Why is catholicism separate from christianity?

Question

Then...how come they say it is? Why do they believe in God AND in saints...when the bible clearly states that we must not have any gods against his face...nor carved images or any form in the heavens nor on earth to worship, as it says in the 10 commandments...(Ex. 20:3-5)

Not trying to cause trouble...just curious as to why these things are so...

Ok...so why is catholicism considered a religion...and anything else...considered...a sect? When it is clearly accepted as a religion as well...

Taranto....I understand what you mean...but I TOTALLY disagree with him having founded "CATHOLISCISM"...no way. Jesus came here to minister...he came here to prove that he is God's son and that God's creatures CAN obey him without any benefit...you know...through love...and he came to pardon us from all our sins. He did NOT come to be a king for the jews...and he did not come to "create a religion"...founders may have been his disciples...but not him. When he came...he still did everything as a jew...every celebration...so....he didn't create catholicism.

Answer 1

1. Mary without sin.
Mary had sin, just like everyone else.
2. Idols/stautes of Mary
Exodus 20:4 No graven images of anything in heaven or on earth
3. Confessionals
Only God can forgive of sin, not priests
4. Prayers to saints
Jesus said, "I am the way, the Truth and the Life, NO one comes to the Father except through Me."
5. Baby baptism. Scripture does not support this.
6. Purgatory. Catholic derived not Scripture based. Brought up to "help" raise funds and egos. Purgatory is a "place" where Catholics go if they have not "such a good" life. Prayers and monies offered in their place, when enough prayers and money has been raised to satisfy, person has entrance into heaven.
If this is the "original" or "official" church, then why does it not agree with the Bible on these issues?

Answer 2

Christianity consists of the major divisions of Catholic and Protestant. The Catholic group usually consists of the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox.

The major division is over the role of the Pope, although there are other issues as well.

Some Protestant groups like to muddy the waters with stuff that is either not true, taken out of context, or sheer propoganda.

The Catholic Church does not worship saints or Mary, for example. Their teachings are based on their understanding of Scripture. They have made some mstakes, but they are also a large human organization and thus as prone to error as any other group.

Answer 3

You have it backwards.

The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus. Other Christian religions were founded by Men who did not believe the tenets of the Catholic Church.

The Bible that Protestants use was first put together by Catholics. Most of it was declared to be divinely inspired by the 2nd century bishop, St Irenaeus. The Council of Rome (headed by the Pope -- 4th century) later confirmed the books of the Bible.

In the 1500s, Martin Luther decided that some of those books should be thrown out -- which created the current Protestant Bible. His decision that several books of the Bible do not belong is one of the reasons why Protestants do not have many of the same beliefs as Catholics. Those books contain the justification for the Cathoic belief in Purgatory. Not having those books -- together with some mistranslations in the KJV explain why many Protestants believe that Joseph and Mary had relations after mariage and that Jesus has sublings -- while Catholics do not.

Nope -- it is the Protestant Religions that separated from Catholics, not the other way around.

Catholics consider themselves Chrisitians. But they define themselves as Catholics rather rahter than Christians because they do not want to be mistaken for Protestants -- whom they believe have heretical beliefs. (Actually, I say they believe this -- but the definitin of 'heresy' is someone who rejects the tenets of the Catholic Church).

Incidently -- the person above who wrote that Catholics believe that you can buy your way into heaven and have to confess sins to a priest is mistaken. Catholics believe that you can only enter Heaven through a combination of Faith and through good acts. They differ in this from some Protestants who think that only Faith and not the good acts are essential. The Faith part is common to all Christian religions.

As for the 'confessing to a priest' part -- they do not confess to a priest. They confess to God with the priest as a witness. The ritual may be different from other Christian Religions -- but the point is the same.

The person after me makes the other claim that ignorent Protestants often make -- that Catholics pray to statues, Mary and saints. Statues of saints are just to honor good men -- not false idols. No Catholic thinks otherwise. Catholics do not pray to Mary nor to the Saints -- but rather ask them to pray for them. This is a huge difference. Protestants usually respond that they don't do that because they can pray directly to God. Two points here -- Catholics also pray directly to God. Protestants often ask others to pray for them. Just because they only ask those living on Earth and not those living in Heaven doesn't really make their beliefs much different.

I don't point this out because I think that Catholics are right (as an agnostic, I do not believe that any Christians are right) -- but rather that it annoys me when people make false claims with such an air of authority and don't even understand the history of their own faith.

Answer 4

Catholicism is seprate from Protestantism and Orthodoxy all are Christian religious groups.

Since a specific Protestant sect began going by the title Protestant and an other by Lutheran and an other Aglincan etc. Calling them all Protestant was confusing so the common term CHristian came into play. The Catholics and Orthodox have never made too big of a stink about itthat I know of. I guess it is that they know what they believe and are comfortable be seperated from the throngs.

Answer 5

It is separate from Protestants, which include Methodists, Baptists, and the like.

Catholics think you can buy your way into heaven, or pay a penance here on earth to earn forgiveness for your sins. This may include actual money, giving up things that you love, or performing tasks (anything from saying Hail Marys to going on a mission and beyond). They also think that by confessing their sins to a priest - a man - that he can give them forgiveness, usually after performing a penance.

Most Protestants think you shouldn't confess to a priest - you have to confess to God yourself. They also think that it doesn't matter how much you pay or do, you can't earn forgiveness for your sins. Forgiveness is given by God when you confess your sins and ask for that forgiveness. You don't have to pay a price or do a deed because Jesus already paid the price by performing the ultimate deed - He died for our sins on the cross.

There are lots of variations to both themes, and I am sure that some folks will chime in on that, but this is basically how I understand it.

Answer 6

Catholicism is not separate from Christianity as Lutherans aren't separate from Christianity. Some of the fundamental and pentecostal churches preach that they are the only Christians but that simply isn't true. A Christian is a person who follows Christ whatever denomintaion they belong to.

Answer 7

particular Christianity does have loads of different denominations, all in line with alterations in opinion on Jesus' message and teachings in spite of the undeniable fact that some are accused of being basically cults Catholicism grow to be the unique Christian church and those different denominations have been ultimately based by way of human beings who broke faraway from that unique interpretation of the instructions That distinction of opinion is so reliable that each and each denomination could have faith that they are suitable and all human beings else is incorrect it fairly is been adequate to reason Christians to flow to conflict against fellow Christians and a few human beings have been placed to dying for having purely a mild distinction of opinion in spite of the undeniable fact that these days it fairly is plenty greater probably to reason families to be chop up aside and human beings to be ostracised this concepts-set has grow to be very everyday in greater modern church homes, adequate for some to accuse the Catholic church of being worshippers of devil plenty for Jesus' teachings being accompanied as a sort of grow to be to love thy neighbour :( It particularly makes me ask your self what number so referred to as Christian's are particularly following them

Answer 8

it's not.

catholicism is a branch of christianity. there are 3 branches of christianity. catholicism, eastern orthodoxy, and protestantism. don't let anyone tell you that catholics aren't christians. they are. anyone who worships jesus is christian. that's the very definition of what a christian is.

Answer 9

It's not. It's one of the original Christian churches.

Answer 10

just a different form of christianity and there are many