2007-02-20 00:25:59 · 25 answers · asked by vierafan 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"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.
2007-02-20 16:07:37 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Pastor Billy says: you wanted the quick answer---Catholics are first Christians. Catholicism is the only Church in the west which can trace it's apostolic roots all the way back to the apostles. The Eastern Orthodox are the same in the east. Every Protestant community today can only trace itself as far back as 500 years at the time of the Protestant Reformation.
The Christian bible is a Catholic book, The Holy Trinity is a Catholic doctrine first defined by Catholics and held to by Catholics and the majority of Protestant today.
The celebration of Christ's resurrection and birth are Roman Catholic high feasts still celebrated by most Protestants and the list goes on and on...... once again Catholics are the remainder of first Christians who are also the remnant Church today and in the future.
Ignore all the propaganda presented to suggest otherwise there are enough neutral and independent sources out there which support what I am writing here today.
re: Mr Mister please see this site http://www.reformation.com ;)
re: William's math lesson, actually Catholicism teaches
God's grace = salvation, first and foremost it is because of God's grace that we are saved. Catholicism teaches without God's grace we can have no faith or do any good works or receive salvation.
Geez after reading all the anti-Catholic answers it is easy to understand why Catholicism stands alone and exists as the physical Christian Church whereas all the other communities calling themselves Christian merely exist in not being ...Catholic.
Protestant: root (protest)
2007-02-21 08:15:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Roman Catholic church is the original church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ in the year 33 and is 2000 years old. The first Pope was St.Peter and his present day successor is Pope Benedict XVl.
Martin Luther ex-monk of the Catholic Church founded the Lutheran religion, in the year 1517. Therein followed denominations after denominations that claim to be Christians, all differing from each other in every possible way and none accepting the Pope as Vicar of Christ.
So basically, Catholics are the original Christians and the Roman Catholic church is the only ark of salvation for all mankind.
2007-02-21 08:30:00 · answer #3 · answered by Pat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no difference between Catholics and Christians since Catholics were the first Christians, the only Christians on earth during most of the history of Christianity, and the only Christians Jesus Christ ever intended to exist. There are however many differences between Catholics and Protestants. Catholicism is a single Church, united in belief and worship, teaching the fullness of Christian truth, just as its founder, Jesus Christ, said it would be. Protestantism is a fragmented modern tradition, a vast array of unauthorized churches, teaching partial truth mixed with new traditions of men introduced by their various human founders, in direct violation of the stated will of God, "that they all may be ONE".
2007-02-20 01:06:11 · answer #4 · answered by barbara m 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Catholic" although it means "universal" (derived from the Greek adjective καθολικός) is a subset of Christianity.
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian group in the world. However they are not the only group to use the word/name "catholic".
The Roman Catholic Church is further divided into the Latin Rite churches (what most people think of when they think "Catholic") and twenty-two Eastern Rite churches (including Ukrainian, Coptic, Ethiopian, etc.). The use of the label "Roman" is to distinguish them from the Greek (aka Eastern) Orthodox Church, who also refer to themselves as Catholic, but who have a different leadership structure.
Most Reformation churches (like the Lutherans) use the term "catholic" (lower case) in it's Greek sense of "universal" or "general" to convey thier belief that all Christians are ultimately part of one body of believers - aka "The Whole Church".
However, there are a large number of post-Reformation Protestantant and non-demonimational churches who use the word "Catholic" to refer specifically to the Latin Rite church, which they consider to not be Christian. This is based on a difference of understanding of the role of the Saints and Mary in the Catholic church. Since Catholics pray the Rosary (which is address to Mary), these protestants see the Catholics as having added another "god", which runs contrary to the commandment "You shall have no other gods before Me". The logic is Catholics, therefore, must not be Christians if they are not, in fact, monotheists. Most Catholics will, of course, deny that they see Mary as a Goddess, but rather as important Saint who, being already in Heaven, is able to intercede with God on the behalf the believer.
The other big difference is that Roman Catholics believe in the authority of the Pope as God's "Vicar on Earth" - that is, when the Pope speaks "ex Cathedra" his words carry the same authority as Scripture. Other Christians believe that the Bible is God's *final* Word and anything beyond that is at best interpretation and at worst blasphemy.
Does that help?
2007-02-20 00:29:58 · answer #5 · answered by Elise K 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Catholicism is true Christianity. Jesus established the Catholic Church in 33AD,not 38,000 denominations, or non denominations as in Protestant Christianity. As for Catholic Christians we believe in the following: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Even tho Catholic and Protestants both believe in and worship the same God , the Protestant churches have a more watered down version of Christ. The Protestant churches only recognize 2 of the 7 Sacraments that Jesus gave to His church. With the 38,000 denominations of Protestant Christians their beliefs are all different being that all have a different interpretation of the bible. Catholic Christian †
2016-05-23 22:21:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity is a religious belief that venerates the being, Christ, as the son of God. Catholisism is a means of practicing the belief that is Christianity. For example, Methodists, Quakers, Anglicans, Mormons- these all fall under the classification of, Christianity. The difference is how each defines and dictates what is proper worship of their diety (God), Biblical characters (prophets, saints, etc.), and especially Christ, who is the focus of the 'Christ'ian belief system.
2007-02-20 00:39:30 · answer #7 · answered by April M 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
"No one comes unto the Father but through Me."
These are Jesus's own words. Only Jesus can put your name in the Lamb's Book of Life.
In the Catholic religion, you have to confess your sins to a priest and say ten Hail Mary prayers and five Our Father prayers or however many according to the sin you committed
A priest CANNOT give you absolution for your sins.
The Vatican is its own government. It has its own money and everything else. Catholics are not Christians.
Christianity is the belief that Jesus was sent to this earth to die so we wouldn't have to.
If Catholics think they are going to Heaven and sit on the right hand of God because they confess their sins to a mere mortal who was born into sin himself, then they are sadly mistaken.
"NO ONE COMES UNTO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME!!!"
"FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD".
The Pope cannot set religious laws or change anything set into writing by God just willy nilly.
Hmmm...come to think of it, where is the pope mentioned in the Bible?
2007-02-20 00:52:22 · answer #8 · answered by bojsows 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Catholics are Christians, it's just that the rest of the Christians believe in one less Pope.
2007-02-20 00:29:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
-taking the Pope's word above the Word of God. (blasphemy)
-worshipping Mary and using her as an intercessor rather than Jesus Christ (idolotry)
-good works (saved by grace through faith)
-transubstantiation of the eucharist (idolotry)
-confession (no man has the power to forgive sin)
-mass which is the unbloody ongoing sacrifice at Calvary (The sacrifice was completed at the cross. It is finished!)
-infant baptism as the cleansing of original sin (the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin)
2007-02-20 00:51:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