what the differences between catholic and ortodox religions?
107108
This question has been asked many times. Most Orthodox, in attempting to distinguish between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, usually mention the Pope or Purgatory, sometimes the filioque. Historically, the differences, however, are far more numerous and quite profound. \n\nAlso, in modern times, since Vatican II of thirty years ago, that major, if not tragic attempt, to "update" Roman Catholicism (e.g., the revision of canon law), the differences between Orthodoxy and the followers of the Pope have widened. \n\nIn our present discussion, however, the concern will be those differences which have grown since Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism separated almost a thousand years ago. \n\n1. Faith and Reason \n\nFollowing the Holy Fathers, Orthodoxy uses science and philosophy to defend and explain her Faith. Unlike Roman Catholicism, she does not build on the results of philosophy and science. The Church does not seek to reconcile faith and reason. She makes no effort to prove by logic or science what Christ gave His followers to believe. If physics or biology or chemistry or philosophy lends support to the teachings of the Church, she does not refuse them. However, Orthodoxy is not intimidated by man's intellectual accomplishments. She does not bow to them and change the Christian Faith to make it consistent with the results of human thought and science. \n\nSt. Basil the Great advised young monks to use Greek philosophy as a bee uses the flower. Take only the "honey," ---- the truth --- which God has planted in the world to prepare men for the Coming of the Lord. \n\nFor example, the Greeks had a doctrine of the Logos. The Gospel of John opens, "In the beginning was the Word (Logos, in Greek). For the pagans, the Logos was not God, as He is for Christians; rather he is a principle, a power or force by which "God: formed and governs the world. The Fathers pointed to the similarity between the Logos or Word of the Bible and the Logos of Greek philosophy as a sign of Providence. The difference between them, they attributed to the sinfulness of men and the weakness of the human intellect. They remembered the words of the Apostle Paul, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2: 8). \n\nRoman Catholicism, on the other hand, places a high value on human reason. Its history shows the consequence of that trust. For example, in the Latin Middle Ages, the 13th century, the theologian-philosopher, Thomas Aquinas, joined "Christianity" with the philosophy of Aristotle. From that period til now, the Latins have never wavered in their respect for human wisdom; and it has radically altered the theology, mysteries and institutions of the Christian religion. \n\n2. The Development of Doctrine \n\nThe Orthodox Church does not endorse the view that the teachings of Christ have changed from time to time; rather that Christianity has remained unaltered from the moment that the Lord delivered the Faith to the Apostles (Matt. 28: 18-20). She affirms that "the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) is now what it was in the beginning. Orthodox of the twentieth century believe precisely what was believed by Orthodox of the first, the fifth, the tenth, the fifteenth centuries. \n\nTo be sure, Orthodoxy recognizes external changes (e.g., vestments of clergy, monastic habits, new feasts, canons of ecumenical and regional councils, etc.), but nothing has been added or subtracted from her Faith. The external changes have a single purpose: To express that Faith under new circumstances. For example, the Bible and divine Services were translated from Hebrew and Greek into the language of new lands; or new religious customs arose to express the ethnic sensibilities of the converted peoples, etc.; nevertheless, their has always been "one faith, one Lord, one baptism" (Eph.
281204
go to\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic
187115
Religion is man-made\n\nChristianity is Christianity
933440
Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics separated from one another in 1054. There are very few theological differences. \n\nThe main difference is that the Eastern Orthodox Churches (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11329a.htm) use the Byzantine Rite (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04312d.htm) and the Roman Catholic Church use the Roman or Latin Rite.\n\nPope John Paul II said of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in Orientale Lumen, "A particularly close link already binds us. We have almost everything in common." (see http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_02051995_orientale-lumen_en.html)\n\nWith love in Christ.
349320
Mormons are Christian.  The difference is doctrine like the many different facets of Christianity.
851979
Protestants believe that the bible is the authority.  They teach what Christ and the apostles taught.\nCatholics believe that the pope is the authority.  They teach the traditions that he makes up.  Many of these traditions go against the teaching of christ.  This is the reason that the Protestants separtated from the Catholic church.
534050
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.
