Protestant and Roman Catholic Styles of Piety Term Paper

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piety in the Roman Catholic faith and the Protestant faith. The writer examines the meaning of piety in both spiritual faiths and contrasts their differences. There were four sources used to complete this paper.

Throughout the history of religion there have been many differences and similarities. Many of the popular faiths of the western world believe in a higher power named God and they believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God. In addition they also believe that Jesus Christ died for the sins of man. Two spiritual paths that believe these things are the Protestant and the Roman Catholic faiths. They each believe in the same God the same Jesus and the reason Jesus was crucified. At first glance it appears that the two faiths are the same. When one looks more deeply into either of the churches however one will find distinct differences in their foundational structures. One of the more significant structural differences in the two faiths is the understanding of piety. Each faith follows piety demands in a different way. Each faith places piety at the top of their list when it comes to the goals of their followers but the path to that righteous requires different things (Reformation Piety By Michael Horton (Accessed 12-15-2003) (http://www.modernreformation.org/mr02/julaug/mr0207reformation.htm).

Before one can begin to compare and contrast the meaning of piety in various faiths one must first have a basic understanding of the meaning of the word. According to the dictionary piety is the state of being pious, meaning being dutiful in one's faith or religious beliefs. This provides a foundation for growth in the church but it also leaves the meaning of what those duties should be up to the individual faith.

The Protestant and the Roman Catholic Faith have different protocol and rules when it comes to piety and what is expected to achieve and maintain it.

One of the most significant differences between the Roman Catholic Faith and the Protestant Faith when it comes to piety is how it is practiced.

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Both faiths believe it is the act of serving God and their religious faith but they believe there are different ways to do so. A classic example of the difference in piety is the cross. Roman Catholics wear the cross as another image to revere (Question: http://css.catholicexchange.com/truthtract.asp?qid=252

Why do Catholics wear a crucifix and the Protestants wear a plain cross?). To those in the Roman Catholic faith the word piety often means the admiration, or as some call it, the worship of images. These images include crosses, candles, saints and other things deemed worthy by the church itself (Question: http://css.catholicexchange.com/truthtract.asp?qid=252

Why do Catholics wear a crucifix and the Protestants wear a plain cross?).

Catholic piety often tends to make use of images in imitation of God's becoming an "image" in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ (see St. John Damascene's On Holy Images). Protestant piety tends to be more focused on the disembodied and inward or "spiritual" as it is called. Catholics, with their strong emphasis on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ as the Word made flesh, tend to view matter (wood, oil, water, bread, wine, art, etc.) as sacramental. Protestant piety tends to pit the material against the spiritual and to see in images (such as a crucifix) something vaguely idolatrous (Question: http://css.catholicexchange.com/truthtract.asp?qid=252

Why do Catholics wear a crucifix and the Protestants wear a plain cross?). "

Another difference in the interpretation of piety between the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church is the examination and meaning of Christ in the meaning of piety. According….....

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