Differences between Orthodoxy Catholicism and Protestantism. Protestants and Catholics what is the difference
Until 1054, the Christian church was one and indivisible. The split was due to disagreements between Pope Leo IX and the Patriarch of Constantinople Michael Cyrular. The conflict began due to the last closure of several Latin churches in 1053. For this, papal legates excommunicated Kirularia from the Church. In response, the patriarch anathematized the papal envoys. In 1965, mutual curses were lifted. However, the schism of the Churches has not yet been overcome. Christianity is divided into three main areas: Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism.
Eastern Church
The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, since both of these religions are Christian, is not too significant. However, there are still some discrepancies in the doctrine, the performance of the sacraments, etc. We will talk about which ones a bit later. First, we will make a short review of the main directions of Christianity.
Orthodoxy, called the orthodox religion in the West, currently professes about 200 million people. Every day, about 5 thousand people take baptism. This trend of Christianity has spread mainly in Russia, as well as in some countries of the CIS and Eastern Europe.
The baptism of Russia took place at the end of the 9th century on the initiative of Prince Vladimir. The ruler of a huge pagan state expressed a desire to marry the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Vasily II, Anna. But for this he needed to adopt Christianity. An alliance with Byzantium was urgently needed to strengthen the authority of Russia. At the end of the summer of 988, a huge number of Kiev residents were christened in the waters of the Dnieper.
Catholic Church
As a result of the split in 1054, a separate denomination arose in Western Europe. Representatives of the Eastern Church called it "Catholicos." Translated from Greek, this means "universal." The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism lies not only in the approach of these two Churches to certain dogmas of Christianity, but also in the history of development itself. The Western denomination in comparison with the Eastern is considered much more rigid and fanatical.
One of the most important milestones in the history of Catholicism, for example, was the Crusades, which brought a lot of grief to the common population. The first of them was organized at the call of Pope Urban II in 1095. The last - the eighth - ended in 1270. The official goal of all the Crusades was the liberation from the infidels of the "holy land" of Palestine and the "Holy Sepulcher." The actual is the conquest of lands belonging to Muslims.
In 1229, Pope George IX issued a decree establishing the Inquisition - a church court for apostates from the faith. Torture and burning at the stake - this is how extreme Catholic fanaticism in the Middle Ages was expressed. In total, more than 500 thousand people were tortured during the inquisition.
Of course, the difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy (this will be briefly discussed in the article) is a very large and deep topic. However, the attitude of the Church towards the population in general terms of its tradition and the basic concept can be understood. The Western denomination has always been considered more dynamic, but at the same time aggressive, in contrast to the “calm” orthodox.
Catholicism is currently the state religion in most European and Latin American countries. More than half of all (1.2 billion people) of modern Christians profess this religion.
Protestantism
The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism lies in the fact that the former has remained unified and indivisible for almost a millennium. In the Catholic Church in the XIV century. there was a split. This was connected with the Reformation - the revolutionary movement that arose in Europe at that time. In 1526, at the request of German Lutherans, the Swiss Reichstag issued a decree on the right of citizens to freely choose a religion. In 1529, however, it was canceled. As a result, a number of cities and princes followed a protest. This is where the word "Protestantism" came from. This Christian direction is subdivided into two more branches: early and late.
At the moment, Protestantism is prevalent mostly in the Scandinavian countries: Canada, USA, England, Switzerland, the Netherlands. In 1948, the World Council of Churches was created. The total number of Protestants is about 470 million people. There are several denominations of this Christian trend: Baptists, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Calvinists.
Nowadays, the World Council of Protestant Churches has an active peacekeeping policy. Representatives of this religion advocate the relaxation of international tension, support the efforts of states in defense of peace, etc.
The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism and Protestantism
Of course, over the centuries of schism, significant differences have arisen in the traditions of churches. The basic principle of Christianity - the acceptance of Jesus as the Savior and the Son of God - they did not touch. However, in relation to certain events of the New and Old Testaments, there are often even mutually exclusive differences. In some cases, the methods of conducting various kinds of rites and sacraments do not converge.
Orthodoxy | Catholicism | Protestantism |
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Control | Patriarch, Cathedral | World Council of Churches, Councils of Bishops |
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Organization | Bishops are little dependent on the Patriarch, they are subordinate mainly to the Council | There is a strict hierarchy with subordination to the Pope, hence the name "Ecumenical Church" | There are many faiths that have created the World Council of Churches. Scripture is placed above the authority of the pope |
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Holy Spirit | It is believed that he comes only from the Father | There is a dogma that the Holy Spirit comes from both the Father and the Son. This is the main difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism and Protestantism. |
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It is accepted that man himself is responsible for his sins, and God the Father is a completely dispassionate and abstract creature. | It is believed that God suffers from human sins |
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Dogma of Salvation | The crucifixion atoned for all the sins of mankind. Only the original is left. That is, when a new sin is committed, a person again becomes the object of God's wrath | Man was, as it were, “redeemed” by Christ through the crucifixion. As a result, God the Father changed anger to mercy for original sin. That is, a person is holy by the holiness of Christ himself |
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Sometimes resolved | Are forbidden | Allowed but disapproving of them |
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The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin | It is believed that the Virgin is not delivered from original sin, but her holiness is recognized | The complete sinlessness of the Virgin Mary is preached. Catholics believe that she was conceived immaculately, like Christ himself. Concerning the original sin of the Virgin, in this way, quite significant differences are also made between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. | |||
The taking of the Virgin to heaven | Unofficially, it is believed that this event may have occurred, but it is not enshrined in dogmas | The taking of the Virgin to heaven in a physical body is a dogma | The cult of the Virgin Mary is denied |
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Only liturgy is held | Both Mass and similar to the Orthodox Byzantine Liturgy can be held. | The mass was rejected. Divine services are held in modest churches or even in stadiums, in concert halls, etc. Only two rites are practiced: baptism and communion |
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Clergy marriage | Allowed | Only allowed in the Byzantine rite | Allowed |
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Ecumenical Councils | Based on the decisions of the first seven | Guided by decisions 21 (the latter took place in 1962-1965) | Recognize the decisions of all Ecumenical Councils, if they do not contradict each other and the Holy Scriptures |
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Eight-pointed with crossbars below and above | Used a simple four-pointed latin cross | Not used in worship. Representatives of not all faiths carry on themselves |
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Used in large quantities and equated with scripture. Created in strict accordance with church canons | They are considered only decoration of the temple. They are ordinary religious paintings | Not used |
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Old Testament | Both Jewish and Greek are recognized. | Greek only | Only Jewish canonical |
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Absolution | The ceremony is held by a priest | Not allowed |
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Science and religion | Based on scientists, dogmas never change | Dogmas can be adjusted in accordance with the point of view of official science | |||
Christian cross: differences
Disagreement over the descent of the Holy Spirit is the main difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. The table also shows many other, albeit not too significant, but still discrepancies. They arose long ago, and it seems that not one of the churches expresses a special desire to resolve these contradictions.
There are differences in the attributes of different areas of Christianity. For example, the cross of Catholics has a simple quadrangular shape. The Orthodox - eight-pointed. The Orthodox Eastern Church believes that the crucifix of this type most accurately conveys the shape of the cross described in the New Testament. In addition to the main horizontal bar, it contains two more. The top personifies the tablet nailed to the cross and containing the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews." The lower slanting crossbeam - a support for the feet of Christ - symbolizes the "measure of righteousness."
Cross differences table
The depiction of the Savior on the crucifix used in the Sacraments is also something that can be attributed to the theme of “the difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism”. The western cross is a bit like the eastern cross.
As you see, in relation to the cross, there is also a noticeable difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. The table shows this clearly.
As for the Protestants, they consider the cross a symbol of the Pope, and therefore practically do not use it.
Icons in different Christian directions
So, the difference between Orthodoxy from Catholicism and Protestantism (the table of comparisons of crosses confirms this) in relation to attributes is quite noticeable. Even greater discrepancies in these directions are in the icons. The rules for depicting Christ, the Mother of God, saints, etc., may differ.
Below are the main discrepancies.
The main difference between the Orthodox icon and the Catholic one is that it is written in strict accordance with the canons established in Byzantium. Western images of saints, Christ, etc., strictly speaking, have nothing to do with the icon. Typically, such paintings have a very broad plot and are written by ordinary, non-church artists.
Protestants consider the icons a pagan attribute and do not use them at all.
Monasticism
With regard to avoiding worldly life and devoting oneself to the service of God, there is also a significant difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism and Protestantism. The comparison table presented above shows only the main discrepancies. But there are other differences that are also quite noticeable.
For example, in our country, each monastery is practically autonomous and is subordinate only to its own bishop. Catholics have a different organization in this regard. Monasteries are united in the so-called Orders, each of which has its own chapter and its own charter. These associations can be scattered throughout the world, but nonetheless their leadership is always common.
Protestants, in contrast to the Orthodox and Catholics, reject monasticism altogether. One of the inspirers of this teaching, Luther, even married a nun.
Church Sacraments
There is a difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism in respect to the rules for various kinds of rites. In both of these Churches, 7 sacraments are accepted. The difference is primarily in the significance attached to the main Christian rites. Catholics believe that the sacraments are valid regardless of whether the person is tuned to them or not. According to the Orthodox Church, baptism, anointing, etc., will be effective exclusively for believers who are fully disposed to them. Orthodox priests even often compare Catholic rites with a kind of pagan magical ritual that operates regardless of whether a person believes in God or not.
The Protestant church practices only two sacraments: baptism and communion. Representatives of this direction consider everything else to be superficial and reject.
Epiphany
This is the main Christian sacrament recognized by all churches: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism. Differences exist only in the methods of the ceremony.
In Catholicism, infants are usually sprinkled or doused. According to the dogmas of the Orthodox Church, children are completely immersed in water. Recently, there has been some departure from this rule. However, now the ROC is again returning in this rite to the ancient traditions established by the Byzantine priests.
