Why do so many say that Catholics are not Christians? Isn't that like sayings tigers aren't cats?

Question

Maegan: The beliefs are not that different. It is the structure of them the churches that is different. They both follow basically the same rules. I have attended both, and find very little difference in actual beliefs. They are both Christian denominations.

Answer 1

"Christian" means different things in different contexts. If one takes it to mean "born again" and "saved" by faith alone, then of course Catholics are not Christians.

But why be pedantic? To outsiders, Muslims or Jews or Buddhists, say, of course Catholics are Christians. Just as they are Christians in their own eyes.

For the rest, who cares? Faith is as faith does.

Answer 2

Catholics are Christians. I used to be a Catholic but now say I am a Christian (non-denominational).
A lot of people say that Catholics are not Christians because of all their false teachings that the added onto the basic gospel.
I will list a few.
1. Purgatory
2. Indulgences
3. Salvation by works not by faith.
4. Putting the teachings of the Church at a higher level than the teachings of Scripture.
5. Praying to the dead.
6. Adoration of the saints.
7. Putting Mary practically at the same level as Christ.
8. Confession: Demanding penance be done in order for the absolution from the priest to take affect. In other words, Christ death on the cross was not a high enough price for the sins of Catholics.
9. Assigning church teachings a status of mortal sin. Missing mass on Sunday or a Holy Day. Leaving the Church for another Christian Denomination.
10. Saying that the only way you can be saved is to be a Roman Catholic (if you are a Christian). However, in the new Catechism they say that the Muslim's have a path to heaven which is very interesting since the Muslim's do not believe that Christ is the Son of God or that He died for the sins of mankind.

Answer 3

They are, of course, Christians.
However, Protestants disagree with some basic practices and beliefs of Catholics - primarily:
Catholics focus on what the Pope and "the church" teach - rather than the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
They also believe we need a mediator to ask for forgiveness of sin - the Priest in the practice of "Confession". Protestants believe in access to God through prayer and forgiveness of sin when repentant to Christ. The Bible does not say we need a mediator, that we speak to the Lord who hears us and responds.
Protestants also believe as Paul said, that all believers are saints - and therefore do not pray to saints or to Mary. They are/were human just as we are.
Protestants also do not believe that the communion elements are actually the body and blood of Christ as Catholics do. We belive they represent them.
Good analogy - tigers and cats are different - but in the same family. In this case the family of believers in Jesus Christ.
Ask God to guide you on the differences if you want to.

Answer 4

well, unfortunately, i'd say about 60% of Rcc don't know why they are Rcc - i was "born" Rcc. Unlike Judism - that's ain't how it works.

True practicing Rcc ARE Christians.

people mentioned a number of different things slamming the Rcc, here's my take....
1) purgatory - in Maccabee's it is said that the son can pray and make sacrifices for the father (who'd already died).
2) Mary -- yes we believe Mary is the VIRGIN Mother of Jesus Christ who reemained a virgin unto her eath.
3) WE DO NOT PRAY TO MARY -- we DO however, ask Her intercession and look to Her life for guidance, afterall she was the first Christian. She was God's choice as a Mother for His Only Son -- i think that deserves some repect - God surly thought so.
4) Repentance -- someone said we don't repent - gracious haven't you ever hear of Catholic guilt and confession -- we repent weekly!
5) Confession - in the Bible we're told to confess with our mouth. often times since are rather grevious against the Bible. We do go to a priest and confess to him, thus no worries about things getting spread about maliciously. the "pennance" is often prayers but often it's actually have to make ammends. confession IS good for the soul.

sorry i can't remember all the other things that people were saying, however if you ever want real and additional information I'd be happy to point you int he right direction.

YSIC

Answer 5

Well when I was a Catholic we were taught that Christians are people who broke away from the Church and therefore they do not follow the truth about Christ. Christians say they did break away from the church but they follow the truth about Christ and the Catholics veered off the path.

So basically they are just 2 ways of thinking on the same idea and neither side likes to be associated with the other.

