Why are the majority of Christians Catholic?

Question

Yet thre are many who say that Catholics cannot be Christian?

avid Barrett divides the Christian world into what he calls "ecclesiastical megablocs." Of the world's 2.1 billion Christians, 1.1 billion are Catholics, 375 million are Protestants, 219 million are Orthodox, and 79 million are Anglicans. 34 million are "marginal Christians" (who believe in a revelation in addition to the Bible or who have off-brand views on Christ or the Trinity --- Jehovah's Witnesses, Swedenborgians, Theosophists, Mormons, etc.).

The remaining 426 million --- the second largest "megabloc" --- are "Independents," which Barrett defines as those Christians "separated from, uninterested in, and independent of historic denominational Christianity" (think of the explosive growth of house churches and new micro-denominations in Africa and Latin America). Fifty-nine percent of the world's Christians live in cities, a dramatic change from 29 percent in 1900.

Answer 1

Catholics are not the majority of Christians--but it's close! Just under 50%.

There are just over a billion Catholics in the world.
There are about 2.1 billion Christians.

The three main branches of Christianity are Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Obvisouly each has its own separate "beef" with the other over theological issues. Its those differences that have separated the groups.

Answer 2

That's two questions - no fair!
1) The majority are Catholic because the majority of their parents were, which is because the majority of their parents were, .... etc. It goes back to the fact that almost all Christians were Catholics until the Reformation - not that long ago. And by my definition the Orthodox are Catholic too, just not Roman Catholic.
2) "Yet thre (sic) are many who say that Catholics cannot be Christian?" Anybody can say what they want, it does not change how many Catholics there are. People who say things like that only confuse and anger other people. Look at how the Sunnis and Shiites have treated each other. Do you really want to be like them?

Answer 3

The number of Catholics in the world continues to increase, particularly in Africa and Asia, although the religion has lost much of its political influence in the "First World" (e.g. Europe, USA). The increase between 1978 and 2000 was 288 million. Protestant evangelicals have succeeded in making inroads into parts of Latin America, but remain a small percentage of the population. In most industrialized countries, church attendance has decreased since the 19th century, though it remains higher than that of other "mainline" Churches.

Answer 4

Is the majority Catholic??
If so, it's probably because the Catholic Church has been around for 2000 years and the Protestant Churches have only been around for roughly 500 years, since Martin Luther nailed his complaints to the church door. The Catholics have had more time to get followers.
Oh, and Catholics ARE Christians, just like the rest of 'em.

Answer 5

The reason some people say they're not Christian is probably because the Catholics have been adding their own rules and erasing some of God's rules. God says that people are not allowed to do so. Although I don't know if they are unsaved or are saved, I think God does have some people in the Catholic Church (see below why I think why)

The reason its the majority is because they killed the people who opposed them and it made them look mighty, so people got afraid of them and submitted to them.

Revelation 17:9 Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.
(The Roman Catholic church sits on the seven hills!)

(Below is why I think there are saved people in the Catholic church)
Revelation 18:2 He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury."
4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don't receive of her plagues,

(Note this.. the voice from heaven says "My People"!!)

Answer 6

what does it matter?

in one of his books anthony de mello sj tells an interesting story:

Jesus had never been to a football game. It was a ferocious battle between the Protestant Punchers and the Catholic Crusaders. The Crusaders scored first. Jesus cheered wildly and threw his hat high up in the air. Then the Punchers scored. Jesus cheered wildly and threw his hat high up in the air. This seemed to puzzle a man sitting behind Jesus, so he tapped Jesus on the shoulder and asked, “Which side are you rooting for?” “Me?” replied Jesus, visibly excited by the game. “Oh, I’m not rooting for either side. I’m just enjoying the game.”
The questioner turned to his neighbour and sneered, “That guy must be an atheist!”

i guess you get the point.

if you wanna know more stories by tony de mello sj search for his books "the song of the bird" or "the prayer of the frog" on the net or simply type "tony de mello" in yahoo search.

you might also like to try: http://www.geocities.com/tonydemelloinstindia

Answer 7

They're not. There are Christians and there are Catholics. These are two mutually exclusive groups with entirely different belief systems.

Catholics don't believe the Bible, they believe in the infallibility of the Pope. The Popes have issued buls denouncing every Christian doctrine and belief. Catholicism is now diametrically different and opposed to true Christianity.

Answer 8

Because it is such an easy 'religion'
yo can do whatever you want and all you have to do is tell a guy your sins and you do some repetitive prayers and you are ok.
There is no hell for you, you go to limbo, then your family prays for you then you go to heaven. You can drink, smoke, cheat on your wife, sure it is frown upon, but you are not a sinner, just say sorry to the statue in front of you and you are better.
its a religion with fake exits, that are wide exits,and easy to go through. And you have many idols to chose from, catholics say that they are not a replacement for God, but yet all of them can save you, heal you, and forgive you. So take a pick.
Hope this helps.

Answer 9

it depends on your definition of "Christian."
If it means a religion that believes Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World, then they are Christian.
However, many people say "Christian" when they really mean Protestant. In that case, it's impossible for Catholics (by definition of Protestant.)

Also, the majority of Christians are catholic because the catholic church is the oldest and most wide-spread christian church still around today.

Answer 10

Because Catholics rule. Catholics have their own country and famous poeple such as Pope John Paul II, Mother Theresa, and JFK on their roster. While Protestant Evangelicals just have Bush, Cheney, and Stephen Baldwin. Eww.

Answer 11

Because Catholics are the first Christians in the world.!!!