Which religion came first, christianity, or catholicism?

Question

My brother and i have a bet going, he says that christianity is a sect of catholicism. I say that catholicism is a sect christianity. If you do answer, please prove with real facts, nothing wikipedia. Thank you for your time.

Answer 1

your brother is correct. catholocism was the first 'church' that followed the teachings of jesus. and by church i mean some sort of organized congregation. what you think of today as christian (a church that follows christ but is seperate from the catholic church) did not exist until the protestant reformation.
there were 3 major sects of christianity up until the reformation: catholicsim (the most dominant and widespread), gnosticism (very minor in comparison), and othrthodox (more prominent in easter europe and russia).
i'm guessing you are talking about the catholic church vs. the various types of christian churches. i'm sorry but your brother wins this bet.

p.s. i think what a lot of people are saying on here about christianity being first is a little misleading. technically as soon as christ got some followers there were christians and christianity. but the first organized church was the catholic church. and not any of the christian churches you know of today.

Answer 2

Christianity came first. Catholicism is a sect of Christianity. The Catholic Church broke away from Eastern Orthodoxy in the 11th century in what was known as the Great Schism over a number of administrative, liturgical and doctrinal issues. So in essense, the Catholic Church didn't even exist until 1,000 years after the inception of Christianity.

What do you mean by "nothing Wikipedia"? Is that not proof enough?

Answer 3

By definition Christianity is following Christ and therefore started in his lifetime. The term Christians is first recorded in Acts, can't remember the reference, sorry, look in a concordance in a library or in the back of a study bible. The term catholic refers to belonging to Christianity but it includes all Christians and therefore isn't a sect of Christianity. The denomination commonly known as Catholics is the Roman Catholic church which historically can be identified as distinct from the Orthodox church and each evolved from the original churches planted by the Apostles after the day of Pentecost (early in Acts), which was after the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. If by catholicism you meant the Roman Catholic Church then you have won your bet with your brother, if you mean the strict meaning of catholicism the verdict is grey not black and white but I would agree with your statement more than his.
Pastor Ross G

Answer 4

Catholicism is the original Christianity and is still the only one to claim the title of "The Church" (see Matthew 16:18). Catholic, by the way, means "universal church" or "church of all." We believe that Christ Himself instituted the Catholic Church and ordained Peter as the first Pope and the other apostles as the first bishops. Until groups of people broke away from the Church, "Christian" MEANT "Catholic." The term "Catholic" was instituted as a way to give definition between the true "universal church" and those who broke away from it (Orthodox, Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican, etc, etc, etc).

So in terms of your bet, I would say that you are closer to the truth than your brother. Catholicism is indeed a "sect" or Christianity - but it is the only "sect" which proclaims the fullness of Christ's Revelation to humanity. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

You are the one who is right: Catholicism is a sect of Christianity. To be more precise, it is a denomination of Christianity.

However, it is the largest & oldest Christian denomination, with the Papacy going all the way back to when Christ Told St. Peter, "Thou art Peter & upon this Rock, I Will Build My Church."

In the 10'th century, Christianity split into Catholic & Orthodox, & then in the 15'th century, the Protestant Reformation broke away from Catholic Christianity.

Answer 6

they're the same thing, and you're right Catholicism is a sect of Christianity. Just like Christianity is a sect of Judaism.

Answer 7

Chronologically, they came simultaneously. The Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ.

At the same time, I would say that Catholicism is a kind of Christianity because Christianity includes all religions that hold that Jesus is the son of God.

Answer 8

From what I understand from this:

http://www.acts1711.com/rcc_bbl.htm

there really was no difference in the beginning. It was one in the same thing. Christianity and Catholicism were one thing. It was even called one thing Catholic Christianity. However, because there were popes that ruled religion,that means that Catholics were first. Everyone followed the popes and councils. It wasn't until they years of 1517-1648 that people started to say, "Hey, wait a minute." that things were actually starting to split up into different religions.

Answer 9

THE CORRECT ANSWER:

Believers in Christ were 1st called 'Christians' in Antioch (Act 11:26)

Christians were 1st.

Christians are believers in Christ.

Catholicism is a religion. (you are correct, not your brother)

The 1st Roman Catholic Church began by the 2nd Century. (200 years after Christ death) But was 1st recognized as a religion in 313 AD.


The first great change in Christian history was Christianity’s spread from Palestine to the rest of the Mediterranean world in the first few decades after Jesus’ death.

Within a short time Christianity had adopted the language and philosophical vocabulary of the Greco-Roman world to express its message. It also adopted some procedural and organizational practices of the Roman Empire. These practices were Pagan.

Nonetheless, the characteristically Christian figure of the bishop had clearly emerged by the middle of the 2nd century. The recognition of the church was by Emperor Constantine the Great, who was a sworn Pagan, in 313 AD. He converted to Christianity, for he saw the great power in which the Church was exerting, thus making Christianity their legal religion. However, Constantine still used Pagan rites mixed with Christian worship.

He consolidated these developments and gave the church support in the great doctrinal controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries that determined orthodoxy.

Most of CHRISTIANITY today has PAGAN DNA & Roots.

Answer 10

Christianity