What are the basic differences between the different types of Christianity? (Catholic, Protestant, etc)
as an academic matter, they're usually divided into catholic, mainstream protestant, and evangelical protestant. but that offends mormons, who absolutely reject being called "protestant" of course, Eastern Catholics don't mind being lumped with Roman Catholics, as a matter of practicality.
as a political matter, the chief difference--and I'm sure someone will jump up and tell me how full of crap I am--Catholics have material ambition as a vice, whereas protestants see it as a virtue. you can see how this would stem back to Calvin, et al. And you can easily see, then, why countries like Italy and Spain and Ireland are poor and countries like England and Scandanavian are rather wealthy, by comparison. Also, this clearly explains why latin americans generally accept a much larger role for government than do north americans.
It should be noted that one system of thought is neither better nor worse than the other, just than one lends itself rather more to capitalistic tendencies and laissez-faire than the other. It can also explain why, traditionally, more protestants have been Republican, and, from the beginning of time till 2000, why more catholics voted democrat than republican. (of course, now that the GOP has a vision for at least a big-spending free-wheeling cumbersome government as the Dems formerly did, albeit the money's spent on entirely different projects, the catholics find some comfort more in the GOP than in the democrat party. Also, you should set these notions completely aside, in your mind, from the nationalism that so fundamentally defines the GOP, and has defined it since its first national convention in Pittsburgh in 1856; that is, I'm speaking of big government/small government trends and how they'd appeal to catholics vs. protestants. We could also try to figure out how nationalism, the defining characteristic of the GOP would fit in to all this, but I think that's beyond the scope of your original question.)
Beyond all this, I'm sure Supersoulty and Jmfcst, both astute scholars of the Bible, could set you straight on the fine points of doctrine, etc. I'm more of a spectator. But then, spectators often have a better view than those actually on the field, you know what I mean?
