2007-02-27 04:33:23 · 19 answers · asked by mnunez1709 3 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.
2007-02-27 16:01:25 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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 man-made 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, man-made churches will come back home to Rome 'the only ark of salvation'.
2007-02-27 15:07:49 · answer #2 · answered by Pat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find that Roman Catholic'c go by more than the Bible, they have the council of trent and they also subscribe to alot of traditions which is dangerous. If you listen to mass really carefully, the roman catholic church believes that they turn the 2 elements of Christ into his actual flesh and blood to say that they are re-crucifieng Christ 2 times a day with every mass. I find it to be very wrong. They also worship Mary and even pray to her. What does the 1st commandment say.Thou shallt not make unto thee any graven image nor shall you bow down or worship them. Its all in the book of Exodus.The catholic church doesn't even have Bibles in their pews. What dont they want you to know?
2007-02-27 12:45:42 · answer #3 · answered by adrian.john_son 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Romans were so superstitious that they incorporated every religion into their society. The didn't want to offend any god...so they worshiped all of them. See Acts 17:16-24 (NOTE VERSES 22 & 23)
Roman Catholic has incorporated paganism into their version of Christianity (which is completely different than what is taught in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.)
This won't be a popular answer...but it's the truth...
Christians don't pray to statues (idols) or Mary (Jesus' mother) and Christians confess to Jesus Christ, the High Priest. We confess to him and through him our sins are forgiven.
Christians don't use prayer as punishment. There are no Hale Mary's. We pray to draw nearer to the heart of God and His will for our lives.
John 14:6 "Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to the father, except through me."
2007-02-27 12:44:33 · answer #4 · answered by Salvation is a gift, Eph 2:8-9 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No difference. They are one and the same. Catholicism is full and complete Christianity, as it has existed since the time of Christ. Other Christian churches are unauthorized manmade institutions teaching a mix of genuine truth received from the Catholic Church, and new traditions of men instituted by their various human founders. Catholicism is also Christianity as revealed in the Bible. How could it not be, since the bishops of the Catholic Church compiled the Bible in the first place, from early writings of their own Church and the Jewish faith? Obviously manmade churches cannot reasonably claim to live by what the Bible actually says, since their many interpretations of the Bible conflict with one another on every point, and truth cannot conflict with truth? But unauthoritative human interpretations of the Bible certainly can conflict, which is the source of the doctrinal chaos we see in Protestantism.
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2007-02-27 12:58:12 · answer #5 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Catholics ''are'' christians:
To follow Jesus' teachings is to be christian, the book christians follow is the bible, the bible is comprised of old and new testaments, the ''old'' being the original teachings of god's people (the jews) and the ''new'' beign the teachings from Jesus and his disciples and the letters gathered in his days.
The catholic church became a large institution in 2000 years, along the way some people didn't like their ideas so they separated and became a new church like the Ortodox church in eastern Eurpoe, The Lutherian Church in Germany or The Church of England in Britain. But they all remain christian.
To be christian is to follow Jesus' steps and christians do not follow his steps, they wage war on everyone else.
Gandhi said: ''I like your Christ, but i don't like your christians''
2007-02-27 12:54:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Catholics are Christians....Christians are not necessarily Catholics
WE DON'T WORSHIP MARY!! Good grief people! maybe if you would come and talk to an actual catholic for a day...you would understand somethings.....and maybe the fact that one of my friends is a priest....he helped me with some of my projects in college...
2007-02-27 12:47:51 · answer #7 · answered by ♥Brown Eyed Girl ♥ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it takes more than attending a certain church to make you a Christian... some catholics are christian.. some are just religious and have not surrendered their lives to Christ... some lutherans are christian, some are just church attenders... and the list goes on... people are stuck with thinking a certain denomination makes them Christian... it isnt a denomination, but a relationship with Christ... that is the difference... you cannot just attend.. it is a way that you live your life... with Christ as your center.... dying to self and living for Him... striving to be more like Him each day... going to a certain church will not get you to heaven... read the bible and learn who God truly is thru reading His word!
2007-02-27 12:42:34 · answer #8 · answered by livinintheword † 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Catholics are the original Christians. Other Christians (protestants) protested the Catholic religion and set out to make their own.
2007-02-27 12:42:00 · answer #9 · answered by Sun: supporting gay rights 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Roman Catholic Faith + Christ + Good Works = Salvation
Protestant Faith + Christ = Salvation which leads to good works
2007-02-27 12:40:17 · answer #10 · answered by williamzo 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