I am going to a new church and am interested in knowing the differences as well as the similarities. I can see the difference in the Sunday mass.
216820
Robin Williams jokes that Espiscopalians have "all the ceremony, half the guilt." Now the rest of the world calls them Anglicans, and I will for the remainder of my answer.\n\nOne of the differences between the Catholics and Anglicans is the rite used for the Mass. Roman Catholics use a rite called the "Novis Ordo", a modified form of the Latin liturgy it created in the aftermath of Vatican II. The Anglicans, on the other hand, use a rite derived from the Book of Common Prayer.\n\nSee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Prayer\n\n(Some Catholic parishes use a modified form of this called the Anglican use, if the parish is one that at some point belonged to the Church of England.)\n\nIn terms of beliefs, there are not too many differences between Catholics and Anglicans. What differences there are is contained in a treatise the Anglicans have called "the Thirty Nine articles" - though not all of them are differences, some of them are areas of specific agreement, in fact.\n\nOne of the important differences in terms of hierarchy is that Anglican bishops are absolute rulers of their diocese. While Catholics believe their bishops are sovereign over their local churches, that authority is to be defered to the authority of the Pope, Peter's sucessor.\n\nAnglicans do accept in theory the idea that the Papacy perhaps should hold some weight. But their view of the local bishop's power is that it is basically absolute: that any "chief bishop" who is the head of a communion (in the case of the Anglicans, that is the Archbishop of Canterbury) is more of a figurehead, primus interpares (a "first among equals.")\n\nAnother difference is that Anglicans dropped the traditional Latin discipline of priestly and episcopal (bishop's) celibacy.\n\nIn the US Episcopal church, there is a consensus that women may also be ordained to the priesthood and episcopacy, as well as non-celibate homosexuals. The Catholics do not share this view.
126731
From what I understand, they are very similar. The Baptist preach once saved, always saved. The Nazarene, I think (don't quote me), believe you can lose your salvation. Go to whichever is going to help you in your spiritual walk. God bless you for taking your son to church.
132501
Alot of people go to church to observe and to see what is happening there.  I appreciate your openness and not going there to mock them but to here and see if what is happening truly is. \n\nAssemblies is good, although you may be a little uncomfortable if your looking for the cold religious style church.  AOG and Apostolic are a very lively bunch at times and you could say "on fire" for Jesus.  Be careful of Apostolics though.  Depends on the what type of Apostolics they are.  Some are very heavily legalistic, like the woman cannot cut their hair and must wear dresses.  Some even believe that all other Christian churches are not true, they they are the only ones.  This is sad to say.  But I do believe that God works with all of us, even when we do get a bit judgmental and error.\n\nGod Bless, and I pray you have an opportunity to taste and see the Lord is good.  He is real, tangible and very active in our lives.
99363
from what sect prespective will you be answering from?  I am learning it makes a very big difference.
328278
go to a different church every sunday
207593
dani-- I too want to do the samething. I thik I posted a very similar question a few weeks ago. And I've seen someone else post one just the same. One person said something to the effect of the catholic church takes number by who is actually a parishioner. But I think I know where you are coming from, I 've received all my sacraments and I want the catholic church to know so that they can see that there are people out there that have turned their back on the catholic church.  Usually the catholic church does not take into account the number pf people that have left and it should be time that anyone who no longer follows catholism should send a letter to their local catholic church declaring that they have walked away.\n\nOn a side note not only did I turn away from catholism but religion as a whole. I do not see the need for religion nor do I want to be part of any religion.  but that part is just me, not sure about you.\nin anycase here is an idea which I am planning on doing, just send a letter in a resignation format declaring that you have turned away from catholism and whatever else you want to say and conclude with I want my name removed from being a catholic.
199415
i can't seem to find any info on it. why not contact the church itself...nearby church for more answeres.
248425
Where to begin...the Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Patriarch of Rome has universal authority while the Orthodox Church teaches that no bishop has authority outside his diocese.\nThe Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Holy Spirit proceeds in essence from both the Father and the Son and illegitimately changed the creed, while the Orthodox Church teaches that God the Father is the essential source of both the Son and the Holy Spirit.\nThe Roman Catholic Church teaches that we bear the actual guilt for the disobedience of Adam and Ever whereas the Orthodox Church teaches that we suffer the consequences of their disobedience but are ourselves not culpable for it.\nBecause of the RC's teachings on original sin they have made up the doctrine of the immaculate conception, which is not the same thing as the virgin birth, whereby she was born free of the guilt of original sin, or is somehow different than other humans to explain how Mary could be able to give birth to God. Of course they wouldn't need to make the Virgin Mary free of the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience if they hadn't construed it the way they had in the first place.\nThe Roman Catholic Church requires preistly celibacy whereas the Orthodox Church allows married priests, only bishops and monks are required to be celibate.\nThe differences go  on and on, these are just some of the essential ones.\nBy the way the difference between the Roman Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Catholic Church is that the Ukrainian Catholic Church uses the liturgy of the Orthodox Church and has married priests while still being in communion with the Roman Catholic Church and accepting the authority of the Pope. It is an Eastern Rite, or Uniate, church.\nIf you have more questions feel free to ask me. I am Orthodox.
