This really confuses me. I've heard people here say that Catholics are not Christians...?

Question

I'm an Agnostic, and I always thought that a "Christian" was anyone who believed that Jesus was the son of God and that, by accepting him, he forgave you for his sins. There are many differant denominations of Christians, but they all agree on that one central idea, correct?

It has been my understanding that Catholics not only believe this as well, but that the Catholic church was the church from which all the other Prodistant denominations branched off from when Martin Luther nailed his grevances to the church door. Is this correct?

So why do I see questions and answers that seem to classify Catholics as "non-Christians?" I know they arn't Prodistants, but they believe in the saving grace of Jesus, so that makes them Christians, right? Is there some other core belief that makes them non-Christians that I am missing here, or is it just the ignorance of others?

I wasn't asking for anyone's views on Catholics or Christians, weather you agree with them or like them or not, I just wanted to know if Catholics are considered Christians or not. I'm an Agnostic, so I'm not Catholic or even Christian. Thanks to everyone who answred me. :)

Answer 1

The Catholic Church is more of an agency than it is an establishment unto GOD... The core beliefs of Catholicism are in no way shape or form different from Christians, in fact they are literally just one of the denominations. The problem is that the Catholic church is self-indulgent and extremely prideful far from pious and certainly not more concerned with GOD or spirituality than they are with politics and economy. This is why they have such a great influence over the culture and society of Africa India Europe and Mexico. They planted their political roots in Europe and the European colonies that are still impacted on a cultural level to this day whether they are colonies of European nations or not are still vulnerable to the influence and willing to accept it. It goes without question because of the impact Europeans made in those places.

The separation of powers in the church that began with Martin Luther was a damaging blow to the economic and political stranglehold the church had over Europe. To this day there very little going on in Europe that the Catholic church isn't dipping into the purse for.
Martin Luther just wanted to renounce a few priests who he felt were corrupt. When the people decided to take matters into their own hands Luther was unwittingly thrown to the foregrounds of the battle and appointed the leader of these new Separatists before he realized it. From there he just went with the flow.

But any hierarchical establishment resents a figurehead of rebellion for fear that it will lose it's power. And it is that egotism that makes many Catholics deny the Christian church of which they are a denomination...

Answer 2

The explanation you give in your question is essentially correct. However, your one statement about ALL the other Christian religions coming from the Catholic religion and can be traced to the Protestant movement started by Luther is completely wrong. True many or even most do, but there are very important exceptions to this rule. For instance you might be surprised to learn that the United Methodist faith has it's roots more closely tied to the Orthodox movement as opposed to the Protestant movement. Episcopalians spring from the Church of England or C of E as it is often referred. Their beginning has to do with certain royalty wanting a divorce and the Pope refusing it as I recall. I will be the first to admit my religious history is weak, but I am certain that Christianity has a far more varied past and does not simply divide into Catholic or Protestant. Also to consider the Catholic religion as the one that started it all would be to deny that it started with a handful of Jews. It is from the Jewish faith that Christianity first grew. That's sort of the point of the Old Testament. You wont find any Catholics mentioned there. One should also remember that there are groups within judaism that believe in Jesus and therefore are Christian Jews, hardly an outgrowth of the Catholic church, or the Protestant movement. To sum up: Of course Catholics are Christians. Protestant religions grew from the Catholic church. Not all Christian religions are connected to either. Judaism DOES NOT require that you abandon a belief in Jesus as the son of God. There are shades and tones to all of our "truths" and in reality we are far closer to each other than any of us realize.

Answer 3

Yes, Catholics are definitely Christians and you are correct in all your information above. All other denominations of Christians and Protestants are branched off from the Catholic Church. The word "catholic" means universal in its uncapitalized form. There is one core issue I can express to you and that is that the majority of Christian denominations are believers only in the Bible as the Word of God and translate it in hundreds of different ways according to their beliefs. As Catholics, we believe in the Bible BUT we also believe in "Apostolic Tradition" which means that we accept the teachings and traditions of the early apostles and disciples from the time of Christ, which are not all contained in the Bible. We believe in the Apostolic succession established by Christ for His Church down through the years from the time of Jesus until present day, which are the Popes and Bishops. Martin Luther saw many abuses practiced in the church and rather than try to reform from within, he split off and tried to reform by establishing his own church. Granted, there have been abuses, we are all human, and every human is capable of sin but the Catholic church is guided by the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus Christ Himself. Then too there were a number of heresy's in the early church days and some of these were the believe that Jesus was only human, not divine, some believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, but not God. The Catholic Church has always, from the beginning, held to the belief that Jesus was fully human and fully divine. Born in human flesh, to redeem us and offer us salvation. He is the 2nd person of the Blessed Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So this is a Trinitarian belief while others have chosen to deny this and instead believe in a Unitarian God. It can get complicated and thats probably why you hear so much disagreement on what Christianity really is. Bottom line, Catholics are Christian and believe it or not, the Bible is a Catholic Book.

