I hear the two terms and am wondering if they are the same thing, just different termonlogy, or if they are actually two different faiths.
2006-12-01 01:22:10 · 25 answers · asked by Jamie 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To those who were offended by me asking this...I am only asking b.c I don't know, I'm not trying to say that Catholics aren't Christian or something like that, I just wasn't sure if they were the same religion, thats why I asked, get it?!
2006-12-01 01:38:45 · update #1
Catholics are Christians, they are just one of the many denominations and, as such, have their own traditions and beliefs within the Christian faith.
2006-12-01 01:25:29 · answer #1 · answered by Lydia 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Some Catholics are Christians. Some Baptists are Christians. Some Pentecostals are Christians. Some Presbyterians are Christians. The reason some Christians, (elitists, yes,) say that Catholics are not Christian is that their extra-Biblical traditions like kissing statues' feet are offensive to them. But all belivers in every Christian denomination who trust the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ as their ticket to righteousness, and to right-standing with God (and NOT their own good deeds) are Biblical Christians. Church membership cannot commend you to God. Good works cannot either, because they always fall short of being enough. Good works do not make you a Christian;
they prove you are a Christian.
2006-12-01 01:45:18 · answer #2 · answered by Emmaean 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Catholics are Christian, but in alot of situations these days when you hear a person call themselves a Christian...it is because they are from a different denomination than Catholic which could be alot of different denomination or full gospel church, Bible based church, or non-denomination type church. All of the mentioned may or may not practice or believe the same way that the other one does. But most all believe in Jesus/God.
I hope that helped you, I know it can get confusing.
2006-12-01 01:37:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes catholics are christians. But often times the word christian is meant as Protestants. Protestants broke away from the catholic church because they felt that the Catholics we following tradition not God and the Bible. There are fundamental differences between the two. How they view salvation, sanctification and praying to saints are just a few.
2006-12-01 01:29:00 · answer #4 · answered by icthyus05 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Catholics are Christians. We follow the Pope's authority because Jesus made St. Peter the head of His church, the first pope. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit unto the apostles during Pentecost and the Catholic church is the only Christian church that Jesus had the apostles start. Jesus and the Holy Spirit gave the apostles the authority to teach others, to baptize, to wed, to give penance to (our 7 sacraments). The first church then was called Christian because they followed Christ. A few hundred years laters some men didn't like having to follow the Pope so they broke off and started their own churches. The first original church began calling themselves "Catholics" because it means "universal" meaning "for all" because it is the church that Jesus gave authority to for all to belong to.
The Catholic Church is the church that Christ gave the apostles authority over to start after His ascension into Heaven. This authority was given on Pentecost when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit unto the apostles and the Holy Spirit stays with the Catholic Church to make sure that she follows scripture and Christ.
2006-12-01 01:34:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Through the study of Scripture and the Church Fathers, we see that, not only is the Catholic faith biblical, Catholicism is Bible Christianity par excellence.
Because the Old and New Testament Scriptures are the divinely-revealed, written Word of God, Catholics venerate the Scriptures as they venerate the Lord's body. But Catholics do not believe that God has given us His divine Revelation in Christ exclusively through Scripture. Catholics also believe that God's Revelation comes to us through the Apostolic Tradition and teaching authority of the Church.
What Church? Scripture reveals this Church to be the one Jesus Christ built upon the rock of Saint Peter (Matt. 16:18). By giving Peter the keys of authority (Matt. 16:19), Jesus appointed Peter as the chief steward over His earthly kingdom (cf. Isaiah. 22:19-22). Jesus also charged Peter to be the source of strength for the rest of the apostles (Luke 22:32) and the earthly shepherd of Jesus' flock (John 21:15-17). Jesus further gave Peter, and the apostles and elders in union with him, the power to bind and loose in heaven what they bound and loosed on earth. (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). This teaching authority did not die with Peter and the apostles, but was transferred to future bishops through the laying on of hands (e.g., Acts 1:20; 6:6; 13:3; 8:18; 9:17; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6).
By virtue of this divinely-appointed authority, the Catholic Church determined the canon of Scripture (what books belong in the Bible) at the end of the fourth century. We therefore believe in the Scriptures on the authority of the Catholic Church. After all, nothing in Scripture tells us what Scriptures are inspired, what books belong in the Bible, or that Scripture is the final authority on questions concerning the Christian faith. Instead, the Bible says that the Church, not the Scriptures, is the pinnacle and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15) and the final arbiter on questions of the Christian faith (Matt. 18:17). It is through the teaching authority and Apostolic Tradition (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:2) of this Church, who is guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26; 16:13), that we know of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and the manifold wisdom of God. (cf. Ephesians 3:10).
2006-12-01 01:32:21 · answer #6 · answered by Gods child 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This question was asked last night almost verbatim. I answered that Christianity is the umbrella religion that covers many branches of the religion itself. Christian simply means Christ follower, which simly denotes belief in the Jesus as the messiah and savior of the world. Catholicism is simply a branch which, like all of the rest of the branches, has it's own unique doctrines, rituals, and worship methods. All Catholics are Christian but not all Christians are Catholics.
2006-12-01 01:27:03 · answer #7 · answered by mortgagegirl101 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I am Catholic, but I have a few Protestant friends. And after watching and asking a couple questions, I have found that the only difference between Catholics and Protestants are what they practice.
2006-12-01 01:30:38 · answer #8 · answered by novagirl117 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Catholics are Christians. Catholicism is like another denomination (if you want to think of it that way). They have their own unique beliefs and their hierarchy with the Pope as the leader distinguishes them from other Christians.
2006-12-01 01:29:47 · answer #9 · answered by Boilerfan 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is the Catholic religion. Centuries ago many people protested against the Catholic Church (who weren't very nice to the people). The were known as the "Protesters" and the religions (still based on Jesus Christ) that they started eventually became known as 'Protestant". They include, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Jehovah Witnesses , 7 Day Adventist, etc, etc.
2006-12-01 01:35:13 · answer #10 · answered by The professor 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