558665
Like the answerer above me, I too went through the RCIA and none of my immediate family is Catholic. In fact, my mother is still very much against religion and against Christianity in particular.\n\nIf you are baptized, confirmed, and believe in the authority given by Jesus to the Church, and to the office of the Pope in particular, and therefore fully accept all dogma and doctrine that the Magisterium of the Church teaches then you are a true Catholic.\n\nCatholic means universal. So Catholic Church means universal Church. To be Catholic means being of one mind and one faith in communion with the Church which is the body of Christ. \n\nIf one insists on following their own individual beliefs apart from the dogma or doctrine of the Church then they are not Catholic because they are isolating themselves from the universal family of the Church. They are not universal, so they are not Catholic.
247230
Roman Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity.\n\nArguably, a religion *is* a way to come to God.
432901
non denominational means its not a certain form of christianity. Catholics are a specific form of christianity- its the most different from other forms which are known as protstants, and under protstants there are many more forms, such as presbyterian, which is what I am.
238105
Actually, the Catholic Church was the ONLY Christian church for many many years. Now, as different groups have disagreed with the teachings of the Catholic leaders, some have broken away and founded new religions.\n\nA CHRISTIAN is someone who believes that God became a human being (Jesus of Nazareth), and saves us from the consequences of our sins by dying on a cross.\n\nCATHOLICS believe exactly that. We also believe that the apostles were given the responsibility and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead Christians in faith - and that the bishops carry on that responsibility (and receive that guidance) still today.\n\nIn other words, Catholics ARE Christians. But there are other kinds of Christians as well (Orthodox, Schismatics, Christian/cults, and Protestants).
25083
I think a major difference is that Protestants believe that you cannot get to heaven on your own merit, that you must confess your sins and trust in Jesus as God's son who died as a sacrifice for your sins; they believe that you cannot avoid sin on your own, that you must rely on Jesus as a redeemer, but that you will want to do good works out of appreciation for God's salvation through Jesus.  I think that Roman Catholics believe that you must acknowledge that Jesus is God's son, but also that you have to do good works to get to heaven.\n\n\nFrom what I understand, Protestants believe that you can/should directly ask Jesus to forgive your sins, while Roman Catholics believe that you can/should confess your sins to a priest, who will in turn be your "intercessor" to Jesus/God.  \n\nAlso, Protestants believe that only Jesus/God/Holy Spirit are holy and that the Virgin Mary (Jesus' mother) or other "saints" are just regular people, saved by God's grace/Jesus.  Roman Catholics believe that the Virgin Mary and other "saints" are holy, and can be prayed to for miracles or forgiveness.\n\nFor the most part, I think that Protestants believe that when you die, you will go to heaven or hell.  Roman Catholics believe that you might go to purgatory (where you are "purged" of your sins before you get into heaven).  I think there's also "Limbo," which is a place where babies can go if they haven't been able to comprehend the choice between heaven and hell.\n\nThere are, of course, a lot of different divisions within Protestant and Roman Catholic faiths, so a lot of these are generalizations, and will not necessarily apply to a Protesant or Roman Catholic person's personal beliefs.
962684
Christian is the tree. Catholic is the branch of the tree.
442033
Maybe this could help . . . help from a nonbeliever . . . lol\n\nAuthority \n- Catholic: Scripture and Tradition \n- Protestant: Scripture alone\nBible \n- Catholic: Includes apocrypha \n- Protestant: Exclude apocrypha\nResult of Fall \n- Catholic: Corruption and tendency to sin \n- Protestant: Total depravity and guilt \nFree will \n- Catholic: Free to do good or evil \n- Protestant: Free only to do evil \nPredestination \n- Catholic: Related to God's foreknowledge \n- Protestant: Related to God's decrees \nAtonement \n- Catholics: Death of Christ created merit that is shared with sinners through sacraments \n- Protestant: Death of Christ was a substitutionary sacrifice that satisfied God's justice\nDivine grace \n- Catholics: Prevenient grace helps one believe; efficacious grace cooperates with the human will to do good \n- Protestant: Common grace enabling good works given to all; sufficient grace for salvation given to elect only\nGood works \n- Catholics: Meritorious \n- Protestant: Results of divine grace and unworthy of merit \nSalvation \n- Catholics: Received at baptism; may be lost by mortal sin; regained by penance. Those who have never heard of Christ may be saved. ( Catech 847 http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p123a9p3.htm#III ) \n- Protestant: Result of divine grace; unconditional. Those who have never heard