2006-11-15 03:57:57 · 46 answers · asked by 'Rickaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Catholics are Christian
Not all Christians are Catholic.
Christian refers to anyone who believes that Christ was the son of God. Catholics, Methodists, Mormons, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. etc. are all Christians but only Catholics are Catholic!
2006-11-15 03:58:49 · answer #1 · answered by JaneB 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
They can be. The difference is in the rituals. The impression that I get from all my friends who say they are Catholic is that they just think they have fire insurance. I am not sure what the church teaches on this, but my friends say they are Catholic because they were baptized in as babies. They live a life full of sin and don't care about God in their daily lives. They go on Christmas and Easter to mass, but you'd never be able to tell that in the way they live the rest of the year. From that viewpoint, I would say these people are not Christians the way the Bible says Christians should be.
I personally don't think it's right to pray to Mary. Sounds like an alternate god to me. A priest cannot absolve us from our sins. Only God/Jesus can do that. The Catholics use the same Bible as Christians, but they have a lot more rituals and corruption has always been a bad part of the church. Humans have created things for the people to do so the church can hold more power over their lives.
On the other hand, there are some very devout Catholics that do try to live out the standards in the Bible. Mother Theresa was a wonderful godly woman. She lived the life.
It just depends on what a person's religion really means in their daily life.
2006-11-15 04:05:26 · answer #2 · answered by BaseballGrrl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Today exist a large variation of christian groups.
Catholics are the largest.
In general the fall of the roman empire lead to east and west rome. This was reasponsible for the orthox and the catholic christian church. In the 15 and 16 th century in europe intellectuals wanted to fight the influence of bishops and the popes on politics, so in germany started the reformation.
Therefore Martin Luther translated the latin bible, and some greek texts in a german version. The hate versus rome was so sharp, that the lutheran church went so far to identify the pope as the living antichrist. This was the reason for a war between 4 christian religions some centuries ago. In many north european nations catholics still are a minority.
So there are today many differences between lutheran and catholics. Luteran doesn´t believe, that the pope is installed by God and the only one oe earth who is able to directly correspond to God, like the catholics believe.
Nevertheless through the reformation, the bible was translated to english and several other languages. In the last 5 centuries it has been common that also interpretation were made, and so several new groups appeared. Like Jehovas,baptists or new apostels etc. they have a diffrent interpretation and accent , many of them have nothing to do with catholics, but believe in Christ.
Almost in east Europe and Russia the orthodox church builds still the majority. They are totally different than catholics or Lutherans.
And well Mormons have an additional book beside the bible, so that they are completely different from all others, but almost pretty good christians in an ethic view.
Personally i guess as a lutheran, the main difference between catholics is, that we lutherans believe in Jesus and worship God, but many Catholics pray to Jesus and believe in God.
2006-11-15 04:20:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A Catholic is not a Christian. The teachings of Catholicism is not according to the Holy Bible, but here in the UK the bad examples of the Catholic Church turns people away from knowing the truth about the Holy Bible. Look at some differences
Holy Bible - Catechism
Jesus Christ - Virgin Mary (How is she still a virgin?)
Married pastors - Single priests (molesting boys, girls, nuns)
Their disobedience to the law of God will cause many to perish and the majority think this is the Christian way. It is most definitely not.
But if you ask a Catholic if they are Christians, they will always say "I am a Catholic".
Remeber this - Jesus Christ died for ALL of us, not Mary. Her blood was not shed to cleanse all mankind of their sins.
Wake up!
2006-11-15 05:30:38 · answer #4 · answered by Mike D 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Only in so much as they believe in the same God. They do NOT however preach what the Bible says, that our Salvation comes from Christ Jesus, and ONLY Him. The shortest
distance between 2 places is a straight line. Why take a detour when you don't have to?
Jesus said on the cross after some said behold,
thy Mother and thy brethren. He said
"WHO IS MY MOTHER? AND WHO ARE MY BRETHREN?
St. Matthew 12:47-48 The only possible
meaning, they were no different than anyone
else,if they didn't believe HE died for their
sins
they would not have SALVATION anymore than
anyone else,that didn't believe.
This is what the "Bible Belt Teaches" and if you read the scriptures you probably will to. I know I do,a former Roman Catholic.
2006-11-15 04:41:32 · answer #5 · answered by LucySD 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No they are not. Catholics espouse the belief in the Trinity, as do some Anglicans.
The Trinity or Trinitarian dogma (Father, Son, Holy Spirit, in Christianity) is of Babylonian origin. (Nowhere in the Bible does it say the three are one.)
They also use religious images and statues.
Images or religious statues are of Mesopotamian origin.
Catholicism is about as far as you can get from true 1st Century Christianity. That was before the introduction of pagan holidays entered the scene and bastardized it.
2006-11-15 04:17:27 · answer #6 · answered by champion of the underdog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"What separates us as believers in Christ is much less than what unites us." (Pope John XXIII)
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 many 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.
2006-11-15 16:03:27 · answer #7 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rather like a the two sides of the same coin. Although a Catholic is definitely Christian; a Christian isn't necessarily Catholic.
2006-11-15 04:01:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
I don't believe some answers here. who are you to tell I am not Christians, what Church are you going to. As Christians (catholic ) I believe all people who follow Jesus are Christians and i am no better then any of them.
2006-11-15 04:26:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on whom you ask. The term "Christian" is thrown around in a bunch of different ways. According to the Bible, followers of Jesus Christ (Christians or "little Christs") are those who have accepted forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and are seeking to follow after Him in the way they live their lives. By that definition, some people in pretty much every denomination, including Catholics, are "Christians." Also by that same definition, many people who claim to be "Christians" in all denominations, aren't really.
2006-11-15 04:03:15 · answer #10 · answered by happygirl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Catholic are Christian. Catholic is the first sect of Christianity and then it split into all the different Christian nomination that exist today....
2006-11-15 04:01:45 · answer #11 · answered by Lovely B 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