When reading about Roman Catholicism on Protestant message boards, one will find messages condemning practices within the Roman Catholic Church. But what is striking is these same posters then praise the Orthodox Church with the belief that they share extremely different positions. Often these Protestants believe they are spiritually closer to Orthodox Christianity.

The Protestant ecumenical spirit can be seen in their shared values of democracy and individualism, which they are taught the Catholic Church was against in much of their literature, and perceive these values in the the Orthodox Church because they believe the Orthodox do not recognize a Pope.

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The one thing I respect about the Orthodox Church is the fact they do allow dissenting view points. This contrary to the RCC. For instance if I was Orthodox I wouldn't have to pray to Mary or dead saints. The thing is how willing are you to compromise? Unfortunately I'm just not that willing. -- posted by Declare Him on BaptistBoard.com

Response

The poster, Declare Him, has the mistaken belief that Roman Catholics are forced to pray to Mary and what he believes are 'dead' saints. There is no difference between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic position on praying to Mary and The Saints. The belief is identical and worshippers are never forced to pray. Prayer is voluntary, just as much as prayer to God is voluntary. Why this poster would believe this is at the root of Protestantism, particularly the Baptist and evangelical strains who have a fierce anti-Catholic streak. Often members of these branches will post how the Catholic Church killed XX millions of people during the Middle Ages. The number is repeated from anti-Catholic books such as Trail Of Blood, a major source for Baptists in the American south in search of their own history (See Baptist Origins), or how the Catholic Church did not permit the common person to read the Bible, mistaking the age before paper was invented and that the vast majority of people were illiterate, as being the same as today.

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Posted by Gina L:

• Certainly. There are variations of Catholics, (and Baptists) and I don't believe that all rely on methods other than Christ for complete salvation.

Posted by Jack RUS:

• I know that Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox rely on "another Gospel" (2 Cor. 11:4). One that always adds works. And I know that the Russian Orthodox Church is an active enemy of the Gospel and God's church in Russia. If you can think of a Catholic denomination that believes the one true Gospel I would like to know about it. But you would have a better chance of finding the Hope diamond under your pillow tonight than finding a Catholic Church denomination that believes the Gospel. Gal. 1:6-8

Posted by Gina L:

• I had thought Eastern Orthodoxy was very close to what we believe (Baptists), but with some traditions kept. I haven't studied it though, simply looked into the basic ideas, which seem practically identical to the basic beliefs of some Baptist groups.

Posted on BaptistBoard.com

See Orthodox And Roman Catholicism, Christian Questions