Whats the differance between being Catholic and Christian?

Question

is there a diferance? im catholic.

ok thank you people..... my friend is christian and she said theres a difference.....

Answer 1

(Someone just asked this question a couple days ago, and this is how I answered)

I believe what you're really asking is what's the difference between Catholic and Protestantism.

There are 3 main branches of Christianity: Catholicism, Protestantism, and Greek Orthodox. All are "Christian," but differ based on emphasis on authority of the church vs the Bible, and other doctrines. Catholicism and Greek Orthodox are more similar in terms of doctrine and traditions, as well as church hierarchy. The following is a list of main differences between Protestantism and Catholicism:

"(1) Rule of faith: Protestants accept the Bible alone as their main rule of faith. Roman Catholic place the Bible as one among several authorities.

(2) Head of the Church: Protestants do not accept any man on earth as being head of the Church. Catholics look to the Pope as having that role.

(3) Mary: Protestants do not accept Mary or the saints as having a special intercessory role for believers. Catholic believe just opposite and place great value upon the intercessions of Mary and the saints.

(4) Communion: Protestants believe that the Lord's Supper is primarily a memorial meal. Catholics believe the bread and wine actually turn into the body and blood of Jesus. (Transubstantiation.)

(5) Sacraments: Catholics have a number of sacraments that will not be found in Protestant Churches. Protestants generally hold to two rituals to be observed, which are water baptism for believers, and the Lord's Supper

(6) Auricular Confession: Catholics believe that priests have the power to remit sins through the priestly confessions. As a rule Protestants believe in the priesthood of all believers.

(7) Church: Roman Catholicism teaches that they alone are the true Church. Protestants believe that all Christian believers make up the true Church.

(8) Purgatory: Catholics believe the soul enters purgatory upon death, for a time of purging or cleansing. Protestants believe the soul goes directly to heaven at death.

(9) Immaculate Conception: Catholics teach that Mary was born
without sin. Protestants do not believe this.

(10) Infallibility of the Pope: Catholics believe that when the Pope
speaks ex-Cathedra (Officially, or 'from the chair.') that his words are infallible, or the same as God speaking. Protestants allow this for no man." (Link 1 below)

The 2nd link below gives brief summaries of information, such as history and specific doctrines. I am a Protestant Christian, so I cannot vouch for the veracity of the information contained in the 2 links regarding Catholicism, though the info jives with the general knowledge I have regarding the two. I just did a search on ask.com, typing in, "What is the difference between Catholic and Protestant?" You can run your own search, too. There's a ton of information out there.

Either way, Catholic or Protestant...you have some that are truly Christians in both denominations/branches, and you have some that are nominal only. To know the difference between nominal and a true believer, you'd have to study the Holy Bible. I'd start with the gospels, especially the book of John.

Source(s):

http://www.christianchallenge.org/ask/ca...
http://www.truth.info/church/catholic.vs...

Answer 2

Even though most people will say there is no diffrence, there can be. It depends upon the individual and their beliefs. This can also be true of any of the denominations. If a Catholic becomes too fixated upon the St.Saints and mary, then those figures become idols to the person. I have heard of denominations where the bible is treated as the holiest of objects, and in this many people fall into viewing the bible as an object of power, thus it becomes to them an idol. Some can idolize the cross, and other symbols, it is a dangerous pit fall. Anyone who does not follow the teachings of Christ, belive in the one true God, and has idols before God is not Christian. Now if the person repents, and rejects their idols they would be Christian, otherwise they are something diffrent, close to Christian but not truely. This is all based upon what I have been taught and what I believe, I have no source but my readings of the bible so take from it what you will. I hope that it helps.

Answer 3

In a Christian's eyes Catholics are not Christians. Just because they use the name of Christ does not make them the same. If you look at the characteristics of the Christ of Christianity and the Christ of Catholics you will see that they are two completely different personalities. This issue was clearly dealt with at the time of the reformation and that is when protestants began. The were called that because they "protested" against catholic teaching. The main issue which also exists today is the issue of salvation by faith alone in the case of protestanst and salvation by works which include mass, confession, rosary, sacraments, baptism, last rites and many more.

Answer 4

I'm Christian. The Roman Catholic church had many practices within their doctrine that a lot of people didn't agree with. Worship of idols, the Spanish Inquisition, even now, kissing the pope's ring, trinity...etc.
Martin Luther, (not King), protested against some of these teachings and practices. The Church was divided. Those that stayed, remained Catholics, those that protested against it, Protestants. All still Christian.
The Protestants branched into different Christian sects, like Pentecostal, Baptists, Episcopal...etc.
All still Christian. Therefore, a Catholic Christian, is NOT the same as a Protestant Christian. We don't hold the same beliefs.
For one, we don't believe in the word trinity, because it would denote that there is more than only 1 God in heaven. You say God in 3 persons, the father, the son, and the holy spirit, as being 3 separate Deity's. We believe that there is only one God Almighty.
God Almighty-Giver of Life
God's Word-The word of God-The word made flesh, is called Jesus.
God's Holy Spirit-That impregnated Mary.

All God.

Isn't your word still you?
Isn't your spirit still you?
Isn't your physical body you?

On this we don't agree. Also, why would you hail Mary? She was used by God to make God's word flesh. God didn't have sex with Mary, His Holy Spirit impregnated her. That's why Jesus is God. After Jesus was born, she did have sex with her husband, and therefore, was no longer a virgin. Why hold the vessal higher than its contents?
In the beginning, was the word, and the word was God, and the word was with God.
Your bible, changes this to and the word was a god. Any talk of false gods, is paganistic. The Egyptians worshiped false gods. But the 10 commandments say, Thou shall have no other gods before me.
So while we disagree on many things, we are all grouped under the huge umbrella, Christians.

Answer 5

Catholics have a pope that is like the head of all catholic churches. Cahtolic is a branch of christianity. Catholics are very strict and they have to go through some (I don't know what it's called) catholic school at a young age and then they graduate something like that. Other Christians don't have a pope or that thing where you have to graduate.

Answer 6

Catholics are Christians, but they are not Protestant. There are many different beliefs & rituals in the Catholic church.
1. priests don't marry
2. you believe in purgitory
3. you have nuns
4. females can't be priests
5. theres a lot of kneeling
6. confession
7. priests have a lot more control [money]
8. Virgin Mary has a lot more status
9. Saints
10. you have to buy your way to heaven, through special masses
Most protestant religions don't have any of this.

Answer 7

There is no difference. Catholics **ARE** Christians.

Your friend is probably a Protestant. There are some differences between Catholics & Protestants, but both are Christian.

Answer 8

Catholics are Christians, but all Christians are not Catholic.

Other Christian churches broke away from the Catholic church over the years. They still worship Christ, but they do it in their own way!

Answer 9

Catholic is a sect of christianity. It's like protestant, or angnostic, in the sense that they are all different sects of the same basic belief system- that of Christ. Don't get me wrong, they are all very different in the way the churches are ran and what is taught, but all christian sects believe in christ.. hence the reference to Christ in the name.

Answer 10

If you don't know, then you're not Catholic. Too many people call themselves Catholic (or Lutheran, Babtist, whatever) without ever knowing or following the guidelines of that religion. Just because your parents are Catholic doesn't mean you are.