The "is a Catholic a Christian" arguement and vice-versa?

Question

I'm not asking the question of whether a catholic is a christian. I think that anyone with a sound knowledge of history/religion up to the eighth grade level can answer that, catholicism is a sub-sect of christianity. If you would like to argue I rather that you actually research the roots of christianity first, and perchance note that Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox are the 3 main sub-sects of the christianity-- meaning most acclaimed christians fall under one of the three categories.



What I am asking is this:
Why is there so much ignorance about whether a catholic is a christian or not? and why do claimingly 'well-educated' people try to scientifically argue that a catholic is not a christian? i'm wondering whether this is solely ignorance or are we actually experiencing some form of discrimination/prejudice within the same sect of religion?

Answer 1

Technically, Lutheran, Protestant, and Catholic are based on the same religion. There are only slight differences, but Protestant, Catholic, and Lutherans are all Christians.

Answer 2

Love the question. Not sure I have the answer. I was raised Catholic and never even considered the possibility that it wasn't "Christian" until I was an adult.

I think perhaps the notion has its roots in the fact that we called all non-Catholics "Protestants" because they didn't agree with the Catholic faith.

Perhaps, because their philosophy did not mesh with that of the Catholic Church, they felt that the Church was "false" Christianity.

Just my theory, but I'd love to hear others.

Personally, right now, I feel that there are very few "Christian" organizations, Catholic or Protestant, that do much of a job of following Jesus' teachings.

Answer 3

First of all I am Lutheran and my wife is Catholic.
I was raised in an area that was a large majority Catholic.
The main difference I noticed about the Catholics is that they are very ignorant on the Bible. It was not a major priority for them.
I remember when the Mass was in Latin...who could understand that?
Well, I rest my case as my wife has been in the Catholic church all her life and she knows zip about the bible ..she says it only confuses her when she reads it...I know I am being unfair to the Catholic church but those are my observations. I know there is exceptions to the case but I have not see them.

Answer 4

Catholics are Christians. However, they seem to put alot attention to the Virgin Mary and the saints. Also, I don't understand why Catholics go to a priest to confess thier sins and ask for forgiveness. The bible states that we pray directly to God through Christ. They seem to pray to the saints putting them on the same level as God or Jesus. That is where alot of the confusion comes from. Forgive my ignorance if I offended any Catholics. That is just what I've seen.

Answer 5

Why are Christians as a group so ignorant of the true spirit and meaning of Jesus? Most are willing to fight and die for a religion they do NOT even believe in, because if they did, they'd be far too busy doing good to spend so much time judging everyone, talking trash, and looking for scapegoats. Go help your neighbor and shut up. That's called teaching by example. Amen.

Answer 6

I have nothing against Catholic people. I believe that they are good people that do good things. The Catholic Church is the problem. They teach against the beliefs of the bible. They pray to a false god (Mary). They put the church on the same plain as Christ. I would never persecute the Catholic people, I think they are some of the best people around. Rather, I just can not defend a church that has deviated from the teachings of the Bible as much as they have. Look at www.chick.com for more information.

Answer 7

Actually, you're not entirely right... Catholics aren't a sub-sect of Christianity, they ARE Christianity. Protestants are a sub-sect of Catholocism.

That being said, protestants spent hundreds upon hundreds of years to try to break away from the Catholic church. So it's not much of a wonder that they'd try to veer their followers into believing that Catholics are not true Christians.

And, no offense to religious people, but they kinda excell at thinking and doing whatever their leader tells them without questioning it.

Answer 8

I'd say at least half the Christians in America think their denom is the only real Christian truth. I'm Protestant, but I've had other Protestants call me names, because I'm not exactly like them.

I've been called...

Jezebel.
Daughter of Satan.
Witch.
Heretic.
Heathen.
Manipulator.
Pagan.


All the names came from so-called fellow Christians who disagreed with me on some detail. So don't feel bad about people saying you're not Christian. It just means you're in good company.

And I hate to say it, but atheists on here do have a point. We treat each other like crap, then we expect outsiders to respect us. It's disgusting.
.

Answer 9

rather simple, mate.....
in order to qualify as a true christian organization or religion. you cannot replace Jesus Christ, who is God, and the sole intersessor between God and mankind, with a fallable human priest.
that is a denial of the position of Jesus Christ as God. Jesus said "I am the way, the Truth and the Life. No man cometh to the father except by Me."
He did not say except by some human priest.
and then there is the contrived place the catholics call purgatory......mentioned no where in God's Word.
I could go on......
The Pope?
praying to Mary as an intersessor?
let it suffice to say that the Roman Catholic Church does not meet the requirments of being a TRUE Christian organization.
sorry, but that is what God says.
there are Christian Catholics but precious few.

Answer 10

i don't think of it incredibly is as black & white as that - there are various Catholics who're "professional-Christ". i substitute into raised Catholic and besides the reality that i'm now not Catholic (i'm Christian) i substitute into continually "professional-Christ" - not all Catholics take lots inventory in a super form of the defining features of the Catholic church - prayer to Mary & saints, the sacraments, and so on. for many, getting into the path of the sacraments (which incorporate baptism, affirmation, confession, and so on.) is greater with regard to the custom than with regard to the doctrine and theory at the back of them. So whilst being "professional-Christ" could be seen "Anti-Catholic" once you get into doctrine & dogma, i don't think of it applies to each and each individual. you are able to not tell a Catholic that they are not Christian - in basic terms God is conscious their heart.