| Number of Members | 1,360,000,000[1] | 39,000,000 |
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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.[2][3] | 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. | Those who God chooses to call will be saved and no one else. |
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| Can one lose his salvation? | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy or by committing a mortal sin. | Eternal security: No, once a Christian is saved, he is always saved. |
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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 and their infant children get baptized as a sign of God's grace.[4] |
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| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by pouring water on the head. | Baptism should be by sprinkling water on the head. |
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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.[5] |
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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.[6] | 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.[7] | Federalism: Yes, Adam represented all of the human race, and all are guilty of his 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". | No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. |
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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 do not become the body and blood of Christ, but Christ is present in an unknown way. |
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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.[8] | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.[9][10] |
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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. | Cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[5] |
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| What framework has God used in dealing with man? | | Covenant theology: God acts either within the covenant of works or the covenant of grace.[11] |
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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.[12] | The church has two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion.[13] |
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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.[14][15] | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins. |
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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. | Presbyterian: Churches should be governed by its own elders, who in turn are governed by a presbytery comprising the elders from the region, which is governed by a general assembly of commissioners from each presbytery. |
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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. | Prima scriptura: There are many sources of God's revelation, although none can contradict the Bible. |
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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. | Varies widely[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. | Varies widely[19][20] |
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| What is marriage? | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[21] | Varies widely[22][23][24] |
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| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible. | Varies widely[25][24] |
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| When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is never permissible. | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[26] |
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| May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | Divorce is never permissible. | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry.[27] |
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| When does a fetus become human? | Humanity begins at conception.[28] | Most believe humanity begins at conception. Some say it is unknown when humanity begins.[29][30][31] |
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| Is contraception permissible? | No, contraceptives are not permissible.[32] | 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.[33] | |
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| Should Christians drink alcohol? | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[34] | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[35] |
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| Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[36][37] | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[38] |
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| How should Christians musically worship God? | | Any style of worship music is acceptable.[39] |
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| Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[40] | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[41][42] |
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| Who can be demon-possessed? | Demons can possess anyone.[43] | |
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| Do icons glorify God? | Yes, icons are holy and should be venerated. | Varies widely[44][45][46][47] |
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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.[8] | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[10] |
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