Where does the word Catholicism come from?

Answer 1

catholic - greek, "universal"

Answer 2

Catholic means "universal." The term as applied to the church is detailed in the link listed below. I have copied some excerpts from this link:

The word Catholic (katholikos from katholou -- throughout the whole, i.e., universal) occurs in the Greek classics, e.g., in Aristotle and Polybius, and was freely used by the earlier Christian writers in what we may call its primitive and non-ecclesiastical sense. Thus we meet such phrases as the "the catholic resurrection" (Justin Martyr), "the catholic goodness of God" (Tertullian), "the four catholic winds" (Irenaeus), where we should now speak of "the general resurrection", "the absolute or universal goodness of God", "the four principal winds", etc.

The combination "the Catholic Church" (he katholike ekklesia) is found for the first time in the letter of St. Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, written about the year 110. In fact Catholic soon became in many cases a mere appellative--the proper name, in other words, of the true Church founded by Christ, just as we now frequently speak of the Orthodox Church, when referring to the established religion of the Russian Empire, without adverting to the etymology of the title so used.

More detail is available in the link below--including as to how the term came to be called Roman Catholic to describe the church which believes in the apostolic sucession of the bishop of Rome (the pope). I think it does a much better job of explaining than I ever could. Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Answer 3

It comes from the Greek word meaning "universal". The english word "catholic" in fact means just that - universal. The name was chosen by the end of the First Century by the Church Christ founded for all men, because Christ had indicated His intent that this one Church would be the only Church for all mankind.

Answer 4

Catholic means universal. Catholocism is the religion.

Answer 5

Roman catholic.

Answer 6

it means universal church