by Pat Rapacchiano

Created on: July 29, 2010   Last Updated: July 30, 2010

Religion can play a very important role in the lives of many people.  Prior to the Protestant Reformation, the dominant religion at that particular time was Catholicism.  There are many Protestant denominations that exist today.  However, very few people truly understand the difference between the Catholic and Protestant faith.

 I was born and raised Catholic and up until about 10 years ago, I knew very little about any other religion except my own.  I have spent the last 10 years of my life studying the different Protestant religions and I was amazed at what I was able to learn especially when I compared the Protestant religion to that of Catholic. 

 It is sad when you think that at one time you could be persecuted for your particular religious beliefs.  I can almost guarantee that even today many Protestants as well as Catholics know very little about any other religion except their own. 

 First, Christianity is a word used to describe any religion that believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Religion is completely manmade.  No one religion can be considered the right one or the wrong one.

 Catholics and Protestants share the general belief as far as the Scripture is concerned.  However, there are some parts of Scripture that may be interrupted in a different way depending upon your religious affiliation.  The difference seems to become evident when the Catholics attempt to enforce the manmade rules of the church.

 Baptism is something that the Catholics and Protestants share the general belief and importance.  Baptism is to wash away “Original” sin.  Original sin is something that was passed down from Adam and Eve due to their defiance and sinning against God.  Catholics do have a manmade belief concerning death and Baptism.  Catholics used to believe that if an infant died prior to being baptized that he or she would go to a place called “Limbo”.  Limbo was not really Heaven but a place where a baby would go and experience the presence of God and all of his infinite love.   

 It seems that Catholics place a great deal more emphasis on the importance of Baptism, Communion, Confirmation and Marriage.  Catholics consider Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage all Sacraments of the divine Catholic Church.  It appears that Protestants do not consider the above mentioned as Sacraments. 

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