The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism (crosses worn on the body, like large ones, may contain the image of an “orthodox” or “western” Christ) in relation to the fulfillment of this sacrament is thus not very significant, but it still exists.
Protestants usually perform the rite of baptism also with water. But in some faiths it is not used. The main difference between Protestant baptism and Orthodox and Catholic is that it is held exclusively for adults.
Differences in the Sacrament of the Eucharist
The main differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism are considered by us. It refers to the descent of the Holy Spirit and to the integrity of the birth of the Virgin Mary. Such significant discrepancies have appeared over centuries of schism. Of course, they exist in the conduct of one of the main Christian sacraments - the Eucharist. Catholic priests make communion only with bread, and unleavened. This church product is called cachets. In Orthodoxy, the sacrament of the Eucharist is held by wine and ordinary yeast bread.
In Protestantism, not only members of the Church are allowed to receive communion, but also anyone who wishes. Representatives of this direction of Christianity conduct the Eucharist in the same way as Orthodox Christians - with wine and bread.
Modern Church Relations
The split of Christianity occurred almost a thousand years ago. And during this time, churches of various directions failed to agree on unification. Disagreements regarding the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, paraphernalia and rites, as you see, have survived to this day and even intensified over the centuries.
The relations of the two main faiths, Orthodox and Catholic, are also quite ambiguous in our time. Until the middle of the last century, serious tension remained between the two churches. The key concept in the relationship was the word "heresy."
Recently, this situation has changed a bit. If before the Catholic Church considered Orthodox Christians almost a bunch of heretics and schismatics, then after the Second Vatican Council recognized the Orthodox Sacraments as valid.
Orthodox priests have not officially formalized a similar attitude to Catholicism. But the completely loyal adoption of Western Christianity has always been traditional for our church. However, of course, some tension between Christian trends still persists. For example, our Russian theologian A. I. Osipov does not treat Catholicism too well.
In his opinion, there is more than noteworthy and serious difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Osipov considers many of the saints of the Western Church almost crazy. He also warns the Russian Orthodox Church that, for example, cooperation with Catholics threatens Orthodox complete submission. However, he also repeatedly mentioned that among Western Christians there are wonderful people.
Thus, the main difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism is its attitude to the Trinity. The Eastern Church believes that the Holy Spirit comes only from the Father. Western - both from the Father and from the Son. There are other discrepancies between these faiths. However, in any case, both churches are Christian and accept Jesus as the Savior of mankind, the coming of which, and, consequently, Eternal life, are for the righteous inevitable.
Recently, many people have developed a very dangerous stereotype that supposedly there is not much difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, Protestantism. Some people think that in reality the distance is significant, almost like heaven and earth, or maybe even more?
Others that nthe Orthodox Church kept the Christian faith in purity and intact, just as Christ revealed it, as the apostles conveyed, how ecumenical councils and church teachers consolidated and explained, unlike Catholics, who distorted this teaching with a mass of heretical errors.
Still others, in the 21st century, that all faiths are wrong! There cannot be 2 truths, 2 + 2 will always be 4, not 5, not 6 ... Truth is an axiom (not requiring proof), the rest is a theorem (until it can be proved it cannot be recognized ...).
“There are so many Religions that are so different, do people really think that“ TAM ”on top of the“ Christian God ”sits in the next room with“ Ra ”and everyone else ... So many versions say that they are written by a person, and not by“ higher power "(what kind of state with 10 constitutions ??? What kind of president failed to approve one of them all over the world ???)
"Religion, patriotism, team sports (football, etc.) give rise to aggression, all the power of the state rests on this hatred of" others ", of" not that "... Religion is no better than nationalism, only it is covered by a curtain of peace and doesn’t hit right away, but with far greater consequences .. "
And this is only a small part of the opinions.
Let's try to calmly consider what are the fundamental differences between the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant religions? And are they really that big?
For centuries, the Christian faith has been attacked by adversaries. In addition, different people attempted to interpret Scripture in their own way at different times. Perhaps this was the reason that the Christian faith divided over time into Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox. They are all very similar, but there are differences between them. Who are Protestants and how do their teachings differ from Catholic and Orthodox?
Christianity is the largest world religion by the number of adherents (about 2.1 billion people worldwide), in Russia, Europe, North and South America, as well as in many countries of Africa, it is the dominant religion. Christian communities exist in almost all countries of the world.
The basis of Christian doctrine is faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of all mankind, as well as in the trinity of God (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit). It originated in the 1st century A.D. in Palestine and after several decades began to spread throughout the Roman Empire and within its sphere of influence. Subsequently, Christianity penetrated into the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, missionary expeditions reached the countries of Asia and Africa. With the beginning of the great geographical discoveries and the development of colonialism, it began to spread to other continents.
Today, there are three main areas of the Christian religion: Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism. The so-called ancient Eastern churches (the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian and Indian Malabar Orthodox churches), which did not take the decisions of the IV Ecumenical (Chalcedon) Council of 451 years, stand out as a separate group.
Catholicism 
The split of the church into Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) occurred in 1054. Catholicism is currently the largest in terms of the number of adherents of Christian dogma. It is distinguished from other Christian faiths by several important dogmas: the Immaculate Conception and the Ascension of the Virgin Mary, the doctrine of purgatory, indulgences, the dogma of the infallibility of the actions of the Pope as the head of the church, the assertion of the authority of the Pope as successor of the Apostle Peter, the indissolubility of the sacrament of marriage, the veneration of saints martyrs and blessed ones.
Catholic doctrine speaks of the descent of the Holy Spirit from God the Father and from God the Son. All Catholic priests make a vow of celibacy, baptism occurs through the libation of water on the head. The sign of the Cross is done from left to right, most often with five fingers.
Catholics make up the majority of believers in Latin America, Southern Europe (Italy, France, Spain, Portugal), in Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Malta. A significant part of the population professes Catholicism in the USA, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Latvia, Lithuania, the western regions of Ukraine and Belarus. There are many Catholics in the Middle East in Lebanon, in Asia in the Philippines and East Timor, and in part in Vietnam, South Korea and China. The influence of Catholicism in some countries of Africa is great (mainly in the former French colonies).
Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy was originally subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople, now there are many local (autocephalous and autonomous) Orthodox churches, the highest hierarchs of which are called patriarchs (for example, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia). Jesus Christ is considered the head of the church; there is no figure like the Pope in Orthodoxy. The institute of monasticism plays a large role in the life of the church, but the clergy is divided into white (non-religious) and black (monastic). Representatives of the white clergy can marry and have a family. Unlike Catholicism, Orthodoxy does not recognize dogmas about the infallibility of the Pope and his supremacy over all Christians, about the descent of the Holy Spirit from the Father and from the Son, about purgatory and about the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary.
The sign of the Cross in Orthodoxy is done from right to left, with three fingers (three-fingered). In some currents of Orthodoxy (Old Believers, co-religionists) they use double-edgedness - the sign of the Cross with two fingers.
Orthodox make up the majority of believers in Russia, in the eastern regions of Ukraine and Belarus, in Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Macedonia, Georgia, Abkhazia, Serbia, Romania, and Cyprus. A significant percentage of the Orthodox population is represented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, parts of Finland, northern Kazakhstan, some states of the USA, Estonia, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan and Albania. There are also Orthodox communities in some African countries.
Protestantism
The formation of Protestantism dates back to the 16th century and is associated with the Reformation, a broad movement against the rule of the Catholic Church in Europe. In the modern world there are many Protestant churches, whose single center does not exist.
Among the initial forms of Protestantism, Anglicanism, Calvinism, Lutheranism, Zwinglianism, Anabaptism, and Mennonite stand out. Subsequently, such movements as Quakers, Pentecostals, Salvation Army, Evangelists, Adventists, Baptists, Methodists and many others developed. Such religious associations as, for example, Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses, some scholars attribute to Protestant churches, others to sects.
Most Protestants recognize the general Christian dogma from the trinity of God and the authority of the Bible, however, unlike Catholics and Orthodox, they oppose the interpretation of Scripture. Most Protestants deny icons, monasticism and veneration of saints, believing that a person can be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Some of the Protestant churches are more conservative, some are more liberal (this difference in views on marriage and divorce is especially visible), many of them are active in missionary activity. Such a branch as Anglicanism, in many of its manifestations, is close to Catholicism; currently, the question of recognition by the Anglicans of the authority of the Pope of Rome is underway.
Protestants are in most countries of the world. They make up the majority of believers in the UK, USA, Scandinavian countries, Australia, New Zealand, and there are many of them in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, and Estonia. An increasing percentage of Protestants are observed in South Korea, as well as in such traditionally Catholic countries as Brazil and Chile. Own branches of Protestantism (such as, for example, kimbangism) exist in Africa.
COMPARATIVE TABLE OF RELIGIBLE, ORGANIZATIONAL AND CERTAIN DIFFERENCES OF ORTHODOXY, CATHOLICITY AND PROTESTANTISM
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ORTHODOXY AND PROTESTANTISM: WHAT DIFFERENCE
How did the branches
The Orthodox Church kept intact the truth that the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the apostles. But the Lord Himself warned His disciples that from among those who would be with them, there would appear people who would like to distort the truth and muddle it with their inventions: Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, and inside are cruel wolves (Matt. 7 , 15).
And the apostles also warned about this. For example, the apostle Peter wrote: you will have false teachers who introduce destructive heresies and, rejecting the Lord who has redeemed them, will bring themselves quick death. And many will follow their debauchery, and through them the path of truth will be reproached ... Leaving the straight path, they have lost their way ... they have prepared the darkness of eternal darkness (2 Pet. 2 , 1-2, 15, 17).
Heresy is understood as a lie, which a person follows consciously. The path that Jesus Christ has opened requires selflessness and efforts from a person to show whether he really entered this path with a firm intention and love of truth. It’s not enough just to call yourself a Christian, you have to prove that you are a Christian by your deeds, words and thoughts, with your whole life. He who loves the truth, for the sake of it, is ready to abandon all lies in his thoughts and his life so that the truth can enter into it, purify and sanctify it.
