How come many people say Catholics are not Chrsitians?

Question

If this were true would that also mean there are no Christians? Are such people aware that the Catholic Church is the original Christian Church?

Answer 1

The Catholic church has the advantage of an historical link to the original Christian church. Being a human organization, it has its flaws. Christians who break away from it have an interest in discrediting it in order to enhance their legitimacy. So rather than admit there is more than one way to be Christian, they deny the Christianity of any denomination that is not close enough to theirs, emphasizing and exploiting every difference they can.

Answer 2

Its because people would rather believe sensationalized lies than investigate themselves. There are "christian" ministers (ie Jack Chick and others) that make a fortune vilifying the catholic church.

What is it about people that they will believe at face value anything someone says from a pulpit? I have heard the most ridiculous rumors spread as truth in churches. People love to be upset and scared by the boogie man.

I am an ex catholic and an ex fundamentalist. I know both camps intimately. Catholics are far more in tune with the teachings of Jesus in my opinion. Look at their charitable work. I know its a lot more fun to talk about pedophiles, but that's not the whole story. Like I said, I am an EX catholic. I am now an atheist, but I respect the good the church has done.

Answer 3

What is a Christian? The term is found three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16), but it is not defined in any of those passages. According to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, the term Christian may be defined in a number of ways, but the most common is “one who believes or professes … to believe in Jesus Christ and the truth as taught by him … one whose life is conformed to the doctrines of Christ.” The second most common meaning is “a member of a church or group professing Christian doctrine or belief.”

Under either of these two definitions, Catholics qualify as Christians.

However, if a special definition is created under which Christian means “only those who believe as I do,” then others might claim Catholics aren’t Christians—but all this would really mean is that while Catholics believe in Christ, they don’t believe exactly as others do.

Excluding Catholics in this way by inventing a special definition for the word Christian is like defining a duck as an aquatic bird with a broad, flat bill, webbed feet, and white feathers, and then concluding that mallards aren’t ducks because their feathers are the wrong color.

If the term Christian is used, as it is in standard English, to mean someone who accepts Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God and the Savior of the world, then the charge that Catholics aren’t Christians is false. However, if the word Christian is given an overly narrow definition, then it is merely a way of saying Catholic Christians differ in some degree from other Christians. No one “owns” the term Christian or has the right to deny it to others who worship Jesus as the divine Son of God.

Answer 4

Hello David. I tend to believe that many, many Catholics are not saved (hence Christian). Catholics pray to saints who are dead, which by the way means they cannot pray for them in the first place. Those in heaven are in eternal bliss and their labor is done. They look to Mary, yet Mary told those at the wedding in Cana of Galilee to do whatever Jesus told them. Every knee shall bow and tongue shall confess that HE is Lord... and Mary herself will joyfully bow her knee unto Him. The Pope and the priests are seen as their intermediary... when the only true and real one we need is Jesus. He is sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. I believe there Catholics who really are saved, love God, and are in relationship with Him. As for the Catholic Church being the original Church... that is erroneous. Roman Catholicism was a politically initiated entity by Constantine, and though he did see a Cross under which he would be victorious... I do not believe it was from God. There is no purgatory friend... only heaven or hell after this life. There's one mediator between God and man, and that is the Man Christ Jesus. I don't mean to preach to you, but as a fellow man on this sod I must tell you the truth. Paul was a solid Christian who was solidly locked into being "In Christ". He spake in tongues more than all his peers. The Church is the called out ones, and God has and is calling for a people to come out of such things and serve Him. There is the saints of the Old Testament Church residing in heaven, and one day we will join them in a glorious homecoming. Take care.

Answer 5

Do some more digging into the HISTORY of the Christian "CHURCH"/ The church is the BODY OF CHRIST. The Catholic's DID NOT build this foundation. The disciples of Christ did,....by foot, from town to town, spreading the Gospel of Jesus and HIS SALVATION.

"Thou shalt call NO MAN on earth 'FATHER', FOR your have ONE FATHER and HE is in heaven"!~~~~
Do not the Catholics call a priest, a mere fellow sinner "father"?

The Catholic Church kept the scriptures from the laypeople (the congregation, the hearers). This is WRONG because GOD admonishes ALL OF US TO READ AND DWELL in HIS WORD"
It was just another power trip for the pope.
As were the Crusades....and REAL FOLLOWERS OF GOD in CHRIST JESUS are STILL being blamed for that.

The disciples, namely PAUL......went forth from the time directly after CHRIST's ascension { :) }, and led missionary journeys.

THE BIGGEST LIE OF ALL is that Catholicism BUILT the Christian CHURCH.....as people know not HISTORY, these are the same kinds who do not blink nor care at the Constitution and the Bill OF RIGHTS being amended to death right beneath their very eyes.

I advise you to re-read the New Testament....(do not read any mormon or jehovah;s witness text, they are sect/cult branches off of Christianity. They use it as a cloak to confuse people). Then go find the history of the Catholic church, it's DATING (date of founding), and then look back and see that JESUS never encouraged what catholicism has done to the GOSPEL!

Answer 6

Tribble is right. The original church was just Christian going from house to house and city to city enjoying Christ. One way that they did this was to audibly call on His name. (Oh Lord Jesus!). This can be reality today, however.
As far as the Catholic Church - some hate, predjudice, etc, could be passed down from the Reformation. Martin Luther stood against the Catholics and starrted Protestantism.
There probably many other ideas...

Answer 7

Although Catholics are christians, the term "Christian" has mainly been used for protestants. This is because there are so many protestant secs that the over all term "Christian" is now being designated for a protestant. And years ago the protestant secs were protesting away from the Roman Catholic Church.

Answer 8

Because they are told that because they worship saints and Jesus' mother. I was never directly told that Catholics weren't Christians but it was implied in things said, and it wasn't until I got into high school that I found out Catholics could be Christians too and I met some wonderful catholic priests in Alaska that I know I'll meet in Heaven.

I am now aware of it, but I wasn't before high school.

Answer 9

Is that really what they mean or are they saying that true Catholics are not christian, in that they do not follow the original dogma set out, that meaning that most people who are true devout catholics are the most bigotted people in the world and therefore do not accept anything other than their own beliefs. That is not the christian way, therefore they go against what their religion was originally set out to prove.

Answer 10

Actually, many people do not say that Catholics are not Christians, only uneducated ones. First look at the word Christian... CHRISTian. As in believing Jesus Christ is Gods only son and the Messiah. Catholics believe this and so do hundreds of other denominations. It is peoples wacky interpretations of the bible that get everyone thinking... " This religion is wrong because of... whatever"

In the end, your beliefs are your beliefs and your going to believe them because you feel it is right... and no one is wrong for thinking just that.

But thats just my opinion... Im not very religious but I do believe in God and Christ. Im sure someone much more "religious" than me will shoot my answer up. But who are they to judge... I'm sure your not supposed to do that according to whatever religion you practice.