hehe...you sure you want to do that friendly? Have you brushed up on supralapsarianism lately? That's about as fine as it gets...

Well DJE, believe or not, the major questions do not actually revolve around how God personally feels about Protestantism versus Catholicism. From what I understand, differences revolve around three major points.

The below are wide generalization, but in an issue like this it is unavoidable.

1. Whether or not scripture is to be interpreted literally, to what extent, and whether or not the bible is the ONLY authentic source for the 'dictates' of God.

2. Whether or not the office of the Pope is valid and representative head of the Church. Catholics would say he is, wheareas a Protestant (of any stripe) would point to Jesus as alone fulfilling that role.

3. How one is to be saved. Most Portestant will have you believe that all is required to be saved is faith and trust in God. Catholicism feels that faith must be backed up by 'good works'.

I think most crcucial differences between the two can more or less fit into those three points.

Jacob, I can use supralapsarianism as part of an explanation for why God can't logically exist. Don't tempt me. ;)

Also, how would you identify (if you identify with a particular church), by the way? You strike me as Calvanist for some odd reason, but I am likely mistaken.

Three guesses as to how I was raised. ^.^

by wolves with your twin brother

whoops sarcasm, sorry

i agree thsoe are the differneces in structure butthat last one protestants don't all believe that you only say oh i belive in Jesus and you go to heaven. no i know as a free methodist (probably never heard of the denomination i know) that we belive that after you express that faith you have to live it and with living it coems good works.

I didn't want to kill him, but all that wild leaping around the furrows was really annoying me. :(

DJEcc24, i agree with the answer to your question. Its not about how you label yourself (Protestant or Catholic), but whether you believe in Jesus' death resurrection and its consequences for mankind.
Friendly Sword also brings up 3 valid points of dispute.

as far as scripture is interpretated i belive its fairly obvious what it says. but you have to always keep in mind that Jesus talked giving many metaphors and parables. like if you eye causes you to sin gauge it out. did he want us to gouge it out?

As a protestant, I'd guess it's possible for both protestants and Roman Catholics to be saved and enter Heaven. It's also possible for both to miss out on salvation. As to what God cares about, I cannot say with any certainty. His Son seemed to be very big on loving one another and treating others as you would like to be treated. With the exception of going overboard from time to time (sorry acosmist) I try to do that.

Sorry, didn't mean to belittle the Catholic Church. It is a very big target so..and I do really believe what I said to be true.

Except for the "Catholic Church is dead by next century" post. That's my opinion.

People don't really convert to Atheism, by the way. Or at least not atheism as in simply not believing in God. That would be the opposite of conversion. :)

Atheism in itself is a religion(technically) because it is a belief.

both are wrong. ortodox church is the only true cristian church

As to the OP's question, I'm probably too moderate to be of much use for this discussion. I see all Christian Churches as being blessed by God so long as their doctrine follows the Apostles and Nicean Creeds.

As to Friendly's three points they are good, but they dismiss a third member of the Body of Christ. Orthodox Christians place an entirely different spin on the office of the Pope, and they are neither protestant nor Roman Catholic. Historically the Pope was the archbishop of Rome. Rome was important and hence so was the office of Pope, but there were (and still are) patricarchs that are basically equivalent as the leaders of their own orthodox churches. These are Churches that are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as having apostolic sucession.

"good works" can be a little misleading. Most protestants do not accept sacraments such as last rites as a good work to get into Heaven. Most do, however, see the need to perform works of charity and definitely teach that one has to live out your religion through your treatment of others.

Conservative Protestants, because they use core Christian beliefs as a foundation. Catholicism is wrong because they spend more of their time listening the the Pope then worshipping God. Liberal Protestants, like Methodists, are worse because they often disregard God when making decisions. Also, the Catholic belief in limbo is absolutely absurd.