641426
I joined the Church for the peace it brings me.  I was raised Protestant and have had all the fire and brimstone I will ever need.  Sigh, but for the record--it is still a harsh church for women.
375128
Jesus was the first Priest and passed that along to his Apostles\nWoman are the same in dignity but have different rolls within the church. Do not despair  the Church holds woman in high regard as Mary is the Mother of the Church.
4504
Yes, I'm a big fan of the 1928 BCP. However, there are no traditional Anglican churches where I live. Only one very liberal Episcopal church. Bleh. I don't currently own my own copy of the 1928 edition though. I have the (dreaded) 1979 version as well as the 1946 version (given to me at my confirmation).
38438
I think it's great to go to several churches. It's also great to find one that you consider your home church. You can do this without turning your back on other denominations. The church needs more people like you who are not only willing, but excited to cross the denominational lines. Afterall, unity is so important!
229668
Sure, it's okay. At least you're going. I wish my church had evening services, because the regular weekly service is held at a really inconvenient time for me. My spouse is Catholic and attends Saturday night Mass, and I'm jealous. I wish we had more nighttime services like that.
259796
Hi bellbree,\n\n I was walking to the corner market for a loaf of bread when I had to pass by a neighborhood church. I was somewhat acquainted with the structure as it was always mentioned in the newspaper's community section. Known as "The loft," folks would gather there on Thursday evenings for poetry readings. \nHowever, this day happened to be a Saturday afternoon and a pair of gentlemen greeted me as I walked by. They invited me inside to sample an hour of their presentation. Ok, I went inside and found myself to be a prospective new recruit for their brand of religion. \n\nMost of the pews were filled with hooded monks chanting a haunting rhythm. There were others who like me, were wearing their regular denims. The service began like most other church-goers would be familiar with. A grand master of ceremonies led the group through some songs and gave a sermon. Near the end of the hour it was time for their ritual of "laying on of the hands." Some of the parishioners would come forward and ask for prayers for their ailments or for a sick grand mum who fell down in the tub. All the hooded dudes whose faces could not readily be seen would all place a hand on the person and their combined energies were presumed to have a strength and expedite a solution to the problem. \n\nOK now, there was another new guy in the pews who was watching eagerly. I recognized Mark W. Reinhold from the wanted poster at the post office. When he saw a chance, he approached the ring of conspirators and described how he was never able to settle down. The hooded goons closed in upon him, all to make a physical connection. The master of ceremonies began a prayer, a dogmatic mix of logic and pure hocus-pocus. I immediately saw the effects as the tension went out of Mark's body. When the beseeching was near an end, the master asked, "Are the brothers ready?" \n\nA suspenseful few moments passed until he almost shouted, "NOW!" \n\nOn that cue, the brothers began to pummel their hapless victim. Continually delivering blows over head and to the solar plexus until Mark was down on the floor getting stomped. After another minute, the grand Pooh-Bah decided the treatment administered was sufficient to induce a relaxing calm that would assuage the nervousness in Mark for a long, long time. \n\nI can't say for certain that Mark W. Reinhold was apprehended and locked up because, I had a loaf of bread to buy and some other errands to do that day. I hope for you bellbree, that you find a sense of closure to this bad episode of life. \n\n-Bryce
511294
You are basically correct.  \n\nFor centuries, there was only one church.  Then there was a fight over who got to be Pope -- the bishop of Rome or the Bishop of Constantinople.  Okay, they found some insignificant detail in the creed to argue over to make it look legitimate, but really it was just a power struggle, which historians call the "Great Schism" resulting in two separate churches with essentially the same beliefs:  Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox.  \n\nThere are various rites of the Roman Catholic Church -- in the U.S. we have mostly the Latin rite, but there are also the Coptics, the Ruthenians, the Melakites, and some others.  They all follow the Pope and that's what makes them Catholic, even though some of the little rules are different (in the Ruthenian and Melekite rites, priests are allowed to marry) and some traditions that have evolved over the centuries.\n\nThe orthodox do not follow the Pope, but rather, the various Archbishops, depending on where they are -- so you have the Greek orthodox, the Russian Orthodox, etc.  Although some traditions have evolved differently over the many centuries that have passed, the beliefs are very much the same as the Catholics.   \n\nThen you have a long list of Protestants.  The Protestant Reformation began in reaction to pervasive corruption in the Catholic church.  Some, like the Lutherans and Anglicans, are still very similar to the Catholics both in doctrine and in practice -- you almost can't tell which church your in if you attend the service.  Others are quite different, having given up many of the traditions.  Some believe the Bible is a direct dictate of God, word for word, and others believe it must be interpreted in context.\n\nSo yes, there are three main types of Christians, but this describes three main groups, each with various sub-groups.
533931
Protestants started with a monk Martin Luther who rebelled against the corruption of the RC church in his time (15th Century). Anglicans were started by Henry VIII who wanted a divorce. Protestant tends to cover Baptists and other groups that are quite 'back to basics' with regard to the Bible. Anglican covers a spectrum from Anglo-catholic (more like RC) to Evangelical (more like Pentecostal). The biggest difference though is in how they view Holy Communion. Anglicans would be closer to the Roman Catholic interpretation (Jesus spiritually and physically present), whereas Proteatants see it just as a memorial meal of the last supper.
57648
Typing out all the differences would be crazy.\nCheck out the links i've posted below.