differences between catholics/orthodox/protestants

What are the differences bwteen these different branches of christianity? they all follow the bible so why do they have different beliefs? Is it true that the protestants do not believe in the virgin Mary?
ok she was a virgin when pregnant but when she gave birth technically she wasn't any more?

 

its all just a matter of theology....not a matter of faith.

 

There is much that Catholic, Orthodox, and protestants have in common, a good refernce is in this comparison of Catholics, Orthodox, and protestants.

That list was more of how they believe what they do, less of what the specific differences are. In the case of Catholics and Orthodox, the beliefs are very, very similar. Frankly, the differences amoung what individual Orthodox Bishops believe is about the same as between the Orthodox and Catholics.

There is a much bigger difference with protestants.

In the terms of the Virgin Mary, Catholics and Orthodox believe he is, was, and remains a Virgin. Protestants hold different views. Some hold the Catholic/Orthodox view, some argue that she had children.

 

protestants don't hold the view that Mary is not a virgin....Lutherans, Methodists, presbyterians, and episcopalians all hold that she is a virgin.

 

These are different branches of Christianity who have slightly different beliefs.

 

yes, they are different denominations, and their beliefs are a matter of theology. For example, Lutherans say that the wine and bread used in communion IS the body and blood of Christ. Many baptists and methodists say it is merely a representation, and that the bread and wine are not changed. There are many examples of these types of differences, which are why there are also many different denominations.

 

You would think that if everybody follow the bible they would have the same beliefs? why so many denominations? so anyone can understand the bible the way they want convince some people they are saying the thruth and then decide to create a new denomination?

 

not sure about the orthodox but here is a link for some of the differences between catholics and protestants


http://www.gotquestions.org/difference-Catholic-Protestant.html

 

The main difference is that ones can fu*ck and ones cannot

 

Not everyone who follows the Koran has the same beliefs either. It's like pulling teeth trying to get an honest answer from Muslims on this forum about what the Koran says and there are different answers based on who you ask.

There are a lot of denominations because a lot of people claim to follow the Bible but don't.

The Catholic church is getting better. Same with the Mormon church. Other churches differ only on things that don't matter. There are a lot of church specific doctrines that are based on non-specific concepts found in the Bible. Baptism is a big one. Some baptise infants. Some don't. Some immerse. Some sprinkle. The Bible isn't clear on it because it doesn't really matter how the physical act of baptism is carried out. If communion were just a symbol the punishment for taking it unworthily (as the Bible says) would not be damnation. You won't go to hell for being baptised "wrong." You will go to hell for taking communion when you shouldn't.

Contrast that to Islam where murder is committed in every Islamic country because the Koran is very specific that causing "mischief in the land" is grounds for your death.

Unfortunatly it's not specific about what constitutes "mischief in the land." So we have a lot of people murdered simply because they reject Islam or are raped.

With Christianity, all churches (and their members) are judged by the Bible. A lot of false Christian churches (and members) claim the Bible is corrupt (while still claiming they accept it) in order to avoid judgement so they can continue in the lies.

In short, divisions come because of men. Not because of the Bible. If everyone followed the Bible, there wouldn't be divisions. We'd just have different ceremonies accomplishing the same spiritual goals.

 

Not that I'm cynical or anything but it always appeared to me that
Catholics say you can have sex for procreation
Prodestants say you can have sex for fun
Orthodox say you shouldn't have sex.

 

This reads like one of the airplane jokes: Three guys get on an airplane, one is a priest, one is a........

I don't know about you but it is obvious that sex was designed for procreation, that sex is also very enjoyable, and that sex controls many people. I would prefer to take part of the first two, although I think I am done with the first one specifically. The last of those three I would prefer not to be.

 

Hmm who told you that about Orthodox ? Some movie ?

What will I not read here hehe

 

ya, never heard Orthodox can't have sex Are we talking about priests now or ppl in general ?

 

Orthodox priests can have sex and are married men...so it would be strange that they would promote non-sex behavior among orthodox christian followers....

It is simply not true.

What the diamanthian posted he probably saw in some sort of movie or read somewhere and it simply stayed in his head. Well this is the problem with uneducated people on some field posting crap.
I bet a lot of people now will go on and say to their friends and family that orthodox christians say that you should not have sex

For example if you look at this 2004 survey you will see that in top 5 there are 3 mostly orthodox countries
Similar survey taken in 2005 shows similar results. Orthodox countries at the top

Greece, Serbia and Monetenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria etc ....

Seems like balkan people and french are most active

 

I imagine it's because "no sex before marriage" gets cut off at the "no sex" part for non-christians who don't listen well.

 

I think you figured it out! Sherlock in the making.

I don't know much about "orthodox" I always figured it was another word the gworld type would throw out with fundamentalist, bigot, racist, etc... after a while you just ignore the names figuring it is just another name calling session.

 

Orthodox and catholic used to be one. I believe that they broke off because of some atrocities that were commited. Their beliefs are so close that they are almost the same. My friend is catholic and married an orthodox girl and the marriage was performed at an orthodox church with the catholic priest and the orthodox priest both there. there are much bigger differences between protestant and catholic-orthodox . Catholics and orthodox have a great devotion to the virgin mother Mary. protestants think she is just another person .

 

they all used to be catholic...then the reformation came along (thanks to Martin Luther, and actually John Huss a hundred years before)...Luther's goal was not to have a new denomination, but instead to reform the Catholic Church. The reformation failed, which is then why people like Zwingly came about and the other movements started (like the anabaptist movement). From there it was all a dispute among translation (into the vernacular and what word meant what) and theology.

 

Personally, I have a high regard to Mary. But I will not have an idol of her in my house or pray to her. No where have I read that either is what God would have us do. Her faith ranks her up there with David and her purity was obviously higher...

I am not sure why anyone would be devoted to a past saint. They are all just people chosen by God, not one to be put on a pedestal, maybe one to look at as a standard to shoot for, but Jesus set a much higher standard than any 'saint' could achieve.