But not everyone embarks on this path with pure intentions. And then the subsequent life in the Church reveals their unfit mood. And those who love themselves more than God, fall away from the Church.
There is a sin of deed - when a person by deed violates the commandments of God, and there is a sin of the mind - when a person prefers his lie to Divine truth. The second is called heresy. And among those who called themselves Christians at different times, both people devoted to the sin of the act and people devoted to the sin of the mind were identified. One and the other person resists God. If one and the other person made a firm choice in favor of sin, he cannot remain in the Church, and falls away from it. Thus, throughout history, all who chose sin have left the Orthodox Church.
The Apostle John spoke of them: They left us, but were not ours: for if they were ours, they would have remained with us; but they went out, and after that it was revealed that not all of our
(1In. 2
, 19).
Their fate is unenviable, because the Scripture says that the devotees heresies ... The kingdoms of God do not inherit (Gal. 5 , 20-21).
Precisely because a person is free, he can always make a choice and use freedom either for good, choosing the path to God, or for evil, choosing sin. This is the reason that false teachers arose and those who believed more than Christ and His Church arose.
When heretics appeared, introducing a lie, the holy fathers of the Orthodox Church began to explain to them their errors and called for abandonment of fiction and appeal to the truth. Some, being convinced by their words, were corrected, but not all. And of those who persisted in lies, the Church pronounced its judgment, testifying that they are not true followers of Christ and members of the community of faithful founded by Him. So the apostolic council was executed: Heretic after the first and second admonitions, turn away, knowing that such has been corrupted and sin, being self-condemned (Tit. 3 , 10-11).
There were many such people in history. The most common and numerous of the communities founded by them that have survived to this day are the Monophysitic Eastern Churches (they arose in the V century), the Roman Catholic Church (which fell away from the Ecumenical Orthodox Church in the XI century) and the Churches that call themselves Protestant. Today we will consider that the path of Protestantism differs from the path of the Orthodox Church.
Protestantism
If a branch breaks off from a tree, then, having lost touch with vital juices, it will inevitably begin to dry out, lose its leaves, become brittle and easily break at the first onslaught.
The same is evident in the life of all communities that have separated from the Orthodox Church. Just as a broken branch cannot keep leaves on itself, so those who are separated from genuine church unity can no longer maintain their inner unity. This is because, having left the family of God, they lose touch with the life-giving and saving power of the Holy Spirit, and the sinful desire to resist the truth and put themselves above others, which led them to fall away from the Church, continues to act among the fallen themselves, turning already against them and leading to ever new internal divisions.
So, in the XI century, the Local Roman Church separated from the Orthodox Church, and at the beginning of the XVI century a significant part of people separated from it, following the ideas of the former Catholic priest Luther and his associates. They formed their own communities, which they began to consider the "Church." This movement is collectively called Protestants, and their separation itself is called the Reformation.
Martin Luther. Portrait
In turn, the Protestants also did not maintain internal unity, but began to divide even more into different currents and directions, each of which claimed that it was the real Church of Jesus Christ. They continue to share to the present day, and now there are more than twenty thousand of them in the world.
Each of their directions has its own particularities of dogma, which could be described for a long time, and here we restrict ourselves to analyzing only the main features that are characteristic of all Protestant nominations and which distinguish them from the Orthodox Church.
The main reason for the emergence of Protestantism was a protest against the teachings and religious practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
As St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) notes, indeed, “many errors crept into the Roman Church. Luther would have done well if he, having rejected the errors of the Latins, replaced these errors with the true teaching of the Holy Christ Church; but he replaced them with his delusions; some misconceptions of Rome, very important, were quite followed, and some strengthened. " “Protestants rebelled against the ugly power and divine popes; but since they acted on the prompting of passions, drowning in debauchery, and not with the direct aim of striving for the holy Truth, they did not prove worthy to behold it. "
They rejected the erroneous idea that the Pope was the head of the Church, but retained the Catholic delusion that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son.
The scripture
Protestants formulated the principle: “only the Scriptures”, it means that authority is recognized only by the Bible, and they reject the Holy Tradition of the Church.
And in this they contradict themselves, because the Holy Scripture itself indicates the need to honor the Holy Tradition coming from the apostles: stand and hold the traditions that you have taught, either by word or message to our (2 Thess. 2 , 15), writes the apostle Paul.
If a person writes a text and distributes it to different people, and then asks to explain how they understood it, then it will surely turn out that someone understood the text correctly and someone incorrectly, putting their meaning in these words. It is known that any text has different options for understanding. They may be true, or they may be wrong. The same with the text of the Holy Scripture, if you tear it from the Holy Tradition. Indeed, Protestants think that understanding the Scriptures is necessary as anyone wants. But such an approach cannot help find the truth.
Here is how St. Nicholas of Japan wrote about this: “Sometimes the Japanese Protestants come to me and ask me to explain some part of the Holy Scripture. “Yes, you have your own missionary teachers — ask them,” I tell them. “What do they answer?” - "We asked them, they say: understand, as you know; but I need to know the true thought of God, and not my personal opinion" ... We have something wrong, everything is light and reliable, clear and durable - because we are apart from the Holy The Scriptures are also accepted as Holy Tradition, and Holy Tradition is a living, uninterrupted voice ... of our Church from the time of Christ and His Apostles to this day, which will be until the end of the world. It affirms the whole of Scripture. ”
The apostle Peter himself testifies that no prophecy in Scripture can be resolved by itself, for never a prophecy was uttered by the will of man, but God's holy men spoke it, being moved by the Holy Spirit(2 Pet. 1 , 20-21). Accordingly, only the Holy Fathers, moved by the same Holy Spirit, can open to a person a true understanding of the Word of God.
Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition constitute one indivisible whole, and so it was from the very beginning.
Not in writing, but verbally, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the apostles how to understand the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament (Luke 24 , 27), and they also verbally taught the first Orthodox Christians. Protestants want to imitate the early apostolic communities in their organization, but in the early years the early Christians did not have the New Testament scripture at all, and everything was passed from mouth to mouth as a tradition.
The Bible was given by God to the Orthodox Church, it was in accordance with Holy Tradition that the Orthodox Church approved the composition of the Bible in its Councils, and it was the Orthodox Church that, before Protestants appeared, lovingly preserved the Holy Scriptures in their communities.
The Protestants, using the Bible, not written by them, not collected by them, not saved by them, reject Holy Tradition, and thereby close their true understanding of the Word of God. Therefore, they often argue about the Bible and often come up with their own, human traditions, which have no connection with either the apostles or the Holy Spirit, and fall, according to the apostle, into empty seduction, according to human tradition .., and not according to Christ (Col. 2, 8).
The sacraments
Protestants rejected the priesthood and priesthood, not believing that God could act through them, and even if they left something similar, it was only a name, believing that these were only symbols and reminders of historical events that remained in the past, and not holy reality in itself. Instead of bishops and priests, they got pastors who had no connection with the apostles, no succession of grace, as in the Orthodox Church, where every bishop and priest has a blessing from God that can be traced from our days to Jesus Christ Himself. The Protestant pastor is only a speaker and administrator of community life.
As St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) says, “Luther ... with passionate rejection of the unlawful authority of the popes, rejected and legitimate, rejected the episcopal dignity itself, the very ordination, even though the establishment of both belongs to the apostles themselves ... rejected the Sacrament of Confession, although all Scripture testifies that it is not possible to receive absolution without confessing them. ” Rejected by Protestants and other ceremonies.
The veneration of the Virgin and saints
The Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ through humanity, said prophetically: from now on all the births will please me (Lk. 1 , 48). This was said about the true followers of Christ - Orthodox Christians. And indeed, since then to this day from generation to generation all Orthodox Christians have venerated the Blessed Virgin Mary. And the Protestants do not want to honor and please her, contrary to the Scriptures.
The Virgin Mary, like all the saints, that is, people who have gone all the way along the path of salvation revealed by Christ, have been united with God and are always in harmony with Him.
The Virgin and all the saints became the closest and most beloved friends of God. Even a man, if his beloved friend asks for something, he will try to fulfill it, also God willingly listens and soon fulfills the requests of the saints. It is known that even during his earthly life, when they asked, He certainly responded. For example, at the request of the Mother, He helped the poor newlyweds and performed a miracle at a feast in order to save them from shame (John 2 , 1-11).
Scripture reports that God is not the God of the dead, but the living, for in Him all are alive (Luke 20, 38). Therefore, after death, people do not disappear without a trace, but their living souls are kept by God, and those who are holy retain the opportunity to communicate with Him. And the Scripture directly says that the deceased saints make requests to God and He hears them (see: Rev. 6 9-10). Therefore, Orthodox Christians revere the Blessed Virgin Mary and other saints and turn to them with requests that they intercede with God for us. Experience shows that many healings, deliverances from death and other help are received by those who resort to their prayer intercession.
For example, in 1395, the great Mongol commander Tamerlan with a huge army went to Russia to capture and destroy its cities, including the capital, Moscow. The Russians did not have enough strength to withstand such an army. Orthodox residents of Moscow began to earnestly ask the Most Holy Theotokos to pray to God for their salvation from impending misfortune. And so, one morning, Tamerlan unexpectedly announced to his commanders that it was necessary to turn the army and return back. And he answered questions about the reason that at night in a dream he saw a great mountain, on top of which stood a beautiful radiant woman who ordered him to leave the Russian lands. And, although Tamerlane was not an Orthodox Christian, he out of fear and respect for the holiness and spiritual strength of the Virgin Mary who appeared appeared to obey Her.
Prayers for the dead
Those Orthodox Christians who during their lifetime could not conquer sin and become saints do not disappear after death either, but they themselves need our prayers. Therefore, the Orthodox Church prays for the dead, believing that through these prayers the Lord sends relief for the posthumous fate of our deceased loved ones. But the Protestants also do not want to admit this, and refuse to pray for the dead.
