Catholic vs. Protestant
Main DifferenceCatholicism and Protestantism are two major basic denominations in Christianity. Although there are three major groups that divide Christianity and Christians into three sects that include these two and the third minor one that is Orthodoxy. Catholic or Catholicism is a kind of major sect in Christianity; it is based upon the teaching of traditional Roman Catholic Church. Whereas on the other hand Protestant or Protestantism is moreover a reformed sect of Christianity that obliges reformed teachings rather than the traditional teachings of Roman Catholic Church.
Difference Between Catholic and Protestant
Catholic vs. Protestant
Catholics believe in the traditional teaching of Roman Catholic Church.
Catholic vs. Protestant
Protestants do not believe in the supremacy of Pope and contradict the concept of believing in any other scripture other than the bible.
Catholic vs. Protestant
Protestants possess Five Solae that contradicts basic teachings of Roman Catholic Church.
Catholic vs. Protestant
Protestants believe that deeds are not concerned only the faith is concerned.
Catholic vs. Protestant
Protestants deny pope and other scriptures other than Bible.
Catholicadjective
Universal; all-encompassing.
Protestantadjective
protesting
Catholicadjective
Pertaining to all kinds of people and their range of tastes, proclivities etc.; liberal.
Protestantnoun
One who protests; a protester.
Catholicadjective
alternative case form of Catholic
Protestantnoun
an adherent of Protestantism
Catholicnoun
a member of a Catholic church
Protestantnoun
the Protestant churches and denominations collectively
Catholicadjective
of or relating to or supporting Catholicism;
the Catholic ChurchProtestantadjective
of or relating to Protestants or Protestantism;
Protestant churchesa Protestant denominationCatholicadjective
free from provincial prejudices or attachments;
catholic in one's tastesProtestantadjective
making a protest
Comparison Chart
| Catholic | Protestant |
| Catholic or Catholicism is the set of belief in the Roman Catholic Church that was established in 315 AD. | Protestant or Protestantism is the belief that contradicts the teaching of Roman Catholic Church. It is a reformed version of Christianity and its beliefs. |
| Place of Origin | |
| Roman Empire | Roman Empire but reforms originating in Germany. |
| Authority of Pope | |
| Accepted and Supremacy of Pope retains. | Deny papal supremacy. Deny the authority of Pope. |
| Meaning of Terms | |
| Catholic means “Universal.” | Protestant means “to protest.” |
| Originated In | |
| 315 AD | 1517 AD |
| Population | |
| 1.2 Billion | 590 million |
| Purgatory | |
| It is a special place that is used to clean and cleanse people from sins. The punishments of different sins are also given here. | No such concept. |
What is Catholic?
Catholic or Catholicism refers towards the denomination of majority of Christians and their belief in the teachings of traditional Roman Catholic Church. Although there are other two major sects too in the Christianity that contradict the beliefs and teachings of Roman Catholic Church. That is Protestant and Orthodoxy. Catholicism is not a kind of sect as it is a developed form of Christianity but based upon the teachings of Roman Catholic Church. All the rules and regulation are according to the First Council of Constantinople in 381. Unlike the Reformed divisions in Christianity which deny the teachings and traditional beliefs of Roman Catholic Church, Catholicism retains all the traditional teachings. They believe in the supremacy of Pope and all the basic teachings too.
What is Protestant?
Protestant or Protestantism refers towards the reformed sect of Christianity that covers second largest Christian population after Catholicism. It is a kind of reformed group that is considered to be revolutionized and bypass some traditional teaching of Roman Catholic Church. Protestantism was founded in 1517 by a German Prince, Martin Luther, who published his ninety-five theses regarding it. Protestantism contradicts with Catholicism on various beliefs. Protestant does not accept the concept of papal supremacy. Which means they do not consider the Catholic pope as guide or supreme authority and deny Roman Catholic doctrine completely. The have different belief from Catholics in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist too. They are moreover concerned with the faith rather than deeds, and they only consider Bible to be believed only denying all traditional and moral scriptures of Roman Catholic Church. Protestant possess a set of five principles that are termed as “Five Solae” and reform contrary to the teachings of Catholicism.
