format_quote Originally Posted by
Seeker1066
Unlike Protestants Catholics believe that faith alone is not the way to God. Catholics believe they are required to also act. This is very similar to Islam.
I wouldn't generalize protestants like this and say that they believe in faith alone. James 2 tells us that "faith without works is dead" and countless times it is seen in the NT that one must act also, not simply believe. Love is an act of the will displayed through physical expressions.
The differences that you are seeing, imo, are the motivation behind the acts. Does one act out of a forced need to in order to win favor, or does one act out of a pure expression of love and desire to express it to others? Are the acts motivated by a fear/rewards system, or are they motivated out of a reverence/love? When Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is like unto it to love thy neighbor, all of the laws and commandments are held within those two things. The difference is a shift from a strict, legalistic adherence to a following of them out of love. Some people obey the speed limit, because they fear they will be caught. Some people obey the speed limit, because they believe it is the right thing (benefit to all/others). The motivation behind the act is different. Some people pray because they must to avoid hell and gain rewards, other pray out of a deep love and devotion to God. Back to the first statement I made: the difference that you are seeing is in the motivation behind the act.... in Catholicism there is a duty to act, a legalism, a "do or die" phenomenon. This is not to imply that Catholics only act out of fear and not love, no, there are many Catholics who have a right motivation. Unfortunately, I have seen many who also have a wrong motivation. "Fire insurance." The love and joy behind the acts is not there, but it has become an act out of necessity. The difference in being a slave to the act and a willful submission to it. Protestants, in general (but not to over generalize), also teach that works is important, but these are done through love and not as legalism (although there are very legalistic protestant denominations as well). What is taught is the submission to God and the desire to act as an artifact of ones love. If you love God, then you keep his commands. It is an expression of that love. Even still, people are people, and there are those who do act out of the wrong motivation within protestant denominations as well.
Anyhow, welcome to the forum. I mentioned something in another post regarding Catholics and Islam. I suggested that it is man's questioning nature that leads him away from Catholicism and to Islam-- the same questioning nature that spurred Luther to nail his 95 thesis to the door and caused the protestant reformation.