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The Lord Jesus Christ, speaking of his followers, said: the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days (Mk. 2 , 20).
The Lord Jesus Christ was taken from his disciples for the first time on Wednesday, when Judas betrayed him and the villains seized to lead to judgment, and the second time on Friday, when the villains crucified him on the Cross. Therefore, in fulfillment of the words of the Savior, Orthodox Christians from ancient times observe fasting every Wednesday and Friday, refraining for the sake of the Lord from eating foods of animal origin, as well as from all kinds of entertainments.
The Lord Jesus Christ fasted forty days and nights (see: Matt. 4 , 2) by setting an example for His disciples (see: John 13 , fifteen). And the apostles, as the Bible says, with puddled the Lord and fasted (Acts 13 , 2). Therefore, Orthodox Christians, in addition to one-day fasts, also have many days, of which the main one is Lent.
Protestants deny fasting and fasting days.
Sacred images
One who wants to worship the true God, should not at the same time worship false gods, who are either invented by people or those spirits that have fallen from God and become evil. These evil spirits often appeared to people to mislead them and distract from worshiping the true God to worship themselves.
However, having commanded to build the temple, the Lord even in these ancient times also commanded to make images of cherubs in it (see: Exodus 25, 18-22) —spirits who remained faithful to God and became holy angels. Therefore, from the earliest times, Orthodox Christians have made sacred images of saints who united with the Lord. In the ancient underground catacombs, where Christians persecuted by the Gentiles gathered for prayer and priesthood in the II-III centuries, they depicted the Virgin Mary, the apostles, plots from the Gospel. These ancient sacred images have survived to this day. Similarly, in modern churches of the Orthodox Church there are the same sacred images, icons. When looking at them, it’s easier for a person to ascend to prototype, concentrate on prayer to him. After such prayers before holy icons, God often sends people help, often miraculous healings occur. In particular, Orthodox Christians prayed for deliverance from Tamerlane’s army in 1395 precisely at one of the icons of the Virgin - Vladimir.
However, Protestants mistakenly reject the veneration of sacred images, not understanding the difference between them and between idols. This comes from their erroneous understanding of the Bible, as well as from the corresponding spiritual mood - after all, only one who does not understand the difference between the holy and evil spirit can not notice the fundamental difference between the image of the saint and the image of the evil spirit.
Other differences
Pr Maxim exposes the Monofelite heresy to the emperor
Protestants believe that if a person recognizes Jesus Christ as God and Savior, then he already becomes saved and holy, and no special things are needed for this. And Orthodox Christians, following the apostle James, believe that faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself(James 2, 17). And the Savior Himself said: Not everyone who says to me: “Lord! Lord!” Will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven (Matt. 7, 21). And that means, according to Orthodox Christians, that it is necessary to fulfill the commandments that express the will of the Father, and thus prove one's faith by deeds.
Also, Protestants do not have monasticism and monasteries, but the Orthodox have them. The monks zealously work to fulfill all the commandments of Christ. And besides, they take three additional vows for the sake of God: the vow of celibacy, the vow of non-possession (lack of property) and the vow of obedience to the spiritual leader. In this, they imitate the apostle Paul, who was celibate, non-possessive, and completely obedient to the Lord. The monastic path is considered to be higher and more glorious than the path of a lay person - a family man, but a lay person can also be saved, become a saint. Among the apostles of Christ there were married people, namely, the apostles Peter and Philip.
When St. Nicholas of Japan was asked at the end of the 19th century why, although the Orthodox in Japan have only two missionaries and the Protestants were six hundred, however, more Japanese converted to Orthodoxy than to Protestantism, he replied: “It’s not about people, but in the teaching. If the Japanese, before embracing Christianity, thoroughly studies it and compares it: he recognizes Catholicism in the Catholic mission, Protestantism in the Protestant mission, we have our teaching, then, as far as I know, he always accepts Orthodoxy. What is this? Yes, the fact that in Orthodoxy the teaching of Christ is kept pure and whole; we didn’t add anything to it like the Catholics, we didn’t add anything like the Protestants. ”
Indeed, Orthodox Christians are convinced, as St. Theophan the Recluse says, of this indisputable truth: “What God has revealed and what he has commanded, there is nothing to be added to, nor diminished from. This applies to Catholics and Protestants. They add everything, but these decrease ... The Catholics have corrupted the apostolic tradition. Protestants undertook to rectify the matter - and did worse. Catholics have one dad, and Protestants, neither Protestant, then dad. ”
Therefore, everyone who is really interested in the truth, and not in their thoughts, both in past centuries and in our time, will certainly find their way to the Orthodox Church, and often even without any efforts of Orthodox Christians, God Himself leads such people to the truth. As an example, here are two recent stories whose participants and witnesses are still alive.
Case in the USA
In the 1960s, in the US state of California, in the cities of Ben Lomon and Santa Barbara, a large group of young Protestants came to the conclusion that all the Protestant Churches they knew could not be a real Church, since they suggest that after the apostles the Church of Christ disappeared , and it was as if only in the XVI century Luther and other leaders of Protestantism revived. But such an idea contradicts the words of Christ that the gates of hell will not prevail against his Church. And then these young people began to study the historical books of Christians, from the earliest antiquity, from the first century to the second, then to the third and so on, tracing the continuous history of the Church founded by Christ and His apostles. And now, thanks to their many years of research, these young Americans themselves were convinced that the Orthodox Church is such a Church, although none of the Orthodox Christians communicated with them and inspired them with such an idea, but the very history of Christianity has witnessed this truth for them. And then they came into contact with the Orthodox Church in 1974, all, consisting of more than two thousand people, accepted Orthodoxy.
Case in Benini
Another story happened in West Africa, in Benin. In this country there were no Orthodox Christians at all, most of the inhabitants were pagans, a little more professed Islam, and some were Catholics or Protestants.
Here with one of them, a man named Optat Behanzin, in 1969 a misfortune happened: his five-year-old son Eric, who was paralyzed, was seriously ill. Behanzin took his son to the hospital, but doctors said that the boy could not be cured. Then the heartbroken father turned to his Protestant “Church”, began to attend prayer meetings in the hope that God would heal his son. But these prayers were fruitless. After this, Optatus gathered some close people at home, persuading them to pray together to Jesus Christ for the healing of Eric. And after their prayer a miracle happened: the boy was healed; it strengthened the small community. Subsequently, all new miraculous healings took place by their prayers to God. Therefore, more and more people came to them - both Catholics and Protestants.
In 1975, the community decided to shape themselves as an independent church, and the faithful decided to pray intensely and fast in order to know the will of God. And at that moment Eric Bekhanzin, who was already eleven years old, received a revelation: when asked what they should call their church community, God replied: “My Church is called the Orthodox Church.” This really surprised the Beninians, because none of them, including Eric himself, had ever heard of the existence of such a Church, and they did not even know the word "Orthodox." However, they called their community the “Orthodox Church of Benin,” and only twelve years later could they get to know Orthodox Christians. And when they found out about the real Orthodox Church, which has been called this way since ancient times and originates from the apostles, they all together, consisting of more than 2,500 people, moved to the Orthodox Church. Thus, the Lord responds to the requests of all who are really looking for the path of holiness leading to the truth, and brings such a person to His Church.
The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism
The reason for the split of the Christian Church into Western (Catholicism) and Eastern (Orthodoxy) was the political split that occurred at the turn of the VIII-IX centuries, when Constantinople lost the lands of the western part of the Roman Empire. In the summer of 1054, the Pope’s ambassador to Constantinople, Cardinal Humbert, anathematized the Byzantine patriarch Mikhail Kirularius and his followers. A few days later a cathedral was held in Constantinople, at which Cardinal Humbert and his henchmen were anathematized. The disagreement between the representatives of the Roman and Greek churches was aggravated due to political disagreements: Byzantium argued with Rome for power. The distrust of East and West spilled over into open hostility after the Crusade of Byzantium in 1202, when Western Christians went to the Eastern brothers of faith. Only in 1964, the Patriarch of Constantinople Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI officially abolished the anathema of 1054. However, differences in traditions are deeply rooted over the centuries.
Church organization
The Orthodox Church includes several independent Churches. In addition to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), there are Georgian, Serbian, Greek, Romanian and others. These churches are governed by patriarchs, archbishops and metropolitans. Not all Orthodox Churches have communion with each other in sacraments and prayers (which, according to the catechism of Metropolitan Filaret, is a prerequisite for individual Churches to be part of a single Ecumenical Church). Also, not all Orthodox Churches recognize each other as true churches. Orthodox consider Jesus Christ the Head of the Church
Unlike the Orthodox Church, Catholicism is one Ecumenical Church. All its parts in different countries of the world are in communication with each other, and also follow a single creed and recognize the Pope as their head. In the Catholic Church, there are communities within the Catholic Church (rites) that differ from each other in forms of liturgical worship and church discipline. There are Roman, Byzantine rites, etc. Therefore, there are Roman Catholics, Byzantine Catholics, etc., but they are all members of the same Church. Catholics consider the Pope the Head of the Church.
Worship
The main liturgy among the Orthodox is the Divine Liturgy, among Catholics - the Mass (Catholic liturgy).
During the service in the Russian Orthodox Church, it is customary to stand in sign of humility before God. In other churches of the eastern rite, it is allowed to sit during worship. As a sign of unconditional humility, the Orthodox make knees. Contrary to popular belief, Catholics have decided to sit and stand in worship. There are services that Catholics listen to on their knees.
Mother of God
In Orthodoxy, the Virgin is primarily the Mother of God. She is revered as a saint, but she was born in original sin, like all ordinary mortals and rested, like all people. Unlike Orthodoxy, in Catholicism it is believed that the Virgin Mary was conceived immaculately without original sin and at the end of her life was lifted to heaven alive.
Symbol of faith
The Orthodox believe that the Holy Spirit comes only from the Father. Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and from the Son.
