What is the difference(s) between being a Catholic and being a Christian? Also, what are the different practices?
If you have converted from being one to the other, why?
2006-09-12 14:53:43 · 20 answers · asked by lkraie 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What is the difference(s) between being a Catholic and being a Christian? Also, what are the different practices?
If you have converted from being one to the other, why?
READ: Those who keep saying that Catholics are Christian, I'm not claiming that they are not, here I shall refer to Catholics as so, and Protestants as Christians to avoid confusion, yes there is Christ in both religions so technically both are Christians but I can't say that here otherwise this would be a Christian VS Christian question. If it helps, it is a "Catholic" compared to "Protestant" question.
2006-09-12 15:24:24 · update #1
Catholicism is a type of Christianity, the type of Christianity against which the Protestant reformers revolted. Catholics differ from Protestants in that Catholics believe not olnly scripture to be inspired and source of revelation, but also that Christian tradition is another source of revelation.
Because of this two-fold source of revelation, Catholics incorporate into their religious ritual and tradition things Protestants do not. Religion statuary and icons, belief in the intercession of saints, and an hierarchical institutional structure headed by the bishop of Rome are a few instances.
Catholics tend to be maligned by Protestants as non-Christians and idol worshippers because many of these practices are not found in the Bible. This is misguided, because Catholics, like stated above, believe that revelation is mediated through tradition as well as scripture.
2006-09-12 15:14:53 · answer #1 · answered by David W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics are Christians. There are many groups that have divided from the Catholic Church that are still Christian. For the most part the are called Protestant because they protested some of the beliefs and actions of the catholic Church, but they are all christian.
2006-09-12 21:58:22 · answer #2 · answered by chris B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Almost all important doctrine is completely agreed upon between Catholic Christians and other Christians.
Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):
By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.
There are some minor doctrine issues and some major cultural traditional differences which, I believe, do not matter that much.
A Catholic worships and follows Christ in the tradition of Catholicism which, among other things, recognizes that Christ made Peter the leader of His new Church and Pope Benedict XVI is Peter's direct successor.
With love in Christ.
2006-09-13 00:15:25 · answer #3 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was raised Catholic and am now a nondenominational Christian. Catholics do not teach that we are separated from God by sin, that Jesus died on the cross as payment for our sins, and that if we accept that gift we are assured a place in Heaven. They believe that good works will get you into Heaven. Christians believe the message of salvation and have an inner peace because of it. Catholics generally don't keep the faith in their everyday lives. They go to church for an hour on Sunday, and the rest of the time they live very secular lives. Christians spend time with others in their church, study the Bible together, encourage each other and keep each other accountable. A Christian tries to live like a Christian 24/7, and it shows. Integrity is a huge part of being a Christian. Christians do a lot of outreach to the unchurched. We believe that it is our responsibility to bring others to know Jesus so that they too can be saved.
2006-09-12 22:31:39 · answer #4 · answered by _me_ 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Catholics are Christians just like Presbyterians, Baptists, etc.
They have the Pope as their leader, and their clergy is celibate (or supposed to be). Catholics believe in transubstantiation, which means that when they eat the host and drink the wine at Communion, it actually turns into the body and blood of Christ. In Protestantism, it's symbolic rather than real. There are other Christian Churches as well (Greek, Ukranian, Russian Ortodox Churches for example, and each is different.
2006-09-12 22:00:04 · answer #5 · answered by Bobbie 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A Catholic is a christian, you mean a Protestant and a catholic?
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/protcath.htm
read this...
By the way, us protestants, we do not worship and pray to the Virgin or saints, and catholics do. The Bible is clear in this part, NO ONE gets to the father; the only way is Jesus Christ.
2006-09-12 22:01:22 · answer #6 · answered by Marco 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
being catholic is being a christian. the catholic church predates all other christian denominations and is the true church of god. the catholic bible contains more books in the bible. martin Luther altered the catholic(universal) bible to adhere to the way he wanted to be taught and thus formed his own religion(man-made) which is the bible followed by the other christian denominations, excluding Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses.the differences are endless but the thing we have in common is a love for god and to follow the teachings of Christ so that we may one day be with our glorious god in heaven. look on-line for more information, i can't think of any particular sites but just use keywords and you'll be good.
2006-09-12 22:02:39 · answer #7 · answered by fenian1916 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic church is also "Christian" in the true sense, and accepts the complete revelation of God, as received in various ways, and through various, equally valid means.
The Catholic church practices the faith according to that complete revelation, under the leadership of a supreme earthly leader, the Pope, various regional leaders, the bishops, and their designated assistants, who are known as priests and deacons.
Non Catholic "Christian" groups accept only a limited "subset" of Catholic beliefs and of God's complete revelation.
Non-Catholic church government and liturgical practices also vary widely, as a result.
The other, specific differences are too extensive to treat properly in this forum, as there are an estimated 31,000 different non-Catholic Christian groups and faith traditions, as of this writing.
2006-09-13 01:10:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Catholics are the ones that have a pope. Christians are the Catholics and also the ones who followed Martin Luther when he complained about the Pope's wild parties.
At least thats my take on it but I'm an atheist.
2006-09-12 21:56:50 · answer #9 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no difference. For Catholics are Christians. Yet Catholics are true Christians as Protestants have dissented from the truth unto fallacy.
2006-09-12 22:06:50 · answer #10 · answered by elguapo_marco_2008@sbcglobal.net 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