Why are there so many people who think that the Catholic church is not a Christian one?!?

Question

Are people THIS ignorant?! Don't they really have any idea on what planet they are living on?

IMPORTANT:
1. Thank you all for your answers.
2. I AM NOT A CATHOLIC, my question was just out of curiosity and the two details were put there only to obtain some quick responses.
3. I have always thought the word "Christian" comes from the very name of Jesus Christ and that it represents any being that believes in Christ...

Answer 1

...apparently not because Catholics are one of the largest Christian denominations..

Answer 2

Pastor Billy says: for several reasons

1. because the real Church would not be the real Christian Church unless followed by continual persecution your observation is a powerful reason for why the Catholic Church is the Christian Church

2. the root of Protestant is to protest, without protesting Catholicism all the Protestant denominations would not have come into existence. First they protest Catholicism than they protest against each other hence the 30,000 + divisions and growing within Protestantism. Protestantism proves itselve wrong before proving anything Catholic wrong.

3. simply because you haven't run into the worldwide majority of Christians who will advise you Catholics are original first Christians.

4. because the ones complaining are the ones getting their face on the TV and radio, bigots.

5. because the ones complaining are not attacking the Catholic Church but a caricature of it and from some of the answers here attempting to disprove Catholic while misusing the bible in the process I think you'll see my point.
Archbishop Sheen said it this way
"there are not 100 people who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they 'think' it to be"

6. because if it was all the others arguing against it would have to join it and tele-evangelists don't want to give up the money they make for truth.

Answer 3

The most crucial problem with the Roman Catholic Church is its belief that faith alone in Christ is not sufficient for salvation. The Bible clearly and consistently states that receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, by grace through faith, grants salvation (John 1:12; 3:16,18,36; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10,13; Ephesians 2:8-9). The Roman Catholic Church rejects this. The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that a person must believe in Jesus Christ AND be baptized AND receive the Eucharist along with the other sacraments AND obey the decrees of the Roman Catholic Church AND perform meritorious works AND not die with any mortal sins AND etc., etc., etc. Catholic divergence from the Bible on this most crucial of issues, salvation, means that yes, Catholicism is a false religion. If a person believes what the Catholic Church officially teaches, he/she will not be saved. Any claim that works or rituals must be added to faith in order for salvation to be achieved is a claim that Jesus’ death was not sufficient to fully purchase our salvation.

While salvation by faith is the most crucial issue, in comparing Roman Catholicism with the Word of God, there are many other differences and contradictions as well. The Roman Catholic Church teaches many doctrines that are in disagreement with what the Bible declares. These include apostolic succession, worship of saints or Mary, prayer to saints or Mary, the pope / papacy, infant baptism, transubstantiation, plenary indulgences, the sacramental system, and purgatory. While Catholics claim Scriptural support for these concepts, none of these teachings have any solid foundation in the clear teaching of Scripture. These concepts are based on Catholic tradition, not the Word of God. In fact, they all clearly contradict Biblical principles.

Answer 4

Depends on your definition of Christian. Most non-Catholic Christian denominations accept Catholics as Christians. A very few do not.

A dictionary would say that a Christian is someone professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.

Catholics would fit this definition.

In the Nicene creed, from 325 A.D., Catholics profess:

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 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 accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are baptized as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

We truly are spiritually "born again," we just don't usually use those words.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Over the centuries Catholicism has changed to focus on Works over faith and grace for salvation. Also the priest has become almost a barrier between the "common' man and God. Because of these things I as well as many Evangelical Christians fear that many Catholics are not saved, many catholics seem to believe that enough good works, and things like confession and hail Marys will save them and not the Grace of God.

If you are a Catholic who knows you are saved by Grace and works are only the fruit of that salvation then you are Christian who happens to attend a Catholic Church. However I suggest you check out an evangelical church as you may find more spiritual growth in a church with more people who share your beliefs.

Answer 6

What does the fact we're on the same planet have anything to do with it? Do *you* know the difference between Popol Vuh and Ajbit? Should I be insulted and call you ignorant and question whether you even know what planet you're on?

In case the thought hadn't occurred to you, the entire planet does not revolve around Christianity or Catholicism (see Galileo).

Since there are more than 1,500 sects of Christianity, shouldn't Christians stop referring to themselves as Christians and instead identify with their sect? i.e., Protestant, North Texan Baptist, etc. That would reduce the confusion over the different cults and which relate to which.

Answer 7

I suspect it is because they (Catholics) have always distanced themselves from the Protestant religions after the Martin Luther thing. But I agree, I would have thought that most people would know that the Catholic church was before all the rest of the Christian churches.

Answer 8

Take a look at the misconceptions that people are making about the Catholic faith in these posts, and that pretty well answers your question. They believe what they've been told about us, rather than studying the faith for themselves or talking to those of us who are Catholic. Otherwise, they would know that we are very much Christian and that there are sound Biblical principles behind what we believe.

Blame the ones who propagate the lies about Catholicism. . .they're the ones who should be ashamed of themselves for defaming their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Answer 9

The Roman Catholic religion is far from being Christian. It does not abide by the bible, but instead, have their own man-made rituals and rites that they abide by. There is nothing biblical about that religion at all. Confession, for example: you confess your sins straight to God - NOT a so-called 'priest' who is also a sinner - like confessing your sins to someone who is no better than you. Secondly, the pope is put on a pedestal, worshipped like he's God Almighty himself when he also is another sinner - and is committing a sin by saying he's God on earth or is a rep of God - WRONG! What the pope is doing is blasphemy against Almighty God, but millions of people around the world worship him. Thirdly, their communion is false also. It is called 'transubstantiation', the so-called 'magical change' of the wafer turning into the actual flesh of Christ and the wine into blood. That belief supports cannibalism, which is an abomination to God also. Also, the RC church allows homosexual 'priests' and homosexuality is immoral; another abomination against God. The RC church also prays to Mary, who was also a sinner. She herself even called Christ her Savior. If she was so perfect and blessed as the RC church says, why would she need a Savior? Some things to think about. Also, the RC church slaughtered Christians centuries ago - millions of them if they did not convert to the RC religion. They also believe that you can get to heaven by doing good works, which is also another one of their many false beliefs. God says in His word the one and ONLY way to get to heaven: John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The RC religion is a cult - nothing more than a man-made religion - too bad people refuse to believe the truth, as I myself am a ex RC, who is now born again by the grace of God.

Answer 10

The Catholic Church is a Christian Church because it believes in the Virgin Birth of Jesus, It believes that Jesus is divine, that he is the Son of God, God manifested in the flesh.
The church further teaches in his sinless life and in his crucifixion, burial and resurection. Further more it believes
he is the savior of the world.However in the last 500 years there have been much debate over other doctrines like the Pope, Mariology, Communion of the Saints etc. Even today
much debate over abortion, contraceptives, should women
be ordained etc.

Answer 11

They do not take the time to learn the truth about the Catholic Chruch. They listen to what other non Catholics tell them about the Catholic faith, whether true or not.

God bless,
Stanbo