why do some people regard catholics as not being christians?

Question

Some people believe that catholics are not christians.This,I have noticed is very predominant among people from the south american countries.They believe that catholics are not christians despite the fact that records show that the first set of christians were catholics.So,it only makes me wander why some christians should reject the very original set of christians.Afterall it was the catholics that first coined the word christian.

Answer 1

It's crazy, isn't it. These are the types that say, "in order to be a Christian, you must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior." As if Catholics don't do this?

I think the real reason some non-Catholic Christians fail to recognize Catholics as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ is because of a wide-spread misunderstanding of how Catholics regard the Virgin Mary and the Saints.

Some non-Catholic Christians believe Catholics worship Mary and the Saints along with God. This, as you well know, is a fallacy.

Non-Catholic Christians do not understand that Catholics honor, venerate, and offer intercessory prayer to Mary and the saints, and that these acts do not constitute worship.

Regardless, the thing that makes this mentality so ridiculous is the fact that non-Catholic Christians believe your sins are forgiven when you accept Jesus as your savior. Well, wouldn't that mean all those potentially idolatrous Catholics be forgiven for that sin, considering they too accept Jesus as Lord and Savior?

Answer 2

There are some very good Christians in the Catholic faith, but over-all there is a lot of distinct differences between "Catholic" dogma and "Christian" dogma. That is why people make the distinction.

It is more a matter of the requirements of salvation. "Christians" believe that you get closer to God by having a personal relationship with Him. "Catholics" believe that there has to be an intermediary, s/a a priest and confessions. "Catholics" believe that we are born in sin. "Christians" believe that if a child dies before the age of awarenes, he/she goes directly to heaven, that is why most "Christian" churches don't baptize babies. A big difference also lies in all the saints that "Catholics" worship, which goes against "Christian" doctrine; and the Pope worship that goes on in that church.

This all came about when the leaders of all the Christian faiths got together to examine and compare their beliefs and they ruled out Catholics, Mormons and Jehova's witnesses (just to name a few) as "Christian" faiths because they didn't agree with them.

It is more of a political thing.

My opinion: One of Satan's biggest successes was the division of the church. The other was convincing the world he didnt exist. I am Christian and I believe that there is a difference between faith and religion. There are a lot of Christians that belong to each of these religions. You don't find God at church, you find him through prayer.

God bless.

Answer 3

well I think you will find this the first time that people were called Christians. Long before the Catholic church.
Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Most catholics are not considered Christians as they do not follow the Bible. They follow the Roman church doctrine instead.. They worship idols, and follow customs contrary to the Bible.. Mary worship is another and it is really worse in the Latin countries.. They take statues of the virgin from house to house and the people bow in front of it and kiss it. Not making any of this up, I have seen it and I live in Mexico.. Not bashing, just telling it as it is..

Answer 4

Excuse me, but Catholics did not "coin" the word Christian. It is found in the book of Acts to describe followers of Jesus. Nothing in the bible about Catholics.

I would never presume to say any Catholic is not a Christian. That is for God to determine. I do not agree with many of the things Catholics believe and do, I think they are not biblical (Mary worship, saying a pope is "God's emissary", praying to saints, etc.)

Answer 5

You got quite a bit WRONG!

Christians existed for 300+ years before the cutthroat Constantine Hijacked it and made it a Political money making machine.

It is a CULT that teaches ""Another Gospel"".

Have a look at why I left that Cult and see why most others refuse to accept them as True Christians.

Answer 6

I've never heard this, but I'm not catholic. I do have lots of friends from south american countries, though. hmmm.

Don't worry about it. Catholics believe in Christ, so they're christian by definition.

Answer 7

Catholics are Christians.

If you read the New Testament, you'll see that Jesus wanted people to pray directly to God -- no need for "indulgences" or a big huge money-corrupt church. To many, the Catholic Church has at times appeared to be big, huge, etc., and insulating from God through saints, and thus "un-Christian."

Answer 8

They reject Catholics as Christians because if they didn't they would have to take a very hard look at their own possition as Protestants.

Answer 9

Because everyone wants to be "right" and not everyone is smart enough to know that Catholics were in fact the first Christians.

Ignorance and lack of education.

Answer 10

There is a lot of false information out there on Catholicism. The Liberals should do everybody a favor and just join the Unitarians, then we wouldn't be so misrepresented by heretics.