Answer 4

I'd like to think that Catholics are Christians because has u said they believe in the saving grace of Jesus.However i can see where or how other Christians may feel that catholics aren't Christians and thats because there are few core differences btw catholics and the mainstream churches such as:
-Mainstream Christians have 66 books in the Bible while catholics have 73 books,thats a core difference as mainstream Christians don't believe in the additional 7 books that catholics have.

-Catholics tend to pray to mary or through mary and that strongly differs with mainstream Christianity.

-while mainstream Christianity is more into grace(u know that business bout ur not perfect.,jesus is perfect for u...)catholics are more into works(they feel they have to be righteous in themselves e.g abtinence from marraige etc)

-Another core difference is beliefs-during sharing ogf bread and wine(i.e body and blood of Christ)catholics beleive that the bread and wine is christ body itself,that it changes to his body and blood while mainstream believes its a representation(symbol) of his blood and body.
there are many core dinstinction btw mainstream Christians and Catholics that cause some Christians to believe they are not Christians. I think both sides have good points. But i would say catholics where christians just a different sect an some different beliefs. Tw xx

Answer 5

As a Catholic, I consider myself to be a Christian. I am as confused as you are when others claim that I am not. I am no expert on what they may believe in other faiths, but I have a notion that it has to do the concept of being "born again". Catholics don't believe you can be "born again". We are baptized in infancy and therefore cannot discount our baptism by being baptized again later in life. We do have a "confirmation" in our teenage years that confirms the baptismal vows that were taken by our sponsors in infancy. Some Christians believe that unless you are "born again" you cannot be a true Christian.
Added note: Catholics worship "false idols" and a cult? Hasn't anyone ever died in your family and you speak to them? It is the same concept with Mary or Joseph or any other dead person. The difference is that Mary should have a more direct line to Jesus and God than my dead uncle or someone else. We ask Mary to help us with our problems, because we think she can petition for us, along with us, to God. I know no Catholic who would ever place a priest to represent Jesus. There is just too much misinformation here about the Catholic faith. Who would mistake a priest or a pastor or a minister or a preacher with Jesus? I suggest you non-Catholics see for yourselves. I have been to Methodist and Luthern services and they were very much like the Catholic masses I attend.

Answer 6

Short answer.

Non-Christians see Catholics as the original Christian Church. All forms of Christianity owe the Catholics for the Bible, if nothing else.

Some Protestants do not see Catholics as Christian.

I'm not sure where the Catholics stand today with respect to the various schismatics, but I believe all of the non-Catholic doctrine has been declared anathema and heresy at one time or another.

Think "Northern Ireland" (I know NI is more complicated than just religion, but I'm sure you get the point).

Answer 7

Almost all Non-Catholic Christian Churches acknowledge that Catholics are Christians.

A few Non-Catholic Christian Churches do not.

Catholics, of course, claim the title of Christian.

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

I was raised catholic and I consider myself to be a christian...I've never heard of catholics not being christian....maybe, like you said, it is just the ignorance of others. I will admit, however, to not being an active participant in the church and not agreeing with all the tenets of my religion...so maybe there's something I missed along the way and just didn't bother to pick up on it...

Answer 9

Of course catholics are christians (whether or not that is a good thing is a matter of opinion), in fact, they are the oldest SURVIVING branch of christianity, and they are the largest branch of christianity.

Catholics seem to be less judgemental and fundementalist, and the fundies think that anyone who doesn't hate every freethinker in the world or read the bible as if it were a textbook to be non-christians: Consequently, fundies think that catholics aren't christians. (Now in regards to fundie catholics, I have no idea of what's going on)

But then again, it doesn't really matter who is a 'christian' in the long run, now does it?

Answer 10

Catholics are Christians, just not Protestants. Protestants "protested" against the Catholic Church's views.