Why do some of you think that Catholicism is not Christianity?

Question

I do not understand why I see these posts ' caught between Christianity and Catholicism' there is no difference. Catholics believe that Jesus was the son of God and died for our sins just as Christians also believe that. What is the difference? Catholics can answer if they wish, this is for those who think there is a different. Try to make me understand, with the knowledge that it won't work.

If you are going to use 'that they are mary worshipers' you need to have a better line than that. They worship God. Defend yourself and make it good. You are in competition for points here.

To CHERYL and people like her : you should learn - that means to gain knowledge of something - from Bess. I think she's one of the few that has it all together upstairs.

Answer 1

Thank you! I am a Catholic, and I have had to explain to several of my Christian friends of other denominations that they should stop trying to convert me because I am already christian. They replied with the standard arguments that Christians who are poorly educated about the catholic church use.

1)We worship Mary. They really believe this, and generally the Hail Mary is thrown in somewhere as "proof" that we pray directly to her and not for her intercession.

2)We worship the saints. Pretty much the same argument as for Mary, with the prayers of intercession thrown in as "proof."

3)We are idol worshipers. This is because we have statues of Mary and Joseph or the patron saint of the parish in our churches. Sometimes other denominations get a little confused as to the actual purpose of these statues. Also, they take offense to our belief that the host is the body of Christ and the wine is his blood, that they are not just symbols but are the actual body and blood.

These are the main arguments I've heard when clearing up the misconception that Catholics aren't Christians. There are some other arguments used, such as our use and interpretation of the Bible, our ritualized masses, and holy days, but these are not as common in my experience. The reason, therefore, that some people think that Catholics are not Christians is poor religious education.

Answer 2

i say this in kindness not spite - they claim this because they are ignorant to the reality of the CAtholic denomination. people talk about Scriptures - and Catholic not holding to them....
all Rcc beliefs can be found in the bible, some plainly others indirectly indicated. Scripture itself points out an authoritative church & tradition. St Paul points out in his second letter to the Thess – stand firm & hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or letter. Here are some scriptures to check out 2 Thess 2:15, 1 Cor 11:2, 2 Thess 3:6, 2 Tim 1:13-14 & 2:2. When the first Christians had disagreements they didn’t open their bibles – they didn’t exist – they held councils and held binding decrees – these councils were those who knew more then the others and they came to an agreement/understanding and thus made a binding decree (acts 15:1-29). The very books of the bible were determined by the Church (Rcc) and didn’t even happen until the 4th century – centuries of oral tradition. Without their determination and will to listen to the Holy Spirit, sent by God to inspire them there would be no bible.
If the traditions and leaders of the Rcc did not hold to the scriptures (while some held violently or savagely) the majority shared and taught. Had the hierarchy of the Rcc not established the foundations where would Christianity be today? Would there even be a bible in print – I really don’t think so. Because people would not have shared their traditions. Most people century’s back never owned a bible like we do, gracious they couldn’t even read.

to those who don't understand the concept of teh fact works are considered a major part of being a Christian....
here is only a small sampling of where we get that you must walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
James 2:24-25
by works not faith alone a man is justified for faith without works is dead.
1 Tim 1 -- giving laws is an action - following the laws - those are also our works
Col 3:14-17 - whatever you do DO in the name of the Lord (works, action verb)
Eps 5:15 - prior and post is good to but - this is how to walk the way of God - that also a verb/work

Rev 3:8
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
(KJV)

Eccl 12:14
14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
(KJV)

Rom 2:5-6
5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
(KJV)

following the 10 commandments are also an action/work
walk in love - that doesn't just mean to smile and be lighthearted in all things - that means out live and to be loving, we need to do good things, to DO God's will - those are also considered works.

THESE are the works that you MUST do once you have accepted CHrist as your Saviour. If you have not accepted Christ - you are not a Christian and thus neither are you a Catholic. We have accepted Christ and now our church helps us live a life according to that which Christ taught - living is an action by the way,

God Bless!!