of Christ may be saved. \nThe Church \n- Catholics: The Catholic Church is "the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation" ( Catech 845 http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p123a9p3.htm#III ) but those baptized in other Christian denominations are in communion with the Church ( Catech 838 http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p123a9p3.htm#III ). \n- Protestant: There is a distinction between the visible and invisible church. God saves anyone he chooses, or anyone with proper faith, regardless of church membership. \nSacraments \n- Catholics: Convey grace by their operation (ex opere operato). \n- Protestant: Means of grace only if received with faith. \nPriests - Catholics: A special vocation for some believers; mediators between God and man - Protestant: Priesthood of all believers.\nTransubstantiation \n- Catholics: Affirmed \n- Protestant: Rejected - "Real Presence" instead. \nPurgatory \n- Catholics: Affirmed \n- Protestant: Denied\nPrayer to saints \n- Catholics: Accepted \n- Protestant: Rejected
395481
catholicism is one of the two major branches of christianity, the other being protestantism. protestantism was founded by martin luther in the 15th century as a rebellion against what he perceived as the corruption of the then-current christian church. he wanted christianity to focus more upon the teachings of the bible rather than those that the church had built upon them. this was called the reformation. the church responded to this with the counter-reformation, which gave rise to catholicism.\n\nthe current differences are that the catholics have a far greater canon than protestantism, for instance they believe in the power of the saints, the authority of the pope, and the divinity of mother mary, none of which is written in the bible. the pope is the highest authority for theological questions. the protestants, on the other hand, tend to keep their canon far simpler, and consider the bible to be the highest authority, and that it should be interpreted individually by each person. they also tend to view religion as more of an individual, personal affair -- a personal relationship with god, while for the catholics it is more of a structured, community affair.
607017
Catholics are Christians through and through--in the very fullest sense.  \n\nPeople like to give (and make up) all kinds of reasons why Catholics are not Christians, but the one thing that truly sets Catholics apart most is the Eucharist.  Together with members of the Orthodox Church (the Catholic Church's "Sister" Church), Catholics are the only people who receive the Real Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Lord Jesus.  You don't get any more Christian than that!\n\nReceiving the Eucharist literally transforms us spiritually into true sons and daughters of God.  That was the entire purpose of Jesus's Incarnation--He died so that we could be true children of God again.\n\nThat said, in order to receive the Eucharist, we must be in a state of grace (proper disposition, no mortal sins on our souls).  Unlike many Protestants, who think their salvation is guaranteed just by saying they believe in Jesus (regardless of their sins), Catholics care a great deal about making ourselves as worthy as possible, and we often go to great lengths.  This is because we know we are truly, completely, receiving Lord Jesus into ourselves through the Eucharist.  You wouldn't want to invite a guest into a messy house--we *definitely* don't want to do that to Lord Jesus!\n\nIt's no surprise that lots of Christians don't understand Catholicism--there is so much to learn, and not everyone likes to learn.  But no argument against Catholicism can stand up to Scripture or any other element of Sacred Tradition.  After all, the Bible is a Catholic Book (despite some Protestants thinking that the King James Version just fell out of the sky one day).  Protestants claim that Catholic Sacred Tradition "adds" to the Bible, but the fact is that the Bible IS Catholic Sacred Tradition.  \n\nFinally, I'd like to address Catholics' veneration of Mary--which Protestants claim to mean that we worship Mary (and therefore, we are not Christians).  Veneration does not mean worship--it means honor.  As a good Jewish man, Jesus honored His parents (both Mary and St. Joseph).  Before His death, Jesus told St. John to regard Mary as his mother--which meant that Jesus was asking St. John to honor her as well.  So... who are we not to honor her?  Are we above Jesus and St. John?  Venerating Mary is one more way in which Catholics show obedience to Lord Jesus.  It should also be noted that at least some of the earliest Protestants (such as Luther) also venerated Mary and believed in her perpetual virginity.
507883
If you want to ask for forgiveness direct from GOD through Jesus Christ, then be a Christian not a Catholic because a catholic's sins are forgiven through the pope or father of the Catholic Church. Catholics worship saints and idols like Virgin Mary and so on, whereas Christian worship only God in Jesus Christ. Those are just some of the many differences between Christians and Catholics.Pick your choice wisely.... If I'm wrong, do correct me.May God Bless you.