The sacraments
The Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church recognize the seven main Sacraments: Baptism, Anointing (Confirmation), Communion (Eucharist), Repentance (Confession), Priesthood (Ordination), Blessing (Unction) and Marriage (Wedding). The rituals of the Orthodox and Catholic Church are almost identical, the differences are only in the interpretation of the sacraments. For example, during the sacrament of baptism in the Orthodox Church, a child or an adult dips into a font. In a Catholic church, an adult or child is sprayed with water. The sacrament of communion (Eucharist) is performed on leavened bread. Both the priesthood and the laity receive Communion both in Blood (wine) and in the Body of Christ (bread). In Catholicism, the sacrament of communion is performed on unleavened bread. The priesthood partakes of both the Blood and the Body, and the laity - only the Body of Christ.
Purgatory
Orthodoxy does not believe in the existence of purgatory after death. Although it is assumed that souls may be in an intermediate state, hoping to go to heaven after the Last Judgment. In Catholicism, there is the dogma of purgatory, where souls abide in anticipation of paradise.
Faith and Morality
The Orthodox Church recognizes only the decisions of the first seven Ecumenical Councils, which took place from 49 to 787. Catholics recognize the Pope as their head and share a single creed. Although inside the Catholic Church there are communities with different forms of liturgical worship: Byzantine, Roman and others. The Catholic Church recognizes the decisions of the 21st Ecumenical Council, the last of which took place in 1962-1965.
Within Orthodoxy, divorces are allowed in individual cases, which are decided by priests. The Orthodox clergy is divided into “white” and “black”. Representatives of the "white clergy" are allowed to marry. True, then they will not be able to get an episcopal and higher rank. The "black clergy" are monks who vow celibacy. The sacrament of marriage among Catholics is considered to be concluded for life and divorce is prohibited. All Catholic monastic clergy make a vow of celibacy.
Sign of the cross
Orthodox are baptized only from right to left with three fingers. Catholics are baptized from left to right. They do not have a single rule, as when creating the cross you need to fold your fingers, so several options are rooted.
Icons
On Orthodox icons, saints are written in a two-dimensional image according to the tradition of the opposite perspective. Thus, it is emphasized that the action takes place in another dimension - in the world of the spirit. Orthodox icons are monumental, strict and symbolic. Among Catholics, saints are written naturally, often in the form of statues. Catholic icons are written in direct perspective.
The sculptural images of Christ, the Virgin, and saints adopted in Catholic churches are not accepted by the Eastern Church.
Crucifix
The Orthodox cross has three crossbars, one of which is short and is located at the top, symbolizing a tablet with the inscription “This is Jesus, King of the Jews”, which was nailed over the head of the crucified Christ. The lower crossbeam is the foot and one end looks up, pointing to one of the robbers crucified next to Christ, who believed and ascended with him. The second end of the crossbar points down, in a sign that the second robber, who allowed himself to slander Jesus, was in hell. On the Orthodox cross, each leg of Christ is nailed with a separate nail. Unlike the Orthodox cross, the Catholic cross consists of two crossbars. If Jesus is depicted on it, then both feet of Jesus are nailed to the base of the cross with one nail. Christ on Catholic crucifixes, as well as on icons, is depicted naturally - his body sagging under weight, torment and suffering are noticeable in the whole image.
Wake for the deceased
Orthodox commemorate the deceased on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days, then a year later. Catholics will surely commemorate the dead on Memorial Day - November 1. In some European countries, November 1 is an official holiday. The deceased are also commemorated on the 3rd, 7th and 30th days after death, but this tradition is not strictly observed.
Despite the differences, both Catholics and Orthodox are united by the fact that they profess and preach all over the world one faith and one teaching of Jesus Christ.
findings:
- In Orthodoxy, it is generally accepted that the Ecumenical Church is “embodied” in every local Church, led by a bishop. Catholics add to this, in order to belong to the Ecumenical Church, the local Church must have fellowship with the local Roman Catholic Church.
- World Orthodoxy does not have a single leadership. It is divided into several independent churches. World Catholicism is a single church.
- The Catholic Church recognizes the primacy of the Pope in matters of faith and discipline, morality and governance. Orthodox churches do not recognize the leadership of the Pope.
- Churches differently see the role of the Holy Spirit and the mother of Christ, which in Orthodoxy is called the Virgin, and in Catholicism the Virgin Mary. Orthodoxy lacks the concept of purgatory.
- The same sacraments operate in the Orthodox and Catholic churches, but the rites of their conduct are different.
- Unlike Catholicism, in Orthodoxy there is no dogma of purgatory.
- Orthodox and Catholics create the cross in different ways.
- Orthodoxy permits divorces, and its “white clergy” can marry. In Catholicism, divorce is prohibited, and all monastic clergy take a vow of celibacy.
- The Orthodox and Catholic Church recognize the decisions of various Ecumenical Councils.
- Unlike the Orthodox, among Catholics, saints on icons are written naturally. Catholics also have sculptural images of Christ, the Virgin, and saints.
So ... Everyone understands that Catholicism and Orthodoxy, like Protestantism, are the directions of one religion - Christianity. Despite the fact that both Catholicism and Orthodoxy belong to Christianity, there are significant differences between them.
If Catholicism is represented by only one church, and Orthodoxy consists of several autocephalous churches, homogeneous in their creed and structure, then Protestantism is a multitude of churches that can differ from each other both in organization and in individual details of creed.
Protestantism is characterized by the absence of a fundamental opposition of the clergy to the laity, the rejection of a complex church hierarchy, a simplified cult, the absence of monasticism, celibacy; in Protestantism there is no cult of the Virgin, saints, angels, icons, the number of sacraments is reduced to two (baptism and communion).
The main source of dogma is scripture. Protestantism is distributed mainly in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Scandinavian countries and Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Latvia, Estonia. Thus, Protestants are Christians who belong to one of several independent Christian churches.
They are Christians, and together with Catholics and Orthodox Christians share the fundamental principles of Christianity.
However, the views of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants on some issues differ. Protestants value Bible authority above all. Orthodox and Catholics value their traditions more highly and believe that only the leaders of these Churches can interpret the Bible correctly. Despite their differences, all Christians agree with the prayer of Christ recorded in the Gospel of John (17: 20-21): “Not only do I pray for them, but also those who believe in Me according to their word, that all may be one ... ".
Which is better, depending on which side you are looking at. For the development of the state and life in pleasure - Protestantism is more acceptable. If a person is driven by the thought of suffering and atonement, then is Catholicism?
It’s important to me personally that P
orthodoxy is the only religion that teaches that God is Love (John 3, 16; 1 John 4, 8). And this is not one of the qualities, but it is the main revelation of God about Himself - that He is all-good, unceasing and unchanging, all-perfect Love, and that all His actions in relation to man and the world are an expression of love only. Therefore, such “feelings” of God, such as anger, punishment, revenge, etc., which are often mentioned in the books of the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Fathers, are nothing more than ordinary anthropomorphisms used to give the widest possible range of people in the most accessible form, an idea of \u200b\u200bGod's providence in the world. Therefore, says St. John Chrysostom (IV century): "when you hear the words:" rage and anger "in relation to God, then do not understand anything human under them: these are words of condescension. The deity is alien to all that; it is said so in order to bring the subject closer to the understanding of coarser people ”(Conversation on Ps. VI. 2. // Creations. T.V. Prince. 1. St. Petersburg. 1899, p. 49).
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Federal Agency for Education
All-Russian Correspondence Financial and Economic Institute
Department of Philosophy, History and Law
Test
In cultural studies on the topic:
“A Comparative Analysis of Catholicism and Protestantism”
Option number 3
Checked: Vorobeva Marina Ivanovna
Work done: Anna Varaksina
Faculty: financial and credit
Group: 1BEM
Personal file: 10flb00275
Barnaul 2010
Introduction
One of the oldest forms of culture is religion. Religion in its various forms accompanies humanity along its entire historical path. Christianity is the second religion in time, after Buddhism, it arose in the 1st century AD. e. in the Roman Empire, then spread throughout the world. Christianity is divided into three areas: Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism. We will consider two religious forms of Christianity: Catholicism and Protestantism.
1. Catholicism
One of the largest (along with Protestant) trends in Christianity is Catholicism. Catholicism - from the Greek word katholikos - universal (later ecumenical). Catholicism is a western form of Christianity. Its origins are from a small Roman Christian community, the first bishop of which, according to legend, was the apostle Peter. Catholicism finally took shape as a creed and church organization in 1054.
Catholicism, as one of the directions of the Christian religion, recognizes its basic dogmas and rituals, but has a number of features in dogma, cult, and organization.
1.1 History of development
The history of the development of Catholicism is a long process stretching for centuries, where there was a place both for high aspirations (missionary work, enlightenment), and for the aspirations of secular and even world power, and the place of the bloody Inquisition.
In the Middle Ages, the religious life of the Western Church includes lavish and solemn services, worship of numerous holy relics and relics. Pope Gregory 1 included music in the catalytic service. He also tried to replace the cultural traditions of antiquity with "saving church education."
The establishment and spread of Catholicism in the West was promoted by Catholic monasticism.
Religion in the Middle Ages ideologically substantiated, justified and sanctified the essence of relations in feudal society, where classes were clearly divided.
In the middle of the 8th century, an independent secular Papal state arose, i.e. at the time of the collapse of the Roman Empire, it was the only real power.
Strengthening the secular power of the popes soon generated their desire to dominate not only the church, but also the world.
During the reign of Pope Innocent 3 in the 13th century, the church reached its highest power, Innocent 3 managed to achieve the supremacy of spiritual authority over secular, not least thanks to the Crusades.
However, cities and secular sovereigns came out in the fight against papal absolutism, whom the clergy accused of heresy and created the holy inquisition, called "to eradicate heresy with fire and sword."
But the fall of the supremacy of spiritual power could not be avoided. A new era of reformation and humanism was approaching, which undermined the spiritual monopoly of the church and destroyed the political and religious monolithic character of Catholicism.
