What're all the defined differences between Catholicism and Christians?

Question

I know that being Catholic is a subgenre of Christianity, but what makes Catholics different from other types of Christian religions.

Answer 1

The Roman Catholic Church, with the exception of the Eastern Orthodox Church, predates all other denominations and is the largest among them all. The government is unique only in the fact that the Catholics have a Pope, who is technically just the Bishop of Rome. However, other churches have bishops, apostolic succession, and similar dogma.

Answer 2

There are a lot of differences, but the most important one is the doctrine of transsubstantiation (I think I spelled that right). This is the belief that when the priest blesses the communion wafers and wine, they literally become the body and blood of Christ. This is why non-Catholics aren't allowed to take communion--supposedly they don't understand the importance of what's happening. Another difference is the seven sacraments, which are pretty much essential: Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Last Rites. All Catholics go through the first for and the last one--Marriage and Holy Orders are an either/or thing. Most other Christian denominations have some form of most of these.
Perhaps the best known difference is the whole idea of Confession, which I'm sure you've seen in the movies or on TV. This is based on the passage from scripture where God is setting up Peter as the first pope and says something along the lines of "What you hold loosed on earth will be held loosed in heaven, what you held bound on earth will be bound in heaven."
The last difference I'm going to mention is that Catholics, as a rule, don't know their bible as well. Most of the Sunday school classes teach dogma and doctrine, not scripture.
For anything else, hunt up a Catholic bookstore, which should have all sorts of books on the subject.

Oh, and we DO NOT worship the saints or Mary, for the record.

Answer 3

It depends who you ask. Catholicism is closest to Christian denominations like Lutheranism. It differs mainly in relatively minor beliefs on how to interpret biblical passages, and its big difference is probably its style of leadership (the pope, etc. instead of, for example, a pastor in Baptist churches). Some beliefs/interpretations that it sometimes differs from other Christian denominations are 1) how to take communion/The Lord's Supper/the Eucharist; 2) whether or not some actions are sins; 3) whether or not priests should be able to marry; 4) how we should pray. The biggest difference most Christians talk about is that Catholics have a practice of "praying" to Mary. Some denominations view this as idolatry, and this is one of the reasons that there is such disagreement between Catholicism and most other denominations.

Answer 4

For one thing, Catholics are much more on ceremonial type things than Protestants (that's what the other type of Christian is called, which can also be broken down into Baptist, Methodist, etc. Which can then be broken down into General Baptist, Southern Baptist, and so forth, just so you know). Catholics also put a larger emphasis on Jesus' Mother than Protestants. The Catholics also believe in confessions to priests, and having the priests or the Pope to forgive them of their sins and that the Pope is the leader of the Church appointed by God, I think. As I am sure you can tell, I am clearly not Catholic, but I hope this helped you.

Answer 5

In the beginning they were all one.The later called Catholics had ideas of their own and were kicked out.What remained is the Greek-Orthodox church.It never made any change ever since.It freezed in time.
The Catholics added "filioque" which means that the holy spirit comes not only from the father but also -que- from the son -filius-.
The Greek-Orthodox are without the "filioque"
The Catholics have it and added the immaculate conception of the virgin also and the fact that the pope is never wrong.
The protestants protested ,mostly the fact that the pope was never wrong and had turned the church into an obvious business.And left.
The protestants subdivided......
That's where i loose track.

To spunk113
Communion and trans substantiation is a basic part of all christian dogmas not only catholics.

The frozen Greek or east-Orthodox church includes all of eastern Europe ,the Balkans and all of the ex Soviet Union.They are the larger dogma in Europe.

Answer 6

The Catholic church at one point was the Christian church. Some people did not agree with things that were going on within the church and broke away to form other religions.

Martin Luther is one example, although he did not intend to start a new religion. He wrote a list of all of the things he saw wrong with the church and posted it on the door. If I recall correctly, he was later excommunicated from the church. His followers started a church in his name, but it was never his intent to break away. He would rather have had the church stay united, and fix what he saw to be wrong. (One example I can remember was the practice of "buying" your forgiveness. The more money you put in the offering plate, the better your chances for being forgiven. Silly....)

Answer 7

As I have stated so many times in the past, Catholicism is a practice of religion started in 325 AD at the Council of Nicaea. The beginning of the universal church.

Christianity is a reality. A daily walk with the Lord. The study of His Word that Faith may grow and we gain the full understanding and wisdom to prepare ourselves for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

No mystery here. Read; study; learn; grow; and serve God in His Will.><>

Answer 8

there are seven different churches I am not really sure what the others believe and how they are different but I do know the difference between Christian and Baptist. You see Baptist don't believe in the Holy Ghost in other words they are considered a religion as catholics are. Christians believe every single scripture in the bible so they are not considered to be religuos... just christians.

Answer 9

Catholics are Christians yet not all Christians are Catholics. both are Christians. Your question should be: what's the version between Protestantism and Catholicism? or what's the version between Protestant Christianity and Catholic Christianity? it truly is any incorrect way round, Catholics trust there is not any salvation outdoors of the Church.

Answer 10

Actually, Catholicism is the oldest christian religion, and all else is a "spin-off" from catholics. King Henry wanted a divorce, so he made the Protestant religion. Of course, its much more complicated, but this is the gist of it. In my humble opinion.