Is it easier to be Protestant or Catholic?

Cat · #1 Mar 26, '11, 4:07 am

I've been both. For the first 47 years of my life, I was an active and faithful member of various evangelical Protestant churches. In 2004, my husband and I converted to Catholicism, and we've been active and faithful Catholics.

So which is easier?

I don't want to post my opinion yet (mainly because I have to go to work now!). Also, I am interested in reading what others have to say.

On the surface, it seems that Protestantism is the "easier" path. No obligations, no sacraments. For many Protestants, no fear of ever losing heaven. Great music, friendly people, lots of activities for children and teenagers. Lots of activities for all ages, actually.

Catholics have obligations, including the Sunday Mass obligation. Catholics have sacraments. Catholics must avoid "mortal sin" or they will not go to heaven. Catholic music is often bearable, but seldom great. Many Catholic parishes are hard to make friends in. Often there are very limited activities for Catholics--maybe a Bible study, and maybe not. Probably not a weekly kids' club--instead, the kids get "religious education"--no campfires or craft projects or sing-alongs in CCD! And youth groups--often they are pretty small, because all the Catholic teens are over at the Assemblies of God weekly youth meeting along with hundreds of other teens! Or the Catholic teens have stopped attending Church entirely, to the dismay of their parents.

But is Protestantism really easier? Hmmm...

I encourage anyone to think about and answer this question. Obviously converts to Catholicism have personal experience with both forms of Christianity, but I know a lot of Catholics who have knowledge of Protestant life and practices, too.

icamay · #2 Mar 26, '11, 5:16 am

What I'm experiencing as I walk toward Catholicism, in a nutshell:

As a Protestant, if I'm not happy with what my church or denomination teaches, I can switch. I can make my religion fit my personal opinions. If I want to be active in the church, there are wonderful places for that. If I only want to come for Sunday or even holiday services, there are churches for that, too.

As a Catholic, the doctrine is the doctrine, period. I might not like it, but it is what it is. It's not based on some guy's opinion, but on the lifelong study of highly educated priests and bishops, sometimes based upon several generations' studies.

When I received the testimony to walk the path toward Catholicism, I did not want it. I never wanted to be Catholic - I said it outloud to many people. Part of the reason was that it is concrete, and I cannot pick and choose what I want to believe from it. The people close to me believe that this truly was a testimony from God for that reason. God does not tell us what we want to hear, He tells us the truth.

Scoobyshme · #3 Mar 26, '11, 7:00 am

I was told a long time ago that it's much easier to live as a Protestant than a Catholic. But it's much easier to die as a Catholic than a Protestant.

JaredM · #4 Mar 26, '11, 7:02 am

My father said Catholic confirmations are harder then Protestant ones.

Redbaron998 · #5 Mar 26, '11, 7:12 am

Well as a convert from protestantism I can tell you that overall (my personal experinces) there is a lot less personal accountability in protestantism.

You don't really have to hold all the beliefs of your Church (and you can just switch if you want) You dont HAVE to come to chuch on sunday, there is no confession as well.

So was it easier to be protestant? Yes, but do I want it to be easy or do I want to do it right. Also the idea of being in a "Church" where they dont believe in the real presence in the Eucharist is to terrible to even think about.

AnneTeresa · #6 Mar 26, '11, 7:28 am

I was raised catholic but converted to protestant in college. Since then I've been presbyterian, baptist, nondenominational evangelical, now catholic again. Catholicism is WAY harder in my experience, if you live it thoroughly and don't just pick and choose.

Just the teachings on sex alone are harder in the catholic faith. Nowhere else in my experience was birth control and divorce/remarriage ever an issue. Of course, once you realize the catholic church is the original and true church, it is impossible to go back to protestantism (at least for me).

Oh, and the fear of going to hell? Not a problem as a Protestant. I was assured I was going to heaven no matter what I did because of their view of being saved by faith alone. I didn't have to do good works for the same reason. It was a good thing to do, but my salvation did not require it.

And of course there's the obvious, not having to be in a "state of grace" for communion, going to Mass every week, etc.

mark a · #7 Mar 26, '11, 7:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnneTeresa

Just the teachings on sex alone are harder in the catholic faith.

What a blessing it will be for your children to be raised outside the 2.2 kids per household mentality of today's culture and to feel the possibility of a large family is a blessing.

AnneTeresa · #8 Mar 26, '11, 7:38 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark a

What a blessing it will be for your children to be raised outside the 2.2 kids per household mentality of today's culture and to feel the possibility of a large family is a blessing.

I see you're in Bob Jones country. Must be interesting being catholic there!

mark a · #9 Mar 26, '11, 10:08 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnneTeresa

I see you're in Bob Jones country. Must be interesting being catholic there!

It's hard to believe, but there is a thriving Catholic community here. Steve Wood and Fr. Longernecker are here too, which really helps take some pressure off!

Bill Pick · #10 Apr 6, '11, 5:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnneTeresa

I see you're in Bob Jones country. Must be interesting being catholic there!

s ob Jones still ant-cathloic

DaddyGirl · #11 Sep 2, '11, 9:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark a

Originally Posted by AnneTeresa View Post

Just the teachings on sex alone are harder in the catholic faith.

What a blessing it will be for your children to be raised outside the 2.2 kids per household mentality of today's culture and to feel the possibility of a large family is a blessing.

LOL! I read that sentence as meaning...the restrictions on *how* you have sex as a Catholic, not the lack of birth control...is way more difficult to adhere to!

Bluegoat · #12 Sep 3, '11, 6:16 pm

I hope people don't really think that Protestants can "do whatever they want". That is pretty crazy. Many Protestants are very strict indeed, and most Christians that are at all serious about it feel a strong compulsion to do what is right - not just what they want to do.

Jkimbo · #13 Sep 3, '11, 6:24 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluegoat

I hope people don't really think that Protestants can "do whatever they want". That is pretty crazy. Many Protestants are very strict indeed, and most Christians that are at all serious about it feel a strong compulsion to do what is right - not just what they want to do.

Agreed. How ever there are enough of a variation, if one wanted to, could shop around until they found one they were required to do the least in and be Christians by name sake only. I suppose one could make the same point regarding even Catholics, those who simply go to Church one day out of the week, and return to their normal life in between.

embien · #14 Sep 20, '11, 1:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbaron998

Well as a convert from protestantism I can tell you that overall (my personal experinces) there is a lot less personal accountability in protestantism.

You don't really have to hold all the beliefs of your Church (and you can just switch if you want) You dont HAVE to come to chuch on sunday, there is no confession as well.

So was it easier to be protestant? Yes, but do I want it to be easy or do I want to do it right. Also the idea of being in a "Church" where they dont believe in the real presence in the Eucharist is to terrible to even think about.

As a practising Anglo Catholic I can confirm that there is confession (you just have to read the parish information sources) along with six other sacraments. Also I do believe in the Real Presence, in the tabernacle and in society. I have no problem loving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and know that He brings incalculable consolation to those who cannot attend mass and are visited by the priest. Regarding Sunday attendance, I go because I just have to see Jesus every week, and meet him in the Eucharist and in the good people of my parish.

**JharekCarnelian** · #15 Mar 26, '11, 7:24 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredM

My father said Catholic confirmations are harder then Protestant ones.

That would depend on a number of factors and which rite and sui juris Church one was confirmed in. It is also very much a sweeping statement as many Protestant Churches have confirmation programmes that take some time to complete and some do not recognise the concept in a way that Catholics could find common ground.