Christianity and Catholic ?? Help please!?

Question

My boyfriend is Catholic and I am not any religion and was not ever christened. If we get married he said that I will need to be christened. What does this mean for me? I used to go to Sunday school when I was little in a methodist church. I don't really understand whether this was a christian church and what the difference is between the christian faith is and Catholic, or if there is any difference at all? Can someone shed some light on the subject for me?

Answer 1

Catholics are a type of Christian.
The two main types of Christianity is Catholics and Protestants.
Then you get types of them like C of E, Baptist, Methodist etc.

Christening is being baptised as a baby, someone else makes the choice for you. If you believe in God and that Jesus is his som and you want to become a christian you should be baptised.

I don't know about Catholics, but it says in the bible you shouldn't marry someone of a different faith. However, you should not just turn up at church one day and get baptised the next. Go to church for a bit then decide if it is right to be baptised. It won't really matter if you are baptised or not, because God will know if you do or don't believe.

Answer 2

Methodists are Christian.

The Catholic Church is the original, authentic Christian Church. This divided into the Eastern Orthodox Churches. The Protestant Reformation led to the existence of the Protestant Churches (those that 'protested' against the Catholic Church), the Anglican Church being one. The Episcopalian Church was created when it was not fashionable for Americans (in the 'Colonies') to belong to 'The Church of England'--the Anglican Church). The Methodist Church was created when reformers in America wanted to be less like the Anglican/Episcopalian Churches and more like the Catholic Church.

When the government granted freedom of religion without first bothering to define 'religion,' all the others came along, each professing to teach 'the Truth.' This is how the sects and cults came into existence, not being true religions nor true Protestant churches.

A Catholic can marry a non-Catholic Christian brother or sister by soliciting a dispensation from the Bishop of his/her Dioceses. Perhaps you should explore your boyfriend's faith? Or perhaps you would prefer to return to your family's church and be Christened a Methodist?

I have to agree with your boyfriend. You should be Christened.

To answer the last part of your question, what does this involve? To become a Catholic you will have to enroll in a rite of Christian initiation, that is, an adult catechism program to 'learn your faith.' It is a serious study that could be as long as a year. Check with your parish. I'm not sure what it would take to be christened a Methodist. Ask your local Methodist pastor. But please don't put it off any longer.

Hope that helped.

H

Answer 3

Catholics are Christians. In fact, the Catholic Church was the first Christian Church because it was founded by Jesus and the Apostles.

The Catholic Church believes communion is the actually the body and blood of Christ where other Christians faiths believe it is just a symbol. There are several differences but all Christians (including Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, etc) believe in God and his son Jesus Christ. Check out http://www.catholic.org/prayers/beliefs.php for more information on the Catholic faith.

You should speak with a priest if you two are seriously thinking about being married. As far as I know, only one of the couple has to be Catholic to be married in a Catholic Church but like I said, call a priest and ask. If you have any most questions, feel free to shoot me a message.

uspatrioteer: Your ideas of the Catholic Church are so ridiculous! Do you even know anyone that is Catholic? Have you ever been to Mass? Catholics believe in God and hold a personal relationship with him as well as being active in their faith by helping others. That sounds pretty Christian to me.

Answer 4

Kandi, Catholicsm is dangerously close to being cultist. It is NO LONGER a form of Christianity. In fact it mocks God rather than serve Him but they do not know it. You don't NEED to eb christened. Find that in the Bible. You shouldn't be Catholic, nor Methodist. The difference betyween the two is ultimately as a practicing Catholic, you can not be saved. As a Methodist you have a chance. Your perosnal relationship with God is the most important thing here.. Your boyfriend should have NO BEARING on what God tells you what to do.

Seek the Lord's will, not your own, not your boyfriend's, not your parents, or his, seek the Lord Jesus and He will guide you the right way!!!

Answer 5

There is a difference. Catholics are allowed to marry outside the Faith, but it requires a special dispensation, and the children (a valid marriage must be open to life) should be raised as Catholics. It is not necessary for you to convert, but I would suggest that both of you learn about each other's religious beliefs before getting married.

I am positive that this is correct. You do not need to be baptized Catholic to marry a Catholic-- and the marriage will be recognized by the Church if the proper conditions are met.

A few things I noticed in the other answers: Catholics do not put Mary and the other saints on the same level as God. We ask the saints to pray to God for us because they are closer to him than we are.

Jews are not Christians.

The Catholic Church is the only Christian Church that can trace its lineage from bishop to bishop all the way to the twelve apostles of Christ.

Catholics do not believe that the Pope is God. That is rediculous.

Answer 6

imacatholic2 is correct.

You do not need to become a Catholic to marry in a Catholic Church. You do not need to be a Christian to marry a Catholic either (and yes, the Catholic faith is Christian).

I am Catholic and my wife is a non-Christian. My priest was fine with it and we married in a Catholic Church. We had some marriage guidance before we got married which if you think about it, makes sense so that we didn't marry and then split up shortly after because of our differences. Speak to your boyfriends Parish Priest who is to marry you two together. He will give you some guidance and support. If you do wish to pursue the Catholic faith as a member then the RCIA route as imacatholic2 stated is the best way about it. This way you can get proper answers to your questions.

Good luck and God Bless

Answer 7

You can get christened as a Catholic but it won't mean a thing if you don't believe in God, or worship Jesus. Your boyfriend is obviously just a religious person who doesn't have a relationship with Jesus. If he did he wouldn't ask you to do something like get Christened.
What you both need is a relationship with jesus in your heart.
Majority of Catholics are just religious people who think that they are right with God becasue they are christened and they take mass. This is not what a Christian is at all. A Christian is someone ewho has asked the Lord Jesus into their heart and asked him to forgive them. They aknowledge Mary as an important woman but will not wrship her because they know she was just a normal woman and that they should only worship Jesus Christ.
DO NOT BE BULLIED INTO BEING CHRISTENED IT WILL NOT SAVE YOU AT ALL. ONLY JESUS WILL!!!

Answer 8

To be married in a Catholic church you traditionally have to be a Catholic (Christening would take care of that for you, just a ceremony, you may have to get a little wet). However, depending on the church and the priest, you may be able to bypass that and just get married. Catholics and Christians have the same basic belief system, but there are difinite differences. My advice would be to talk to your boyfriend about it.

Answer 9

From what I understand Catholicism is one of the major branches of Christianity. The Methodist church you went to is a denomination of the Protestant branch of Christianity. As to getting christened perhaps he meant baptised- I am not entirely sure this is necessary for marriage but I don't know much about Catholic customs.

Answer 10

If you are christened, you are going to belong to the Catholic Church for the rest of your life. Personally, I wouldn't do it but then I am very anti Catholic. If you really want to find out more about this, go talk to his Priest and let him shed some light on it from their point of view. Then go talk to some clergy of your own religion so you get the full side of the story. I am against anything Catholic since they are so bossy and pushy as well as treating women very poorly. Look into it from the sources to get the full picture. Good luck!!