Welcome to Gaia! ::

Well, from what I understand, they live under a very strict set of rules, that not all Christians believe that we need. If you want to know, check wikipedia for catholics, it may be more help than my limited knowledge of other denominations.

I think part of it is is the ability to pray to the virgin Mary and the Saints and the invention of purgatory sorry for the speeling on that

When I think of Catholocism, I think of rituals. There seems to be some man-made ones like tithing. I haven't come across anything like that in the New Testament. And there are various other things about Catholocism that have already been listed above.

Also, I've met more fallen Catholics than any other sects. And usually when they fall, they REALLY fall. Like going into Wiccanism or Satanism. Stuff like that. I don't know. I think all the codes and the primpness of Catholocism turns lots of people away.

I've been meaning to reply to this for awhile, but haven't had adequate time to do it. Sorry, this is a bit lengthy.

Firstly, Catholics are Christians, so you can't really say there's a difference between the two. However, I'm assuming most of us here are Protestant (Baptist, Methodist, etc.), so I will be comparing Catholicism to Protestantism.

Here's some noteworthy things www.beliefnet.com has to say about the Catholic faith.

After Death:
God immediately judges who will go directly to heaven or hell; most will go to purgatory for punishment and purification. Reward and punishment are relative to one's deeds. Hell was traditionally considered a literal place of eternal torture, but Pope John Paul II has described hell as the condition of pain that results from alienation from God, a thing of one's own doing, not an actual place. When Christ returns at the end of the world, he will judge all humans. All the dead will be bodily resurrected, the righteous to glorified bodies, evildoers to judgment.

Salvation:
All are already saved (through Christ's death and resurrection), are still being saved (through the Church), and will be saved in the future (second coming of Christ). Demands faith in and prayer to God and Jesus Christ, good works, and sacraments, including only one (infant) baptism. One's salvation must be restored after commission of a mortal sin through the sacraments of repentance/confession and Communion.

Other Beliefs:
The pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. He and the magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church) clarify doctrine. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is highly revered, though not worshipped. Saints are asked to intercede on behalf of sinners. Social justice teachings urge Catholics to show a special preference for those who are poor and weak.

And here's what is says about Protestants on the same topics.

After Death
Saved souls experience the bliss of heaven and unsaved souls the torture of hell. On Judgment Day, Jesus Christ will resurrect the dead, reunite body and soul, and judge each for eternity in heaven, or on a restored, paradisiacal earth, or in hell. Some believe the souls of the dead will remain "asleep" until the resurrection and final judgment.

Salvation
Salvation is granted by the grace of God alone, through faith in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior--not through "works" such as moral behavior, good deeds, and generally not through sacraments. Some believe that once saved, or born again, always saved. Many Conservative Protestants regard baptism, when performed, as a practice for adult believers, rather than infants/children, as it is not considered a sacrament for salvation but an act of commitment to the fellowship. However, some churches do regard certain sacraments as very important components on the path to salvation (e.g. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America), including infant baptism, regarding baptism as a miracle from God that creates faith in the heart. Some Protestants regard baptism as a washing away of sin, which may be repeated. Among most, confession/repentance is considered personal, between the individual and God, unless a public sin is involved, and confession to a pastor, when offered, is optional. . . . Preaching the gospel, the Word of God, is often regarded as a means for building faith in Christ.

(I cut some unecessary stuff out where the . . . is located.)

If you take a look, the Protestant view is more in line with the Bible. Purgatory, salvation being achieved through works, restoration of salvation through repentance/confession/communion, the pope and his supreme authority, and praying to the saints to intercede is not in the Bible, to the best of my knowledge. If anyone can come across any mention of these things, please, correct me.

Actually, tithing is done in other churches as well, and is mentioned several times in the old and new Testament. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just giving to the church.

Quick note in response to [.L.O.S.E.R.]'s topic (didn't want to quote):

Just so that everyone is aware (there is some confusion on this topic), Lutherans are NOT Protestants, unless you are talking about the ELCA. We cannot be grouped into either Catholics or Protestants.

Yes, and all Christians have the same basic beliefs, therefore sharing beliefs. And it says any believer should be able to take communion like in my post.