Hi, I need to know what the difference is between Christians and Catholics?

Question

I've been wondering this question for a really long time. Please include details if you can . Thanks.

Answer 1

"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.

Answer 2

Catholics are Christians. They differ from other denominations as I will detail for you.

They consider themselves the first Church organized with Peter the first Pope. This is wrong as there were many Churches in the NT and Paul had more writings to them than the supposed Pope.

Catholics pray to Mary and the Saints which other Churches see similar to polytheism or idol worship.

Catholics believe the communion wine and bread literally turn into the blood and body of Jesus. This is of course ridiculous and mystical.

Catholics believe priests should not marry. Other Churches view that as wrong too. First the Levi tribe were allowed to marry and no scripture denounces it. But, Paul once said it was better for man not to marry and give himself fully to the service of God.

The Catholic Church like the Jews before and any denomination that more than a week old will start nit picking and making up rules that they believe is scripture inspired and will get blown out of per portion over time. Jesus did address this in his short time here and even the Disciples had this problem.

Answer 3

Christians are saved by believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of a virgin, died on a cross and rose from the dead. Catholics believe the same thing. The only difference is is in church doctrines between Catholics and Protestants. Now again there are another Christian called Born-Again believers.These Christians are found also in both the Protestant and Catholic churches.

Answer 4

Essentially, Catholics are folk who were Christians but let political concerns get in the way of simply trusting Jesus Christ in all things. When Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity and elevated Christians to political positions, he handed them a cup of very intoxicating brew. Many never got over that addiction.

The fact is that Jesus' church is always weak and usually persecuted. That is how the Holy Spirit shines. The Catholic church is a political force, and as such rests on that influence more than on the Holy Spirit. To the extent that a Catholic trusts in the strength of Catholicism, he or she is a Catholic. To the extent that a Catholic trusts in the strength of the Holy Spirit, he or she is a Christian.
And that hold for any denomination. Catholics haven't cornered the market on weirdness. Rather, I say, it's possible to be a Christian and be Catholic, only it isn't easy. One should choose a fellowship where worshiping Jesus and trusting the Holy Spirit is easy, not difficult or opposed.

Answer 5

While they're right Catholics are Christians, there are many other sects such as Eastern Orthodox, African Reformations, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, Catharism, Waldensianism, Protestant, and a multitude of mystic Christian sects. The main division is between Catholics and Protestants in Europe. There were quite a few protesters (hence Protestant) of the Catholic church, but the three main divisions that make up the Protestant sects are the Calvinists, from John Calvin in Geneva in the mid 1500s, Lutherans, from Martin Luther in Germany in the early 1500s, and the Anglicans, from King Henry VIII in England in the early to mid 1500s.
As far as rituals are concerned Catholics are generally more concerned with communion with the divine (which is called the Eucharist, or the eating of a wafer, said to be the body of Jesus Christ, and wine or grape juice, said to be the blood of Jesus) than are Protestants save the Anglicans which retain more of the rituals and customs of the Catholic church than many other Protestant forms. Rituals vary greatly across Protestant forms, such as holding the day of Pentecost sacred, (see Pentecostals, some of whom speak in tongues, writhe on the floor, handle deadly snakes, and ingest poisons). One contentious debate is the fact that most Protestants carry a cross without Jesus on it, which emphasizes the fact that he was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, whereas the Catholics keep Jesus on the cross to remember the suffering that he went through in dying for people's sins, and to connect everyday strife with the suffering of Christ, thereby having a closer relationship with the Divine. So, while Catholics are Christians, the many sects have increasingly various forms of ritual, myth, symbols, customs, beliefs, and ideologies, and that's just between the forms of Christianity found within Europe and the US, never mind Africa, South America and Asia.

Answer 6

A Christian is someone who believes

That Jesus Christ the son of God, and the Messiah.

All Catholics are Christian


Maybe you should have asked what is the difference between Being a Christian and Being Spiritual lol

Love & Blessings
Milly

Answer 7

Catholicism is a specific denomination of Christianity. Non-Catholic Christians often find fault in Catholicism due to various elements, including the more elaborately decorated churches and the significance Catholics place in Mary [who is considered less relevant by other Christian denominations.]

Answer 8

There is no difference between Christians and Catholics since Catholics were the first Christians; the only Christians for most of the history of Christianity; and the only Christians Jesus Christ ever intended to exist. What you are probably looking for is the differences between Catholics and Protestants. Catholicism is original and complete Christianity, dating from the time of the apostles. It teaches the fullness of truth in unity, with full authority, just as its founder, Jesus Christ, said it should be taught. Protestantism is a hodgepodge assortment of thousands of unauthorized manmade churches, without unity or authority, and teaching a mix of genuine Christian truths received from the Catholic Church, and new traditions of men introduced by their various human founders.

Answer 9

The Roman Catholic church was founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ in the year 33. Its first Pope was St.Peter and his present day successor is Pope Benedict XVI. So Catholics are the original Christians.
Martin Luther ex-monk of the Catholic Church founded the Lutheran religion, in the year 1517. The first protest and the first of thousands of churches that do not acknowledge the Pope as Vicar of Christ. All of them claim to be Christian and claim to be superior to the Roman Catholic church. All of them differ in their beliefs.
Whereas the Roman Catholic church has stayed the same and not wavered in its beliefs since the time of Christ on earth. It has stayed on the Rock of Peter and will stay firm and unchanging till the end of time.
The Roman Catholic church hopes and prays that these wandering churches will come back home to Rome 'the only ark of salvation'.

Answer 10

Catholics ARE Christians. That said, their denomination holds many beliefs that are different from other Christians. (I am speaking from a protestant viewpoint.) They are very ritualistic. They consider their clergy to be actual spokesmen for God, from what I've seen, with the Pope being His earthly representative. They pray not only to the Trinity, but to a plethora of dead human beings, such as Mary, Joseph, Jude, and others. They do not seem to encourage their members to read the Bible. I once knew an elderly Catholic lady, very devout, who burst into tears when she was given a plaque with the 23rd Psalm on it. Despite being a Christian all her long life, she had never read it before, and was so moved by its beauty she cried. You know the one: "The Lord is my shepherd..." They seem to be more intent on telling their followers what to believe than on letting them see God's word for themselves. I mean no disrespect to Catholic people, but I think these are the main issues that separate them from other denominations. They are, however, Christians, and worthy of respect, even from those of us who do not share their beliefs.