Number of Members | 1,360,000,000[1] | 2,130,000[2] |
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How does one get saved? | Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection to save you, be baptized, participate in the Eucharist, and don't die with any unconfessed mortal sins.[3][4] | Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you. |
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Who gets saved? | Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved. | Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved. |
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Can one lose his salvation? | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy or by committing a mortal sin. | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy. |
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Who gets baptized and why? | The unsaved, typically as infants, get baptized as the first sacrament of Christian initiation, cleansing them of all sins. | Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives. |
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How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by pouring water on the head. | Baptism can be by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling. |
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When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | The Holy Spirit is received at baptism. | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. |
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What is the trinity? | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. |
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What is the human nature? | Human nature is not totally corrupt but is wounded and inclined to evil.[5] | Total depravity: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own. |
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Are we guilty of Adam's original sin? | No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, but we did inherit the consequences and a corrupt human nature from him, causing us all to sin.[6] | No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, but we did inherit the consequences and a corrupt human nature from him, causing us all to sin. |
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Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws? | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. |
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Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life? | "Christian perfection" is attainable in this life, but this does not mean one is sinless, as one will always commit minor "venial sins". | Yes, Christian perfection is possible. |
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Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ? | Transubstantiation: Yes, the bread and the wine change into the body and blood of Christ. | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. |
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Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died? | No, the dead cannot be baptized. | No, the dead cannot be baptized. |
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What happens if a saved person dies without being perfect? | Christians who die imperfectly purified must be purified through purgatory.[7] | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies. |
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Did Mary ever sin? | Immaculate conception: No, Mary was free of original sin and remained sinless throughout her life. | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
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What spiritual gifts are available today? | Most believe that all spiritual gifts are still available to believers. | |
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What are the requirements for clergy? | Priests must be unmarried men over 25 ordained by bishops. | |
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How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The church has seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.[8] | Traditionally, the church has seven signs/ordinances: Baptism, Holy Communion, Footwashing, the Holy Kiss, Anointing of the Sick, and Marriage.[9][10] |
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To whom do Christians need to confess their sins? | Mortal sins must be privately confessed to a priest at least annually.[11][12] | |
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How should a church be structured? | Episcopal: Churches should be governed by the bishop in that diocese, who in turn is governed by an archbishop, who is governed by the Pope. | Generally congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members.[13] |
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What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday. | Christians worship on Sunday. |
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How does God's revelation come to us today? | Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition have equal authority and comprise one finished deposit of faith. | |
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How many books are in the Bible? | There are 73 canonical books of the Bible: 39 protocanonical books, 7 deuterocanonical books, and 27 New Testament books. | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. |
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Was the Bible written inerrantly? | No, the Bible was written inerrantly on matters of salvation but may contain errors in other matters. | The Bible is infallible, but not every word is without error.[14][15][16] |
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Who can speak with God's authority today? | The Pope speaks infallibly with God's authority when speaking ex cathedra.[17][18] | Nobody today can speak for God. |
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How was the earth created? | The earth was formed by gravity pulling dust together, which ultimately came from the Big Bang. | Creationism: The earth was spoken into existence by God. |
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What is marriage? | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[19] | Varies widely |
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Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible. | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible. |
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When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is never permissible. | Divorce is only permissible for adultery. |
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May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | Divorce is never permissible. | No, a Christian should not remarry while his former spouse lives. |
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When does a fetus become human? | Humanity begins at conception.[20] | Humanity begins at conception.[21] |
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Is contraception permissible? | No, contraceptives are not permissible.[22] | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. |
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Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. |
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Should women cover their heads? | No, head coverings are no longer required due to cultural changes.[23] | Yes, women should cover their heads to symbolize submission whenever in public.[24] |
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Should Christians drink alcohol? | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[25] | Varies widely[26] |
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Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[27][28] | No, Christians should never fight.[29] |
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Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[30] | |
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Who can be demon-possessed? | Demons can possess anyone.[31] | |
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Do icons glorify God? | Yes, icons are holy and should be venerated. | |
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Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | Some Christians first go to purgatory to be purified when they die.[7] | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die. |
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