why is there christianity and catholics they seem to be the same?

Answer 1

The reason for the differences in denominations have to do with people from different backgrounds and cultures trying to understand God. Either that, or like Zarathustra said, man attempts to make God after his own image.


The closest in form to the RCC is the Anglican Church, of which the Episcopal church is quite similar, and currently in Communion with. They had a split because the king of England wanted a divorce, and Rome wouldn't allow it, so he set up his own Archbishop of Canterbury, who had been RCC, as the head of the Anglican Church.

Some of the other protestant churches, really do not like the interpretations of the Catholic Church, and interpret the Bible in a different way, and have their own rituals and dogma. Most protestant churches do not recognize the full seven sacraments of the RCC, and do not believe in confession of sins to a priest.

RCC split from the Orthodox Church over who was to be the leader of the Church. RCC wanted it to be the Bishop of Rome, and the other Orthodox Churches didn't agree, so RCC split off. naming the bishop of Rome as Pope.

40 percent of the Lebanese are Maronites, a form of Orthodox Christianity, except they do recognize Rome.

The Lutheran Church was established by Christians who were disenchanted with the abuses of the RCC, mostly the selling of indulgences. Contrary to popular belief, Martin Luther, who posted his theses opposing certain acts of the church, did not establish Lutheranism.

Some Churches use a council of Bishops as the primary authority, other churches use conventions, and others use presbyteries to determine the official positions of their churches.

Differing churches grant differing levels of authority to individual churches. Baptist Churches select their ministers or preachers, while Methodists have them assigned to them by the Council of Bishops.

The primary sources of all the different forms of Churches occurred after the translation of the Bible into common languages. People read the Bible, and thought they understood it, and interpreted in their own form, without sufficient theological training, and left the Catholic churches due to the abuses of the priestly class against the normal people.

There really isn't enough room on this message to outline the differences among the various Christian denominations I am familiar with. There are perhaps two dozen organized christian religions with significant numbers of membership. There are thousands of marginal denominations claiming to be Christian.

Churches generally form when a group of people disagree with the leadership of the church they attend.

Mostly they were established as political forces.

Answer 2

Almost all important doctrine is completely agreed upon between Catholic Christians and other Christians.

Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

There are some minor doctrine issues and some major cultural traditional differences which, I believe, do not matter that much.

A Catholic worships and follows Christ in the tradition of Catholicism which, among other things, recognizes that Christ made Peter the leader of His new Church and Pope Benedict XVI is Peter's direct successor.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

Technically Catholics are Christians because they believe in Christ as our Savior. I remember hearing that the word Catholic means universal.

A brief history of religion as I remember hearing it - In the New Testament Christ set up his church the way he wanted it - Peter, James, John, and nine others were chosen as his disciples. He gave them authority to act in the name of God and to lead his church after he ascended into heaven (after his death and Resurrection.)

As the disciples went out to preach some of them were killed. They couldn't get back together because of the distance so new disciples were not called to replace the ones who had been murdered. Eventually all the original leaders of the church were killed. In the Catholic tradition I believe Peter is considered the first Pope. They believe that Peter passed his authority from God to the next Pope before he died. This is where the Catholic church started (Sorry if this isn't perfect here - I'm going from memory.)

At some point after that there were people who felt that the Catholic church had strayed away from the Bible and so they tried to get the church to line back up with the teachings from the Bible. (For instance Christ never taught anything about praying to his mother Mary, or the Saints, at least not that I've ever seen in my Bible.)

Well one of these people was called Martin Luther - the Lutheran church came from him. John Wesley was another one - his group is called Methodists. Those are the only two that are really sticking out in my brain right now.

Part of the differences between the different groups of Christians are which parts of the Bible they choose to focus on. Baptists believe that the doctrine of Baptism in very important, etc.

Let me not forget the Mormons or LDS - going back to the whole authority from God thing. The Bible talks about a great falling away from the church that will happen. The Mormons believe this happened after Peter died and that the authority of God was taken off the earth. So when God was ready to restore his authority to the earth again he called a new prophet, like Moses or Peter and gave him his authority again. That is the other big difference between the other Christian churches and the Catholic and Mormons. The Catholics and Mormons both claim direct authority from Christ to act in his name, either through Peter or actually the Mormons believe that Peter restored the power of God to them but he was an angel then, so either way they both claim the line of authority through Peter. All the other "breakaway" churches claim their authority from reading the Bible - at least that is how I understood it.

In the end though - they should all be trying to be more like Jesus. Anyone who says they are Christian should actually be trying to act like Christ. (But I digress as this wasn't part of the question.)

Answer 4

christianity is the religion and catholics are the people who believe in christianity. at least thats what i have pieced together im quite ignorant when it comes to religion since i am heathan.

Answer 5

This is sad, really. The first three answers here show absolute ignorance! Catholicisim is one of several hundred denominations (sects) of Chritianity.

Make that the first 4 answers...

Answer 6

i may not know all the major differences, but I know that catholics bow down to the cross with Jesus still nailed to it, believes that a man could absolve their sins, and prays to all kinds of saints instead of Jesus and God.

Answer 7

Christians pray to God thru Jesus Christ.