However, a century and a half after the French Revolution, the Vienna Congress of 1814-1815 restored the papal state. There is currently a theocratic state of the Vatican.
The development of capitalism, industrialization, urbanization and the deterioration of the life of the working class, the rise of the labor movement led to the spread of an indifferent attitude towards religion.
Now the church has become a "church of dialogue with the world." New in its activity is the protection of human rights, especially the right to religious freedom, the struggle for family and morality.
The area of \u200b\u200bactivity of the church is culture and cultural development.
In relations with the state, the church offers loyal cooperation, without subordinating the church to the state and vice versa.
1.2 Features of the creed, cult and structure of the religious organization of Catholicism
1. The Catholic Church is strictly centralized, has a single world center (Vatican), a single chapter - the pope, who crowns the multi-stage hierarchy. The pope is considered the viceroy of Jesus Christ on earth, infallible in matters of faith and morality.
2. Catholics recognize the source of the doctrine of the Holy Scripture (Bible) and holy tradition, which includes the ordinances of the ecumenical gatherings of the Catholic Church and the judgments of the popes.
3. Adding to the creed of the filioque, the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father. The addendum was in the statement that the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father and from God the Son.
4. The peculiarity of Catholicism is the exalted veneration of the Mother of God, the recognition of the legend of the immaculate conception of Mary by her mother Anna, and her bodily ascension after death to heaven.
5. The clergy makes a vow of celibacy - celibacy. It established itself in the 13th century to prevent the division of land between the heirs of the clergyman. Celibacy is one of the reasons for the refusal of many Catholic priests today from the dignity.
6. The dogma of purgatory. Among Catholics, this is an intermediate place between heaven and hell, where the souls of sinners, who have not received forgiveness in earthly life, but are not burdened with mortal sins, burn in a cleansing fire before gaining access to paradise. Catholics understand this test differently. Some interpret fire as a symbol, others recognize its reality. The fate of the soul in purgatory can be facilitated, and its tenure there is shortened by “good deeds” performed in memory of the deceased by relatives and relatives remaining on the earth. “Good deeds” - prayers, masses and material donations in favor of the church.
7. Catholicism is characterized by a lavish theatrical cult, a wide veneration of relics (the remains of the "clothing of Christ", pieces of the "cross on which He was crucified", nails, "with which he was nailed to the cross", etc.), the cult of martyrs, saints and blessed ones.
8. Indulgence - a papal letter, a certificate of absolution for both committed and not yet committed sins, issued for money or for special services to the Catholic Church. Indulgence is justified by theologians that the Catholic Church supposedly has a certain supply of good deeds committed by Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints with which to cover the sins of people.
9. The church hierarchy is based on divine authority: a mystical life originates from Christ and through the pope and the whole structure of the church descends to ordinary members.
10. There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church:
Baptism
· Anointing (confirmation)
Eucharist
Confession
Blessing
· Priesthood.
2. Protestantism
One of the three main areas of Christianity, along with Catholicism and Orthodoxy, is a combination of numerous and
independent Churches and denominations connected by their origin with the Reformation - a broad anti-Catholic movement of the 16th century in Europe.
Protestantism - from Latin protestans - publicly proving. Protestantism is a combination of independent and diverse religions, churches that differ from each other in dogmatic and canonical features.
P.'s design is associated with the activities of M. Luther and J. Calvin. In the general context of the critical pathos of the Reformation, Luther puts forward a program of radical reformation of the Western Christian Church. Excommunicated by the pope, Luther faced a choice: to go further in his opposition or to admit his critical position as erroneous and repent. He chooses the first: publicly burns the papal bull and begins to deny the divine establishment of the church hierarchy. Thus, Protestantism is constituted through the final renunciation of Rome and the non-position of Catholicism.
The doctrine of Protestantism is based on two basic foundations: sola fide (“only faith”) and sola scriptura (“only Scripture”). The principle of sola fide presupposes the ultimate articulation of the status of faith both within the framework of Protestantism in general and within the framework of soteriology (Greek soterion - salvation, logos - teaching) in particular. Protestantism implies a conviction of the perfect clarity of the Bible, only communion to which a person is saved. Understanding does not require any mediators (i.e., a clergy that supports the fundamental idea of \u200b\u200bProtestantism about the priesthood of all believers), no tradition (tradition) - all that is needed is faith in everything that the Bible says. This is not about a silently-passive perception of the truths of Scripture, but about a special state, which is expressed in love and good deeds, performed not because of fear of eternal torment, but by faith. The responsibility of a person for his salvation rests in the act of his personal faith, and no organization (we are talking about the Church as a social institution) has the right to take it upon itself. In principle, sola scriptura expresses the intention of Protestants to build their lives exclusively according to the gospel: only what is directly stated in the Holy Scriptures can be an object of preaching and an example to follow. However, one can’t be considered Protestants as those who deny the earthly Church: Protestantism is trying to build an ideal church organization, similar to the one that existed in the Ancient Church (from the idea of \u200b\u200ba “society of free in Christ” by Luther to modern versions of Rivevelism - the movement for the revival of the ideals of the Apostolic Church).
2.1 History of development
The emergence of Protestantism is associated with the Reformation - a powerful anti-Catholic movement in the 16th century in Europe. In 1526, the Speyer Reichstag, at the request of the German Lutheran princes, adopted a decree on the right of everyone to choose a religion for themselves and their subjects. The second Speyer Reichstag of 1529 overturned this decree. In response from the five princes and a number of imperial cities, a protest followed, from which the term "Protestantism" derives.
Protestantism arose as a movement opposed to the Catholic Church during the Reformation, the ideal of which was a return to apostolic Christianity, since, according to its supporters, Catholicism departed from the original Christian principles as a result of numerous layers of medieval scholastic theology and ritualism. This trend was undoubtedly based on both religious and political and economic reasons. The Reformation became the banner of bourgeois revolutions in the Netherlands and England.
The predecessors of the Reformation are John Wycliffe, professor at Oxford University (1320-1384), who defended the priority of Holy Scripture over Holy Tradition, and his successor, Jan Hus, professor at Prague University (1371-1415).
The initial forms of Protestantism were Lutheranism, Zwinglianism, Calvinism, Anabaptism, Mennonism, and Anglicanism.
In the future, a number of other currents arise - the Gospel.
2.2 The doctrine of Orthodoxy and comparison with Catholicism.
Their differences and similarities
Protestantism shares common Christian ideas about the existence of God, His trinity, about the immortality of the soul, paradise and hell (while rejecting the Catholic doctrine of purgatory). Protestants believe that a person can receive forgiveness of sins by faith in Jesus Christ, by faith in His death for the sins and weaknesses of all people and in His resurrection from the dead. They do not recognize the Catholic purgatory, reject Catholic saints, angels, the Virgin; the triune Christian God occupies a completely monopoly position in them.
In Protestantism many sacraments were abolished (with the exception of baptism and communion), celibacy was absent. Prayer for the dead, worship of saints and holidays in honor of the saints, veneration of relics and icons were rejected. Prayer houses are freed from altars, icons, statues, bells. There are no monasteries and monasticism.
In different Protestant directions, the concepts of rite and sacrament can have different contents. If the sacraments are recognized, then there are two of them:
1. baptism
2. Communion.
In other cases, only symbolic meaning is recognized for these actions. In any case, they require a conscious attitude, so there may be a custom to perform baptism of a more or less mature age, and undergo special training (confirmation) before communion. Marriage, confession (and the like) in any case is considered simply a rite. In addition, Protestants do not see much point in prayers for the dead, prayers to the saints, and numerous holidays in their honor. At the same time, respect for saints is respectful - as examples of a righteous life and good teachers. The worship of relics is generally not practiced as inconsistent with Scripture. Attitude towards the veneration of images is ambiguous: from rejection as idolatry to the teaching that the honor given to an image goes back to the primitive.
Protestant Christians believe that the Bible is the only source of Christian doctrine, its study and application in their own lives is considered an important task for every believer. Protestants strive to make the Bible accessible to people in their national languages.
Protestantism shares common Christian ideas about the existence of God, his trinity, about the immortality of the soul, hell and paradise, rejecting, however, the Catholic concept of purgatory.
Protestantism put forward three new principles:
- salvation by personal faith
- priesthood of all believers
- the exclusive authority of scripture.
Protestantism categorically rejects Holy Tradition as unreliable and focuses all the creeds in the Holy Scriptures, which is considered the only holy book in the world. Protestantism requires believers to read the Bible daily.
Protestantism removed the fundamental difference between a priest and a layman, abolished the church hierarchy. A minister of worship is denied the right to confess and forgive sins; he is accountable to the Protestant community
The dogma of purgatory (a place - an intermediate between heaven and hell) is only in the Catholic dogma. The souls of sinners, on whom too great mortal sins do not lie, burn there in a cleansing fire (it is possible that this is a symbolic image of the pangs of conscience and repentance), and then gain access to paradise. The duration of the soul’s stay in purgatory can be reduced by good deeds (prayers, donations in favor of the church), which are performed in memory of the deceased by his relatives and friends on earth.
The doctrine of purgatory has developed in the 1st century. Protestant churches reject the doctrine of purgatory.
The most fundamental drawback of the Protestant doctrine, Catholics consider the denial of the role of Holy Tradition, which it has in Catholicism. In their opinion, thanks to the Holy Tradition by the Holy Fathers, the list (canon) of the inspired books of the New Testament was selected (from many dubious apocryphal books). In other words, Protestants use a set of canons, but deny the traditions by which they were adopted. The Protestants themselves deny the role of Holy Tradition in the formation of the canon, believing that the canon was formed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Many Catholics believe that Protestants completely reject Holy Tradition. However, this is not characteristic of all Protestants. In reality, only Mennonites, Messianic Jews and some Baptists scrupulously follow exclusively Scripture. Most Protestants, who recognize a certain role of Holy Tradition in Christianity, in this case, unlike Catholics, put Scripture in the first place, and not Holy Tradition as an interpreter of Holy Scripture. Traditions that contradict the Scriptures (different denominations have different understandings of these contradictions) are not taken into account.
