|
Protestantism vs. Catholicism |
|
|
|
|
Contrasting Protestant and Catholic Doctrine | Protestants | Catholic | | Role of Bible emphasized | Bible + traditions of Middle Ages + papal pronouncements | | "Priesthood of all believers" – all individuals equal before God. Sought clergy that preached. | Medieval view about special nature and role of the clergy. | Anglicans rejected pope’s authority – monarch became Supreme Governor of the church.
Lutherans rejected authority of the pope but kept bishops.
Most Calvinists governed church by ministers and a group of elders, a system called Presbyterianism.
Anabaptists rejected most forms of church governance in favor of congregational democracy. | Medieval hierarchy: believers, priests, bishops and pope. | | Most Protestants denied efficacy of some or all of sacraments of the medieval church – the Eucharist (communion) most controversial. | All seven sacraments | Consubstantiation – Lutherans: bread and wine did not change but believer realizes presence of Christ is in the bread and wine. (Real Presence)
Zwingli saw the event of communion as only symbolic – memorial to the actions of Christ, or thanksgiving for God’s grant of salvation (main reason for break with Luther) | Transubstantiation – bread and wine retain outward appearances but are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. | Lutherans believed in Justification by faith – salvation cannot be earned and a good life is the fruit of faith.
Calvinsts: predestination; a good life could provide some proof of predestined salvation – "visible saints" or the "elect." | Salvation through living life according to Christian beliefs and participating in the practices of the church -- good works | Lutherans and Anglicans believed state controls the Church.
Anabaptists believed church ignores the state. | Catholics and Calvinists believed church should control and absorb the state – theocracy. | | Services emphasized the sermon | Services emphasized the Eucharist |
|