just what they were raised to be. Or they joined something that was shown to them without much study into the differences. They're good people leading good lives, in-line with their consciences.

Many of my protestant friends had been told many of the common Catholic myths -- saint worship, earning heaven, etc., etc., etc. But, generally, if you're able to dialog with someone about their beliefs and yours, it doesn't take long to clear up misconceptions.

Your #3 doesn't sound quite right--we cannot "save ourselves" if that's what you meant. But, yes, as James 2:24 says, we are saved by works and *not* faith alone. Incidentally, Luther didn't like James (the book). It is by God's grace that we are given faith. We must then continue to work with God's grace to do His will and accept the salvation that He gives us. God never *owes* us Heaven because we did x, y and z.

1. Catholics believe in transubstantiation but Protestants don't. Why do Protestants believe in consubstantiation?

We don't believe in magic but that Jesus intended it to be symbolic. Lutherans still follow the Catholic line though.

2. Catholics pray to saints. I know Protestants don't, but do Protestants believe in saints or no? Someone told me Protestants regard all those following Jesus as saints, but I find that hard to believe (correct me if I'm wrong, but it doesn't sound like a Protestant belief)

We believe are all saints, we are just not cannonized. Most of don't include "Latter Day Saints" in the group. Prayers go directly to God. Your side looks to saints or saint wannabes to perform miracles. I am amazed that your miracles are all medical and they overlook the fact that non Catholics can have miraculous cures too. I get the newsletter from a Protestant orphanage and special education school that I donate money to on a regular basis. They constantly report results that can only be described as miracles. I think your side has lost track of what miracles really are.

3. Catholics believe in salvation by grace, meaning you are saved if you do corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Protestants believe it's by faith alone, why? I'll give you a math answer: Infinity minus X = Infinity where X is greater than zero. It has to be by faith because you will never deserve salvation because of works. No matter how many you perform it will not be good enough to warrant eternal salvation and no matter how much evil you do it is not bad enough to warrant eternal damnation. Mother Theresa is at the top of the heap for doing good works but that's still not enough for eternity. There have been a lot of evil people who would deserve a long time in purgatory but not forever.

4. How do Protestants regard Mary?

I'll let others have their own opinion but I don't hold her with the same ultra high regard that Catholics do. She was blessed among women to bear the Savior but, in my view. has done nothing of particular note on her own.

5. How do Protestants regard the Pope? I know they don't follow him, but I was curious the view point

He is your boss and obviously very influential. When the current one took the name Francis I knew he was going to be someone who is going to toss a hand grenade into the middle of the Vatican.

6. Do Protestants believe in limbo and purgatory?

No. The saved get a free pass.

7. Are there any sacraments in Protestantism?

Just baptism and communion.

8. In general non denomination Christianity, are there any certain things that are done at every service?

Update :

Yes. Services seem to follow a pattern but not with the sameness of the mass.

9. Do Protestants have Holy Days of Obligation? In Catholicsm in the U.S it's:

Latin Rite dioceses of the United States of America, in conformity with canon 1246, are as follows:

January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, the solemnity of the Ascension

August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

November 1, the solemnity of All Saints

December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

December 25, the solemnity of the Nativ

No. That's one of your rules.

Update 2: Any help would be appreciated! I'm just super curious!

1. Catholics believe in transubstantiation but Protestants don't. Why do Protestants believe in consubstantiation?

John chapter 6. Jesus was not speaking literally. He explains Himself later in the chapter. It begs the question why then Catholics insist He was being literal.

2. Catholics pray to saints. I know Protestants don't, but do Protestants believe in saints or no? Someone told me Protestants regard all those following Jesus as saints, but I find that hard to believe (correct me if I'm wrong, but it doesn't sound like a Protestant belief)

Saints are not God. We pray to God. Our relationship is with God, and not dead saints. All believers are referred to as saints in Scripture.

3. Catholics believe in salvation by grace, meaning you are saved if you do corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Protestants believe it's by faith alone, why?

One of the many methods of deception is to redefine words, terms, and concepts. Grace is the condition a believer is in where sin is not taken into account. Believers are dead to sin, freed from sin. Grace has nothing to do with your works. We claim salvation through faith only, because that is the message of the gospel. One either believes the gospel as revealed in Scripture, or they do not. If they do not, the often alter the gospel so as to fit their pre-conceived beliefs regarding salvation. There is no salvation associated with believing a false gospel.