The main difference between Protestantism and Catholicism is the doctrine of the direct relationship between God and man. According to the Protestants, grace descends on man from God, bypassing the church, "salvation" is achieved only through the personal faith of man and the will of God. This doctrine undermined the primacy of spiritual authority over the Soviet and the dominant role of the Catholic Church and the Pope, freed man from feudal bonds and aroused a sense of personal dignity, bourgeois-individualistic ideas, etc.
“Religion is not that of religious opinions. Religion is one, as the sun is one for the whole globe; religious opinions are numerous, like the rays of the sun. "
Jean Paul [Richter]
Literature:
1. Christianity: Dictionary / Under. total ed. L. N. Mitrokhina and others. - M .: Republic. - 1994
2. Christianity: Encyclopedic Dictionary. In 3 t. L / C / Ed. call S. S. Averintsev, A.N. Meshkov, Yu. N. Popov. - M .: Big Russian Encyclopedia, 1995
3. ru.wikipedia.org
4. Philosophical dictionary. Ed. I.T. Frolova. The fifth edition. Moscow publishing house of political literature 1986.
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Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism
Protestantism. Quick reference
Protestantism (from lat. protestatio, onis f - proclamation, assurance; in some cases - objection, disagreement) - a set of denominations based on attempts to independently understand the Bible and worship Christ, outside of His Church, using her experience (including and her scripture) of her own understanding. Protestantism arose during the split in Catholicism during the Reformation of the XVI century. The founders of the Protestant teachings were: Martin Luther, J. Calvin, W. Zwingli, F. Melanchthon.
Protestantism is very heterogeneous and includes thousands of directions. In general, he still shares the common Christian dogmatic ideas about the Trinity of the One Being, the God-man Jesus Christ (the Incarnation, the Atonement, the Resurrection), the immortality of the soul, paradise and hell (while rejecting the Catholic doctrine of purgatory), the Last Judgment, etc. Together with Thus, Protestantism is revising the doctrine of the Church, which is its main difference from Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Protestantism partially or completely denies the church hierarchy (hierarchy), the Sacraments, the authority of the Holy Tradition, on which not only the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures is based, but also liturgical practice, the ascetic experience of Christian ascetics, veneration of saints and the institution of monasticism.
Five main doctrines of classical Protestantism:
1. Sola Scriptura - "Only Scripture."
The Bible (Holy Scripture) is proclaimed the only and self-interpreted source of dogma. Every believer has the right to interpret the Bible. However, even the first Protestant Martin Luther remarked: "The devil himself can quote the Bible with great benefit for himself." Evidence of the recklessness of the desire to understand the Bible only by its own fallen mind is the ever-increasing fragmentation of Protestantism into many currents. After all, even in ancient times, St. Hilarius of Pictavius \u200b\u200bsaid in a letter to the emperor Constantine: Scripture is not in words, but in their understanding.
2. Sola fide - “Only by faith.” This is the doctrine of justification only by faith, regardless of the performance of good deeds and any external rites. Protestants deny their importance as a source of soul salvation, considering them the inevitable fruits of faith and evidence of forgiveness.
3. Sola gratia - “Only by Grace”
This is the doctrine that salvation is a good gift from God to man, and man himself cannot participate in his salvation.
4. Solus Christus - “Only Christ”
Salvation is possible only through faith in Christ. Protestants deny the petition of the Virgin and other saints in the work of salvation, and also teach that the church hierarchy cannot be an intermediary between God and people, believing that believers constitute a “universal priesthood”.
5. Soli Deo gloria - “Only Glory to God”
The thesis that a person should honor only God.
Given that Protestantism is not a single phenomenon, but many trends in Christianity, the above denials of Protestantism are carried out in varying degrees. Thus, Lutherans and Anglicans recognize the need for hierarchy, although not in the form in which it is present in the Orthodox Church. Anglicans usually do not use the term "Protestant" for self-determination, but call their faith "Catholic", based on the definition of the Nicene Tsaregradsky creed. Lutherans recognize the sacraments of Baptism (including over babies) and the Eucharist, and the Anglicans recognize the sacraments of Marriage. According to Lutherans and Anglicans, the veneration of saints should be limited not only to respectful conversation in sermons or festive remembrance, but also to the name of temples and thrones in their honor. Lutherans accept the sign of the cross, although they perform it differently than the Orthodox.
As for the later Protestant denominations (for example, Methodists and Baptists), their ideas about the church seriously differ not only from Orthodox and Catholics, but also from Lutherans and Anglicans.
They deny the church hierarchy, consider the sacraments to be only symbols (although they perform baptism, communion, ordination, wedding), do not accept the name of their houses of worship in honor of the saints and their holidays. Thus, the main difference between Protestantism, on the one hand, and Orthodoxy, on the other, is precisely in the doctrine of the Church.
Orthodoxy is built on the Christian's lively perception of Divine grace, due to which the whole Church becomes a mysterious union of God and man, and the temple with its sacraments becomes the real place of such a union. Living experience of the operation of Divine grace does not allow the restriction of the sacraments or their symbolic interpretation, as well as diminishing or abrogating the veneration of saints who have acquired grace, asceticism as a way of acquiring it.
The initial forms of Protestantism were Lutheranism, Zwinglianism and Calvinism, Unitarianism and Socialism, Anabaptism and Mennonism, and Anglicanism. In the future, a series of currents known as late or neo-Protestantism arise: Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, Adventists, Pentecostals. Currently, Protestantism is most prevalent in the Scandinavian countries, the USA, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland. The USA is rightfully considered the world center of Protestantism, where the headquarters of Baptists, Adventists and other Protestant denominations have settled. Protestant movements play a major role in the ecumenical movement.
The theology of Protestantism went through a number of stages in its development. This is the orthodox theology of the XVI century. (M. Luther, J. Calvin), non-Protestant or liberal theology of the XVIII - XIX centuries. (F. Schleiermacher, E. Trölch, A. Harnack), “theology of crisis” or dialectical theology that appeared after the First World War (C. Barth, P. Tillich, R. Bultmann), radical or “new” theology that spread after World War II (D. Bonhoeffer).
1. Comparative characteristics of Calvinism and Protestantism
2. Content
3. Calvinism
Calvinism - Direction
Protestantism created
French theologian and
preacher Jean Calvin;
Central doctrine
Calvinism - God's sovereignty then
there is the supreme power of God in everything;
4. Differences between Calvinism and other Christian denominations
Bible interpretation based on the Bible alone;
Recognition of Inspiration
Scripture only - the Bible;
Lack of monasticism;
Denial of necessity
help of the clergy in saving people,
the elimination of church rituals;
Acceptance of the doctrine of predestination;
5. Westminster Confession of Faith
"1.9. The infallible rule of interpreting Scripture is Scripture itself,
and thus, when the question arises of the true and complete
sense of a passage in Scripture (which does not happen
ambiguous, but unambiguous), should be explored and cognized
other places that talk about this more clearly ... "
6. Westminster Confession of Faith
"31.4. All synods and cathedrals convened since apostolic times, be
then general or local, can be wrong and many were wrong,
therefore, their decisions are not in themselves rules of faith or
practical activities, but accepted to help them ”
(Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 31. On the Synods and Councils,
paragraph 4)
7. Geography of distribution
Distributed in Scotland, the Netherlands and in
parts of Switzerland. Also accepted
Puritans in England.
8. Lutheranism
One of the oldest Protestant movements in Christianity. FROM
Lutheranism is connected with the very emergence of the concept of Protestantism,
since it was Lutherans who began to call Protestants after their
protest in Speyer. Arose as a result of the reformation
movements in Germany in the 16th century, and then during the formation
state churches of the Scandinavian countries.
9.
The main and only criterion
correctness of faith they consider the Bible (lat. Sola
Scriptura). As an additional authority
Lutherans resort to Holy Tradition
Church Fathers and other traditional
sources
10.
Lutherans recognize two
sacraments: baptism and
participle;
They consider themselves to be Lutheran.
more than 85 million people during
all over the world
In September 1948 was
registered
evangelical lutheran
community in Latvia, first in
USSR and then in Estonia
11.
12. References
Wipper R. Yu.
WHAT DECLARATION DIFFERS FROM THE CATHOLICISM OF THE PROTESTANTISM OF MONOPHISITY
Calvinism // Brockhaus Encyclopedic Dictionary and
Efron: 86 tons (82 tons and 4 extra). - SPb., 1890-1907.
http://traditio.wiki/%D0%9B%D1%8E%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%
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Comparative characteristics of Calvinism and Protestantism
English РусскийRules
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1.2 Characteristics of Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism
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Cheat Sheet: A Comparative Analysis of Catholicism and Protestantism 2
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Protestantism as a course of Christianity belongs not only to the history of Christianity. He is today an influential spiritual and intellectual force. It's not just the hundreds of millions of his followers ...
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The rise of Protestantism
One of the most important events in the development of world history is the rise of Protestantism . It not only significantly affected the confessional situation prevailing in Europe in the 16-18 centuries, but also had a direct impact on the political situation, social processes and cultural development of people.
Protestantism, as one of the directions of Christianity, in the basis of its appearance has deep historical and religious sources. This is a religion that has always been very controversial, and remains so today. Its formation was difficult, accompanied by countless revolutions and wars. Many countries adopted Protestantism only after a long, stubborn and bloody struggle against Catholicism in the 16th century.
Protestantism is now the predominant religion in countries such as the United States, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. An interesting feature of Protestantism is the fact that in those countries where the majority of the population professes it, powerful economic, scientific, educational, and socio-cultural growth are planned.