Answer 3

They don't really "think" so. The fact is, they don't know enough about Catholicism to offer an intelligent opinion. What they do have however is an urgent need to legitimize the rebellion against God's Church that led to their manmade tradition, one characterized by division, fragmentation and doctrinal chaos, the exact opposite of what Jesus Christ described for His true followers - "that they may be ONE, even as you Father and I are ONE". Because the situation they find themselves in is so obviously contrary to the stated will of God, they are hard pressed to demonstrate that what they rebelled against was BAAAD!!!! Because if the Catholic Church is what it claims to be, and has claimed to be since apostolic times, then it is obviously their rebellion that was BAD. Still, if the Catholic Church can be painted as sufficiently BAAAD, then perhaps the Protestant Rebellion can be somehow, some way, at least partially justified?? Therefore all kinds of absurd claims are leveled against God's holy Church, and if you are going to go down that road, why not go all the way? What could be more BAAAD - or more absurd - that claiming that Catholics are not even Christian! Of course, that makes Protestantism an offshoot of a non-Christian church, but why quibble over such details?
.

Answer 4

The only difference really is that there are a LOT of extras in Catholicism that are not Bible based. Which isnt completely a bad thing unless you think knowing, or doing things no matter how unbiblical they are, makes you closer to God than those who dont. This applies to anyone though, not just Catholics. Some other Christian religions think that if you cant speak in tongues then you arent saved, which also is not Biblical. The Bible seems to say to me that we get to God through Jesus, nothing more nothing less. Anything else is just unnessisary added drama.

Answer 5

I think Catholics are Christians and as in all denominations there are things wrong but the whole point is to spread peace and love and our differences are not as important as the commonality we have in Christ. I think I have brothers and sisters in the Lord that are Catholic or any denomination. My best friend is Catholic and if not for her love for me and prayers I don't know if I would have been a believer at all. I used to be agnostic and wanted physical proof. Because of her goodness I guess I got some proof.
God Bless You,
Bess

Answer 6

Catholicism has ‘turned to mythology,’ for example, to support the adoration of Mary and of saints. Typical is the little booklet written by a Jesuit and called “When Mary Walked the Earth,” which also bears an archbishop’s imprimatur. The introduction admits: “The episodes related in the following pages do not pretend to be historic. Perhaps they never happened.” Of the Catholic “Saint” Patrick, Dr. Joseph F. Kelly of John Carrol University says: “All the stories about Patrick may not be historically true, but that does not mean they have no value.”

Most of the truth-starved people who are fed these “concocted myths” have not even heard all the true accounts in the Bible. How can mythology provide them with any basis for worship ‘in truth’?

Answer 7

This question is asked here so often that I wonder how people can be so total ignorant. For the, I hope to God, last time - THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS ONE OF THE BRANCHES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Can't we post this at the entrance or something!

Listen up people: Christianity has 4 branches. Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant.
You are going to have to memorize this. It is going to be the entrance exam to get on this list. Geesh.....

Oldguy63. You are just plan wrong. I would like to give you a theology lesson, but my patience is a bit thin today.

Answer 8

Because catholicism departs from major Biblical teachings on numerous fronts. The Bible very clearly warns against false teachings and going contrary to the truths contained within.

Things like calling people "father", setting up Mary as divine and being a perpetual virgin, introducing a power hierarchy not spelled out in scripture and other digressions.

I know it probably comes across as uglier than I intend it in this format, but it is very easy to see why many Christians dismiss catholicism as a departure from the church Jesus established.

Regardless of how you view this - keep searching and praying for the truth! God Bless You.

Answer 9

Catholics are christians. THe problem is that many Christian sects are anti-catholic first and christian later which doesn't take Christ out of Catholics anymore than put Christ into people who say they are Christian but turn on their brothers and sisters everyday.

Answer 10

It's a common misconception for evangical Christians who want to believe that their kind of Christianity is the only kind.
Christianity is the basic belief in Christ. It's different denominations who have their own versions on just what Christ wants them to be. Catholisizm is such a denomination.
There are those who call themselves non-denominational, but that, ironically, in itself is a denomination. It is simply another branch from the same common belief in the existence of Christ with their own way of doing things.