Kovash

Alyson Kovash

Intercultural Communication 216

Mrs. Marcusen

8/9/09

What are the Differences and Similarities Between Catholics and Lutherans?

        Many people around the world all have different customs and beliefs.  Our customs and beliefs are shaped in different ways by the way we live.  Our friends and families affect who we are and who we will become.  The places we live and how we grow up are factors in creating who we are.  One of the common differences between people is their religious beliefs.  There are many different religions.   Understanding other people’s beliefs is important in understanding what and why people think and do things the way they do.  I recently just interviewed my aunt on her religious belief which is Lutheran.   I found out many similarities and differences comparing my religion, which is Catholic, to her religious belief which helped me gain knowledge in her belief and how it is different than mine.

        Lutherans and Catholics both believe in one God.   They refer to God as the Trinity believing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all God.  In addition to believing in the Trinity, both believe Jesus is the son of God sent by God to become human like us.  It is believed that in Jesus’ life and being he lived in perfect obedience to his Father’s will.  However, due to the sake of the sinful world, he was condemned to death on the cross, but death could not contain him.  On the third day after his execution he arose again and appeared as the living Lord.  By this great victory, we believe that God forgave us from our sins in the good news of reconciliation.  Thus, both Lutherans and Catholics believe that Christ lives in all who faithfully believe in him and wherever the good news of Reconciliation is preached and the sacraments administered.

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        As both Lutherans and Catholics believe that Jesus is the son of God born of the Virgin Mary, there is one striking difference.   Lutherans and Catholics consider the importance of Mary at different levels.    Catholics take time to honor and devote the Catholic Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ.  There is not a single month in the year without several feasts in her honor.  Furthermore, Catholics will pray to Mary often in the prayer called “Hail Mary” in honor of her.  However, Lutherans do not take time to honor Mary like Catholics do. ...

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