The emergence of Protestantism is directly related to a phenomenon such as the Reformation. Between the beginning of the 15th century and the very end of the 17th, Europe begins to urgently need the development of social, cultural and spiritual institutions. Moreover, by that time the Traditional Church every year was losing the trust of an increasing number of people, and its clergy was in moral decline. This affects not only the development of European society, but also indirectly affects the entire population of our planet. The greatest reforms need Western Europe. And it is from its territories that the active eradication of the obsolete feudal system and the establishment of a new way of life begin. Cities are expanding rapidly, markets are expanding, trade and industrial relations between countries are intensifying, and new social strata are emerging. In addition, science is developing, and technological progress is occurring.
Now the most influential people in society are merchants, entrepreneurs, farmers, bankers, lawyers. Students appear, as well as people of free professions. The abundance of artists, poets, actors contributes to the overall cultural ennoblement of the population.
This favorable situation for Europe ultimately led to the fact that relations with the countries of Africa, America and India began to establish and quickly strengthen. And the great geographical discoveries made during the Reformation led to the active colonization of many countries. A capitalist system appeared. At the same time, royal power was significantly strengthened at that time, an absolute monarchy appeared, and the king received unlimited powers.
Visible changes are occurring in the Church. It is she who officially proclaims the divine origin of the monarchs, and any disobedience to them is now considered sinful. At the same time, rulers limit the authority of the Church, preventing the pope from interfering in secular affairs. And in those countries that are completely conquered by the principles of the Reformation, the Church is absolutely subordinate to the ruling monarch.
What happens to religious and cultural postulates? The Reformation, which is based on progress, destroys the system of Catholic ideas, principles and values. The person who is the personification of secular society comes to the fore. This undermines the authority of the Catholic Church, and in the 16th century its most powerful crisis sets in. Total? The recognition by learned theologians of the need for immediate reform of the Church, supported even by some of the popes.
Within her leadership, repeated attempts are made to change the church structure, but only so that this does not affect the foundations of the Catholic faith and allows to preserve the entire old organization. Quite often, as a result of such attempts, excommunications from the Church occur, as, for example, in the case of the monk Savonarola.
But, despite everything that happens during the Reformation, the growing discontent of people and their own crisis, in the beginning of the 17th century the Catholic Church was still powerful and had a productive experience in the fight against heresy, free-thinking and all kinds of non-standard trends.
All the shortcomings, errors and misconduct of the Catholic Church were criticized by the most violent and interested reformers.
The difference and differences between Catholics and Protestants
Their views were diametrically opposed to Catholic dogmas, postulates and norms. It was they who became part of the Protestant creed. Almost all conflicts with the official Church were built on these differences. So, for example, with Jan Hus, Wycliffe or Martin Luther. It is these historical figures in our modern world that are considered the founders of the new religious anti-Catholic movement, which has become one of the branches of Christianity.
In Protestantism there is no division into clergy and laity, there is no fierce worship of icons and relics, the carrying of the cross is not necessary. Everyone who reads the Bible has the right to its own interpretation. And a Christian who has been baptized and received a “dedication” to fellowship with God can preach and perform various services. Protestantism has many branches, the number of which only increases with each subsequent year.
The emergence of Protestantism as a religion is a symbol of the active, sharp and bold development of European society. A society that stood on the threshold of great changes and needed not only social reforms, but also the emergence of new spiritual and moral guidelines.
Due to historical circumstances in 1054, the Universal Church was divided into Western and Eastern. In the XVI-XVII centuries, a part of the believers separated from the Catholic Church, who expressed their disagreement with some dogmas of the faith and the innovations of the Pope. Such Christians were called Protestants.
Who are Catholics and Protestants
Catholics are Christians belonging to the Western Rite (Catholic) Church, which was formed as a result of the division of the Ecumenical Church into two branches.
Protestants are Christians belonging to religious Christian movements who, as a result of the Reformation, split from the Catholic Church.
Comparison of Catholics and Protestants
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
The internal organization of the church
Catholics recognize the organizational unity of the church, held together by the unconditional authority of the Pope. Protestants of the Lutheran and Anglican churches maintain centralization, while Baptists are dominated by federalism. Their communities are autonomous and independent of each other. The absolute and only authority for Protestants is Jesus Christ.
Catholic priests do not marry. The Protestant clergy in this regard has no differences from ordinary citizens.
Catholics have monastic orders (one of the forms of monasticism). Protestants have no such way of organizing spiritual life.
The clergy of Catholics are exclusively men. In many Protestant movements, women also become bishops and priests.
The adoption of new members by the Catholics is done through baptism. The age of the baptized does not matter. Protestants are baptized only at a conscious age.
Creed
Catholics preach the cult of the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God and the Intercessor of the human race. Protestants reject the dogma of the Catholic Church about the Virgin.
Catholics have seven sacraments: baptism, the Eucharist, anointing, repentance, the priesthood, marriage, and the blessing of the priesthood. Protestants accept only two sacraments - baptism and communion. Quakers and Anabaptists have no sacraments at all.
Catholics believe that after death, a private judgment is performed over the soul of a person for the sins committed during his life, as the threshold of the Last Judgment. They pray for the dead. Protestants reject the doctrine of the existence of the soul before the Last Judgment. They don’t pray for the deceased.
Church practice
For communion, Catholics use unleavened unleavened bread - unleavened bread. For Protestants, the type of bread in this case does not matter.
Confession at least once a year in the presence of a priest is mandatory for Catholics. Protestants do not recognize mediators in fellowship with God.
Catholics serve Mass as the main worship of the church. Protestants have no special form of worship.
Catholics venerate icons, a cross, picturesque, as well as sculptural images of saints and their relics. For Catholics, saints are intercessors of God. Protestants do not recognize the icons and the cross (with very few exceptions) and do not honor the saints.
So, the difference between Catholics and Protestants is as follows:
In Catholicism, there is an organizational unity of believers, held together by the authority of the Pope. Protestants have no unity, and no head of the church.
Catholics can be clergymen only men, among Protestants among the clergy there are also women.
Catholics are baptized at any age, Protestants only at a mature age.
Protestants deny Holy Tradition.
Catholics recognize the cult of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin for Protestants is just a perfect woman.
There is also no cult of saints.
Catholics have seven sacraments of the church, Protestants - only two, and in some movements - not a single one.
Catholics have a concept of the posthumous suffering of the soul. Protestants believe only in the Last Judgment.
Catholics receive communion on unleavened bread; for Protestants, the type of bread for communion is unimportant.
Catholics confess in the presence of a priest, Protestants - without an intermediary before God.
Protestants have no particular form of worship.
Protestants do not recognize the icons, the cross and do not honor the relics of saints, as is customary among Catholics.
Dr Kevin DeYang of the Testament of Christ Church in Matthews, North Carolina, identified the eight major differences between Catholics and Protestants, arguing that disagreements still matter despite changing attitudes in recent years, Christian Megaportal invictory .com reports citing on the Christian Post.
DeYang raised this issue in his article published in The Gospel Coalition on Tuesday. He noted that although Protestants today call military action and the sexual revolution the greatest threats to Christianity, a hundred years ago the same believers would call the Catholic Church the biggest problem.
“Until recently, Protestants and Catholics in this country were, if not enemies, then players of opposing teams,” said the pastor and author.
DeYang called the recent "thaw" a positive development, but also noted that the theological differences between them are "still wide and deep in some places."
Firstly, views on the Church are one of the main differences. Catholics believe that the Pope is infallible when he makes official doctrinal statements, while Protestants do not think so.
Secondly, Catholics have an expanded biblical canon when it comes to the Bible.
“In addition to the 66 books of the Protestant Bible, the Catholic Bible includes the Apocrypha, for example, the book of Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Sirach and Baruch. Catholic teaching also values \u200b\u200btradition more than Protestantism, ”he said.
ThirdlyDeYang noted that, for Catholics, the Lord's Supper takes a central position of faith.
“Catholics believe that bread and wine actually turn into the body and blood of Christ,” he explained. - These components are offered as a sacrifice from the church and a sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is accomplished not just as a remembrance of the sacrifice of Christ, but a renewal of the atonement. The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist is one sacrifice. The sacrifice of the [Eucharist] is truly peaceful. ”
Fourth, the pastor recalled that baptism is also a controversial issue.
“Catholics teach that“ baptism is obligatory for atonement. ” During immersion in water, original sin is washed away and we become one with Christ. Baptism is not just a sign and seal of grace, but actually confirms saving grace, ”he wrote.
FifthlyHe noted that, unlike the Protestants, Catholics believe that Mary was not just the mother of Jesus, but also the “mother of the Church.”
"She had no original sin, and at the end of her earthly life" she was exalted into heavenly glory with body and soul. " She intercedes for the Church, “continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation” and “is a mother to us in the order of grace,” ”he explained.
At sixthDeYang pointed out differences in views on purgatory. Although Protestants do not believe in the existence of such a place, Catholics, he said, believe that those who die in the grace of God, but are still imperfectly cleansed, will have eternal life, but must first undergo purification in purgatory. ”
Seventh, in a commentary on Merit, DeYang argues that it is unfair to assume that Catholics teach that salvation can be earned.
“Many Catholics can believe this, but the official teaching of Rome is more subtle, although still far from the principle of the Reformation.” Sola gratia « ”, He wrote, referring to the Protestant principle of“ only by grace, ”which implies salvation by the grace of God and only through faith in Jesus Christ.
In his last paragraphthe pastor wrote that Catholic teachings reject the Protestant doctrine of imputed righteousness.
“The question is this: the righteousness by which we are forgiven, justified before God, and which works in us; or is it righteousness imputed to us outside our affairs? Catholics say the first, Protestants the second, ”he said.
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DeYang summed up the idea that Catholics and Protestants should respect each other, but also noted that they are significantly different and these differences "still matter."
It was previously reported that the Washington-based Pew Research Center, that 500 years after the Reformation, the theological differences between Catholics and Protestants disappeared to a degree that would shock the Christians of the past.
Scholars noted that in recent decades there has been a slow rapprochement between Catholic and Protestant traditions, and there is cooperation and dialogue between faiths that are encouraged by Pope Francis.