[Lucy-H22645]

I would like to know the fundamental differences between the different Protestant denominations. I have noticed subtle differences in attitude about religion and life in general among Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, etc., but I have not been able to quantify these differences. Can somebody shed some light on these differences?

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Name : Lucy-H22645, Gender : F, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Age : 25, City : San Jose, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Stacee27902]

I was raised a Southern Baptist and I’m currently an Episcopalian, so I can tell you some of the difference between these two, as I have experienced them. Baptist authority is decentralized. That is, the individual church has much more latitude in practice than a hierarchical church, like the Episcopal church. For example, some Baptist churches allow women to be deacons, while some will not even let a woman teach a mixed adult Sunday school class. The Baptist denomination tends to be more literal in Biblical interpretation. The Episcopal church accepts more consideration of culture, history, and modern scientific/social scientific understanding in interpreting what Scripture means in everyday life. The Episcopal church draws its worship from the Anglican, and by extension Roman Catholic, tradition. For example, many churches use candles and incense, or clothe ministers in traditional colorful robes. Baptist tend to draw from a less adorned early American tradition. However, this is changing. Many Episcopal churches use contemporary music, while some Baptist churches have begun to incorporate the church calendar and historical prayers. Many Baptist churches oppose the use of alcohol, while Episcopal churches use real wine almost every week in communion. In general, social/political stances taken by the Baptist church as a body are conservative, although moderates are making their voices heard. The Episcopal church, by and large, is centrist to a fault. However, a vocal liberal minority has been the focus of quite a bit of debate lately, particularly on issues of sexuality, specifically same-sex issues. Overall,however,I would say the biggest difference between these two denominations is where power is centralized.

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Name : Stacee27902, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 31, City : Sugar Land, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : TV director, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Sandie]

Wow, what a tough question. People have been debating and fighting among themselves for many years over these differences. Most Protestant denominations stem from very common backgrounds and the differences can be quite subtle to very overwhelming. All the differences are based on different ways to ordain or elect leaders and how the sacraments of the church are carried out. Also there are differences between what is called a sacrament or rite and what is not. Some like Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterians are liturgical, others like Baptist, Nazarene, Christian, and Disciples of Christ are non-liturgical. Many of the non-liturgical are also single congregations, meaning they have no ties to any other church or denomination, they are independent of a church structure. I hope this help a little. To go into detail about the beliefs of each would really take volumes.

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Name : Sandie, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : human, Religion : Episcopalian, Age : 30ish, City : Louisville, State : KY, Country : United States, Occupation : teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[David Akers]

I am a Conservative Baptist (yes, even more specific). here is what I know: It is fairly complex. Many of the differences have to do with the historical roots of Protestantism. The ‘radical’ notions that The Bible is the authority (not the church), that we can (and should) communicate directly with God, that Communion does not convey salvation and that Baptism is a believers ordinance are intense departures from the Catholic church – Martin Luther made quite a scene when he nailed his ‘thesis’ to the door of the Catholic church. Lutherans are the first generation of the ‘protestant rebellion’, and retain some vestages of the Catholic heritage. Baptists are second generation protestants, taking even more radical steps – being less Liturgical in worship styles, and being less hierarchical than Lutherans and Methodists. The term Baptist is a bit of a slur – The anabaptists insisted on re-baptising believers based on a doctrinal observation that baptistm is for believers, that infant baptism isn’t appropriate. Baptists believe that the bible is really true, that it doesn’t require ‘interpretation’ from a church official (although we benefit from the understanding of those more studied) and that much of what we need to believe and do is fairly well spelled out in the Bible – To believe something, we need to be able to show why (from the Bible) that it is true. Baptists are often known as inflexible, harsh and we are what is known as the ‘religious right’ or fundamentalists as a result. The bible tells us to tithe, so we do it. The Bible tells us that divorce isn’t a good idea, that adultry isn’t acceptable and that we need to call sin sin. What isn’t as often as clear (both in our lives and in the public commentary) is that we believe in a God that Loves us and expects the same from us.

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Name : David Akers, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Baptist, Age : 41, City : Los Gatos, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Arnie]

These denominations are confusing to most people outside the protestant US. Baptists believe in adult baptism (not infants) so you must be 7 years old at least to accept it. They are generally socially traditional but liberal in their church structure (no special clothes for the clergy, just suit and tie, no orders or central church leadership). Baptists are supposedly calvinistic (rewarded in life with earthly riches, not just in ‘heaven’, etc.) in their official doctrine, although most don’t know much about it nor is it discussed. Baptist churches that are mostly white are known for their quiet, and there is no interaction between the ‘pastor’ and the ‘flock’ like you would find in a black people’s church or a pentacostal congregation. Presbyterians are probably of scotch or scotch-irish origin since that church is the church of protestant scotland. They are generally conservative in politics, and more structured in their church leadership, with elders and such. Methodists are generally of Anglo-Saxon or Welsh heritage, Methodism is based on a form of the Church of England (Anglicanism, or Episcipalianism in U.S.). Lutheran is obviously from German, and its adherants are usually of German heritage more often than not. Their church is more structured, their politics more moderate, and they still practice two of the original Roman Catholic sacrements, Baptism & Marriage, whereas most of the other protestant churches have no ‘official’ sacrements at all.

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Name : Arnie, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Baptist, Age : 19, City : Oakland, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Lower class, 

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