Answer 6

It does fall under Christian but do have different beliefs. LIke no Birth Control, Condem, and "the Pull Out 'Method'"
Cathlics are like a sub-catagroy while Christians and Babtist are the same thing

Answer 7

Catholocism and Christianity differ in many different ways. For one, Catholics pray to Mary. To Christians, that is praying to another god. They also pray to saints, who are dead, which to Christians is a form of necromancy. Catholics believe the bread and wine are literally turned into the body and blood of Jesus. This is cannibalism. Catholics are not encouraged to read the Bible (except when the priest reads it on Sunday). Christians believe the Bible is the only way to know God. Catholics believe a priest, confession, and pennance are the only way to be forgiven by God. Christians believe that you can go to God directly and that forgiveness is given by repentance not saying prayers over and over. Christians don't earn forgiveness; it is given by grace. Catholics believe in purgatory. The Bible never mentions pergatory. Catholocism is based on rituals. Christianity is based on lifestyle.

Answer 8

Because many of us believe that Catholicism has added formalism to God's word. We also believe that many Catholic practices goes against God's word.

For instance, in order to be forgiven Catholics go to a priest to confess your sins, WRONG! Priests can do nothing for you. Only going to the Father in the name of Jesus will get your sins forgiven. You can do that all by yourself.

I believe the biggie is, worshipping Mary. Yes, I said worship -- when you say Hail Mary etc., you are giving her the same props that should be given to the Lord Jesus Christ and given to him ONLY. Mary can't get your sins forgiven either. Yes she should be revered but Catholics have gone over the top.

There are other reasons but there's not enough room to get into it.

Answer 9

well,, what does the meaning of the word "Christian". a person who follows christ..

therefore, anyone who follows Christ is a Christian.

lets see who are following Christ.


We should consider the fact not just the word. The fact is that Jesus preached to believe in one God. Jesus worshipped one True God. Jesus prayed to God( he even fell on his face and prostrated, bible - Matthew 26:39). Jesus preached ten commandments which are found in the teachings of Islam also. Jesus prohibited pork, wine, blood, dead meat or any food on which any name besides God has been taken. Jesus prohibited adultery, fornication. Jesus used to fast for more than a month, Muslims do fast too continously for 30 days in the month of Ramadan. Jesus practiced circumcision (bible - Luke 2:21), Jesus greeted by saying "peace be on you" (Luke 24:36) same as muslims greet i.e. Assalamoalikum means peace be on you, and last but not least, he prohibits Shirk i.e. Associating partners with God almighty (bible Mark 12:29). The teachings of Christianity was never taught by Jesus. Jesus never said that "he is God". Jesus never said that he came to die for the sins of the world. what Jesus preached,, i mentioned above..So all these teachings are part of Islam. So Jesus was a muslim.

therefore, what i say that whether it be a catholic, protestant, mormons, etc ,, none of them are "CHRISTIANS". because of what we mean when we say "CHRISTIAN".

SO, WE MUSLIMS FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS . IF CHRISTIAN IS A PERSON WHO FOLLOWS THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST aND NOT ONE WHO WORSHIPS JESUS . THEN WE MUSLIMS ARE MORE CHRISTIAN THAN CHRISTIANS THEMSELVES.
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hope this answers.

"Christ the son of Mary was no more than an Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make His signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!" QURAN (5:75)

Answer 10

Let the asker please separate the people from the religion; Catholic or Protestant. Neither 'religion' is presently perfect While most Catholics at least abide by the Catholic Bible which has more books in it thana Protestant Bible does usually in this country; they tend to also utilize more the '2 or more witnesses' principle (Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1).

Answer 11

Claiming a religious title doesnt make a person Christian by default. Christianity is following Christ, whether a person is Catholic, Baptist, nondenom or whatever..does not mean they follow Christ. SAYING Jesus and praying sometimes doesnt make a person Christian either. Ask "is this person following Christ's example?" "Am I following Christ's example" "Does this church teach by Christ's example?" Get a "no" and that person or church is not Christian.