Roman Catholics — a comparison of the doctrine of 17 current religions
Prepared by and presented by Rex Bennett
An overview of the beliefs of the Roman Catholics
- Roman Catholicism:
- Atonement — The Atonement makes the grace of salvation possible for all, by which sins are forgiven through confession. However, Christ’s merits must be applied through the sacraments to each individual soul.
- Baptism — Done by pouring, sprinkling, or immersion. Baptisms of other churches are accepted when performed as the Catholic Church prescribes. Baptism is necessary for salvation, and infants are and should be baptized.
- Did Christ organize a church while on earth? — Yes, he established the Church while on earth, and it has existed on the earth to this day and is known as the Holy Roman Catholic Church. The Church will never cease to exist.
- Ecclesiastical authority — This authority was given by Christ to St. Peter, and it was then passed on through the popes and bishops or Rome. Authority of other Catholic bishops is dependent on the current pope. No other churches have authority or religious power.
- God — God is a spirit and has no definite form or limitations. He permeates the universe and is and has been the same unchangeable substance from the beginning. He is spiritual and incorporeal.
- Heaven and Hell — Heaven is where the just have the vision of God eternally. Hell is where the damned do not see the vision of God eternally. They are punished with eternal fire.
- Holy Bible — The Bible is a collection of writings that are inspired of God, and it contains all of the inspired writings. The Catholic version of the Bible is the only correct one, and the church interprets the scripture authoritatively.
- Holy Ghost — This is the third person of the Trinity, proceeding eternally from the Father and the Son as from one principle. The Holy Ghost is equal to the Father and Son in perfection.
- Holy Trinity — There is only one God numerically, but three distinct divine persons. Those persons are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. They are one but are capable of being three distinct persons. They all have the same divine nature.
- Is membership in a church needed for salvation? — You must be a member of the Catholic Church to be saved. Those non members in good faith can be saved if they correspond to the graces given them.
- Life after death — There is hell, purgatory, and heaven. There is no escape from hell, but one can progress out of purgatory through his or her own atoning suffering and the prayers of priests and friends. They can then go to heaven.
- Marriage — Marriage is viewed as a contract, a sacrament, binding until the death of one partner. They do not believe in divorce. There are no marriage relations after death.
- Miracles — Miracles are the divine interventions of the laws of nature. They believe the miracles recorded in the Bible and also others duly proven as such.
- Future status of non-believers in Christ — Man will be saved if he does all that he can with what he knows God commands of him. If he does not, he will be condemned.
- Pre-existence of man — Christ, as God, was from all eternity. They do not believe in the pre-existence of man.
- Purpose of life — The purpose is to know, love, and serve God while on the earth, and then to be happy with God in the next life.
- Resurrection — We will be resurrected with the same body that we now have. The bodies of the just will be glorified. The resurrection will take place at the end of the world.
- Revelation — Revelation ceased with the e time of the apostles. There has been no revelation of doctrine since then, such as additional scripture, for example.
- Sacrament — In the sacrifice of the Mass, the bread and wine are changed literally to the body and blood of Christ, by transubstantiation. The laity may receive daily sacrament in the form of bread.
- Satan — He is one of the evil spirits cast out from heaven because of rebellion against God. He has a personality.
- Second Coming of Christ — Christ will come again in his human nature to judge the living and the dead. Christ (God) will come at the end of the world, at the last judgement.
- Vicarious work for the dead — The dead in purgatory are helped by Mass, prayers, and good works. Those in Hell are beyond help. Infants not baptized enjoy natural happiness, but not the supernatural vision of God.
- Virgin birth, immaculate conception — The Immaculate Concepcion, that is, Mary’s soul was free from original sin from the first moment of her existence (nine months before her birth). Mary was a virgin before and after the birth of Christ.
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