4. How do Protestants regard Mary?

Jesus' earthly mother.

5. How do Protestants regard the Pope? I know they don't follow him, but I was curious the view point

Your religious leader and head, who is not infallible when it comes to theological belief and practice.

6. Do Protestants believe in limbo and purgatory?

No.

7. Are there any sacraments in Protestantism?

Yes.

8. In general non denomination Christianity, are there any certain things that are done at every service?

They are free to worship God as they see fit. Some are structured and follow a pattern, and some do not.

Do Protestants have Holy Days of Obligation?

No. There are no sacred days in the New Covenant dispensation. There cannot be, and be consistent in regards to the gospel.

H.

At 17 I would say you have your whole life ahead of you. As a Bible teacher and elder in the church I will give you some free advice, read and study the Holy Bible and soon you will know what and who to believe. You should know the Apostles Creed which is the declaration of the christian faith, think about it's contence and fill your heart with the knowledge of the ' word of God ' The Bible.

Remember one thing, THE MAIN THING; " If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." [ Romans 10:9-10 ]

Your redemption depends on one thing your relationship and faith in Jesus the Christ. Not the Saints, not the virgin Mary, and not the Pope. It depends on you and your obedience to God and the personal relationship you have with Jesus. Good luck little Brother, may God bless you.

I am a Protestant Christian. I believe that we are saved by grace alone, not by works(Ephesians 2:8-9). We receive the grace through faith alone, in Christ alone(Galatians 2:16). Good works are an evidence of salvation, but they don't have any saving merit. I believe that water baptism is something that is done AFTER we're saved, and that baptism cannot save. It is something a Christian does as a testimony to others that we have put our faith in Jesus. It symbolizes what already happened in our heart, that we died to our sins, and were raised into a new life in Jesus. It also symbolizes that our sins were washed away(by Christ). We don't believe in limbo or purgatory since they are not taught anywhere in the Bible. The Bible only teaches there is a Heaven and a Hell. In communion, the bread symbolizes the body of Christ which was broken for us, and the wine symbolizes His blood that was shed for us. They are only symbols, for us to remember what Christ did for us. They don't actually become Christ's body and blood. We don't pray to saints. We pray directly to God the Father. We don't believe that the Pope or church tradition have any authority. We believe that Scripture alone is authoritative. We believe that if a person repents and receives Jesus as their Savior and Lord, He will come into their heart, save them, forgive them, and give them eternal life. Salvation is by grace alone, not by works(Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation can never be lost(John 5:24). Good works and obedience are the result of having the Holy Spirit within us. They cannot save. Only God's grace saves. We believe that Jesus paid the full penalty for our sins on the cross .For more info: http://www.christianity.com/

The maim problem with the Catholic Church is the Catholics put their teachings above the Word of God.

Example:

Psalms 14:3

There is no one who does good, not even one.

Romans 3:12

There is none who does good,

There is not even one.

If no one does good, not even one, then everybody has sinned. If everybody has sinned then Mary also was a sinner. But yet the Catholics ignore what God says and teaches that Mary was sinless.

The problem with the Catholics is they are putting their teachings above the Truth from God. How can a person say they are following Jesus when they teach lies from Satan as Truths from God? They cannot! There is ONLY one source of Truth from God and it is the Bible written by the Holy Spirit.

This is why Martin Luther fought against the false teaching from the Catholic Church.

You talk about protestants as if that is the name of a denomination. There are 100 different Protestant denominations, each believing different things regarding the questions you ask. Only Lutherans believe in consubstantiation, and not even all Lutherans. The rest believe communion is just symbolic or a metaphor of body and blood.

They're two sides to the same Penal Substitutionary Atonement/Scholasticism coin.

There really is no important difference between them. Protestantism is the natural next step forward in Catholic theology.

Become Eastern Orthodox instead.

At 17 I would say you have your whole life ahead of you. As a Bible teacher and elder in the church I will give you some free advice, read and study the Holy Bible and soon you will know what and who to believe. You ...show more