As an atheist, you would think I would feel excluded, but I do think Protestantism and especially Puritanism are the lesser of the two evils compared to Catholocism. If there is one religion I hate the most it is Catholocism (of the Roman persuasion). The whole human hierarchy thing bugs me, but of course reveals the true nature of all religions in my opinion (or at least of Islam, Judaism, Christianity, maybe not so much Daoism, Buddhism, etc). Of course I still think both sects are completely nutzoids, but I still respect their different beliefs to an extent. I think I made my point

@Steven:
Alas, it seems I have to explain this again, sigh...
Atheism is a belief, a all religions are beliefs, but not all beliefs are religions (or lack of beliefs). Therefore, atheism is not a religion just as a belief in the sun or a lack of belief in unicorns are not religions. I know definitions are subjective (as are morals... and most things for that matter) but you can't be that broad, I AM NOT RELIGOUS, if I were, I WOULD HAVE TO HATE MYSELF FOR DOING SO BECAUSE I HATE RELIGION WITH A PASSION (of course I do hate myself but that's for a different reason entirely)

I couldn't resist this thread, sorry all believers, though not really...

I don't want to hijack this thread, but it disturbs me that atheists choose to ignore all of the physical evidence. Not only that but they also are apparently happy with this choice...

Sorry, guys. I just had to throw that out. If anyone wants to debate me on that, go ahead and start a new thread.

i agree with master warrior

Why can't we have a theological debate? For instance do you believe that you can communicate directly to god? Protestants sure do. Is the consummation of the body of christ central to faith? Catholics sure think so. Lets get this ball rolling baby.

Whether or not you believe in god. Doesn't anyone else find distinctions like these (especially ones that have caused such wars) interesting? If you do believe one version you are potentially risking damnation if the other is correct, so its serious stuff right?

I wasn't being sarcastic before, just blunt.

I don't pretend to have God's ear, I just believe that the Catholic Church has got it pretty right. I don't have a reasoned, logical justification for my beliefs because I don't think religion is reasonable or logical. It's faith, and that's what I have.

And my religion's better because we've got our very own country, so there. *JOKE*JOKE*

I'd posit that all churches who believe in prayer, have communication directly with God as a central part of their doctrine. I'd ask, who believes that apostolic succession is necessary to obtain absolution from sins?

Crazy A, people who love rules and fixed hierarchial structures thats who.

Bring back religions with Temple whores and i might consider becoming religious. throw in priests who take cactus etc to commnicate with god and ill sign up.

as for this debate catholics have a higer pedo count!

i may have been raised a catholic, but i'm fairly sure i reject that religion, and i wouldn't consider protestantism to be in any way an improvement on not being part of a major organised religious movement.

I wasnt raised Cathlic or protestant so i cant really say which is better. however i do find it quite insulting that some churches belive that Faith itself is all you need to be "good" and get into the VIP club upstairs, so on that i have to say i prefer the catholic church which is similar with the Islamic religion in that charity and helping others is an important part of folowing jesus' footsteps. however some protestant churches also believe that too.

on the otherhand we have The Crusades, witch burning and the anti science inquisitions. Can anyone argue that the Cathloic church stuffed up promoting the first and having a guiding hand in the other two?

The Crusades were just another set of wars. An important set, but no more bloody or cruel than any other. They just happen to be more interesting so people read about Christian soldiers riding ankle deep in blood in Jerusalem, but actions of equal brutality occurred in secular wars all over Europe and Islam was spread primarily through war and rival sultans and caliphs were constantly fighting each other. The Crusades are special because they're interesting, not interesting because their loss of life was particularly special.

Witch burnings were primarily Protestant affairs. Most happened in Germany after the Reformation, and Salem was a one-church, Congregationalist town.

Anti-science inquisitions were bad, but there was little death. Secular authorities were just as oppressive at the time when it comes to stuff like Galileo's house arrest. In fact, in terms of treatment the Church might have been a bit more lenient in most cases than a secular authority would. If Galileo had pissed off some Italian duke as much as he did the Pope he might have just been killed.

The Catholic Church also was a constant challenge to the authority of kings, and while not a democratic institution itself and not even advocating it till after Vatican II, the constant tension between the two helped crack state autocracy and lead to the development of individual freedoms, albeit VERY slowly and unintentionally. Fareed Zakaria made that argument recently.