Catholicism and Protestantism are two of the largest religions in the world. One rich in tradition and unwaveringness, the other in diversity and modernity. Both have the same basis, but at the same time are vastly different.

Both Catholicism and Protestantism are based on the belief that Jesus Christ, Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He is now with God the Father. They also believe in the Holy Trinity, that is three persons in one, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and The Holy Spirit.

The first, and maybe the most radical, difference between the two religions is the beliefs of the afterlife, or more simply put, “who’s going to heaven.” Both Protestants and Catholics believe that Jesus died on the cross to enable us to have the chance at eternal life-“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” John 3:16. However, Protestants believe that all one must do is believe in Jesus and he/she will receive eternal life. Good deeds are not considered meritorious; rather, they are a result of divine grace. This is because, they say, humans are free to do only evil, and good acts are inspired by God. In contrast, Catholics believe that one must also act according to Gods word and his or her good deeds, along with Jesus’ sacrifice, will ensure them eternal life in heaven. Good acts are meritorious because man has freewill to choose good or evil.

A second difference between Catholicism and Protestantism is the structure of the churches. Catholicism is comprised of one holy, Catholic, and apostolic church. Roman Catholicism is considered by most people to be the only Catholic church, but some other churches, such as the Eastern and Russian Orthodox Churches, consider themselves to be Catholic, however, the respective church’s origins and belief systems suggest otherwise. The Roman Catholic Church is headed by the Pope, currently Pope Benedict XVI. The church has a set order of leaders, from priests to deacons, bishops and cardinals. On the other hand, the Protestant church is not one church, but many denominations. These denominations have come about from splits within the Protestant church, and have resulted in over 34,000 separate denominations that are still considered Protestant. The church has no overarching leader. Instead, each individual church has its own pastor, and the congregation under the guidance of the pastor makes the decisions within the church. In the Catholic Church, the church’s Archdiocese makes the decisions.

Another difference between the two faiths is the authority of beliefs. Catholics look to both the Bible and to tradition, tradition such as a Pope, sets of rules and guidelines handed down through the ages. Protestants believe in “Sola Scriptura”, or the Bible alone, as the basis of their beliefs.

In Catholicism, the Bible contains the Apocrypha, a set of books that were added by the Church after the completion of the Scriptures because it believed that they would help better guide members of the Church to leading a holy life. Protestants disavow the Apocrypha because they believe it was not divinely inspired, and therefore does not have a place in the totally-divinely inspired Bible.

A major difference between Catholicism and Protestantism concerns Saints and Mary, mother of Jesus. Many people mistakenly think that Catholics worship Saints and the Mother Mary the same way they worship Jesus. This is simply not true. Catholics ask the Saints in heaven as well as the Virgin Mary to pray to God for them, to intercede on there behalf. Catholics also believe that Mary, mother of Jesus, is higher up than any other saint in heaven and is also ever virgin. In contrast, Protestants do not believe in having saints, but that only God and Jesus should be asked for help. They also believe that Mary was not ever-virgin, but only virgin before the birth of Jesus.

Transubstantiation means the change of the substance of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Catholics believe in transubstantiation; Protestants believe that the change from bread to body is only figurative and not literal.

The priesthood is a major difference between the Catholic and Protestant religions. Protestantism teaches that the faithful are a “priesthood of believers”, and therefore each congregation is lead by a pastor, or spiritual guider of the people. In Catholicism, Priests are selected members of the faith who must go through 8+ years of schooling and dedicate their lives solely to God and His Church. The other members, or lay people, are just as important to the church as clergy, or ordained members, but have different roles.

In conclusion, Protestantism and Catholicism are based around the same, monotheistic beliefs. They both worship Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and worship him fully and truly. However, since the split in the Church and the creation of the two religions, both faiths have been fighting over their differences and ignoring their similarities. These differences we must learn to put aside and worship together, as one. “Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Luke 9:50