What's the difference between a Christian and a Catholic?

Question

I'll be the first to admit that I'm naive when it comes to religion, so can someone please tell me what the key differences are between the two religions? Thanks!

Well to everyone who actually tried to answer the question, thanks. For everyone else, shouldn't it be a good thing that a non believer is trying to understand and respect religion??

Answer 1

First thing, Catholics think they are the real Christians; but the most important differences are the basic understanding of what the Bible is; the Catholics believe "the Church" gives authority to the Bible, but most other Christians believe the Bible, as the inspired word of God, gives authority to the church. Also most other Christians believe it is very wrong to have statues in the church and to bow down in front of them. Also many of us believe baptism is for those capable of believing, not for infants.
Most non-Catholics believe it is wrong to have a Pope; the term actually means "Father" and God is our Father. We should not call anyone else Father except God and our natural father.

Answer 2

Hi Bashley,
You are going to get 13,000 answers on this. The Catholics consider themselves as Christians. Christians are those who follow Christ. There are a number of Denominational Churches who believe themselves to be Christians. Among them are Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Pentecostals, Latter Day Saints, Mormons, and a number of others. I am a Non-Denominational Christian who believes that we are to read, study, and obey GOD's WORD the BIBLE because it is HIS Inspired WORD. If there are other questions that I might answer about any or all of them I would be glad to do so. Just drop me a note and I will gladly respond. Have a great evening!
Thanks,
Eds

Answer 3

The issue concerning any church and its practices should be “Is this Biblical?” If a teaching is Biblical (taken in context), it should be embraced. If it is not, it should be rejected. God is more interested in whether a church is doing His will and obeying His Word than whether it can trace a line of succession back to Jesus’ apostles. Jesus was very concerned about abandoning the Word of God to follow the traditions of men (Mark 7:7). Traditions are not inherently invalid…there are some good and valuable traditions. Again, the issue must be whether a doctrine, practice, or tradition is Biblical. How then does the Roman Catholic Church compare with the teachings of the Word of God?

Salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation is by baptismal regeneration and is maintained through the Catholic sacraments unless a willful act of sin is committed that breaks the state of sanctifying grace. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace which is received through simple faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and that good works are the result of a change of the heart wrought in salvation (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17) and the fruit of that new life in Christ (John 15).

Assurance of salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation cannot be guaranteed or assured. 1 John 5:13 states that the letter of 1 John was written for the purpose of assuring believers of the CERTAINTY of their salvation.

Good Works: The Roman Catholic Church states that Christians are saved by meritorious works (beginning with baptism) and that salvation is maintained by good works (receiving the sacraments, confession of sin to a priest, etc.) The Bible states that Christians are saved by grace through faith, totally apart from works (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:10-11; Romans 3:19-24).

Baptism: In the New Testament baptism is ALWAYS practiced AFTER saving faith in Christ. Baptism is not the means of salvation; it is faith in the Gospel that saves (1 Corinthians 1:14-18; Romans 10:13-17). The Roman Catholic Church teaches baptismal regeneration of infants, a practice never found in Scripture. The only possible hint of infant baptism in the Bible that the Roman Catholic Church can point to is that the whole household of the Philippian jailer was baptized in Acts 16:33. However, the context nowhere mentions infants. Acts 16:31 declares that salvation is by faith. Paul spoke to all of the household in verse 32, and the whole household believed (verse 34). This passage only supports the baptism of those who have already believed, not of infants.

Prayer: The Roman Catholic Church teaches Catholics to not only pray to God, but also to petition Mary and the saints for their prayers. Contrary to this, we are taught in Scripture to only pray to God (Matthew 6:9; Luke 18:1-7).

Priesthood: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is a distinction between the clergy and the “lay people,” whereas the New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9).

Sacraments: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a believer is infused with grace upon reception of the sacraments. Such teaching is nowhere found in Scripture.

Confession: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that unless a believer is hindered, the only way to receive the forgiveness of sins is by confessing them to a priest. Contrary to this, Scripture teaches that confession of sins is to be made to God (1 John 1:9).

Mary: The Roman Catholic Church teaches, among other things, that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, a perpetual virgin, and the co-redemptress who ascended into heaven. In Scripture, she is portrayed as an obedient, believing servant of God, who became the mother of Jesus. None of the other attributes mentioned by the Roman Catholic Church have any basis in the Bible. The idea of Mary being the co-redemptress and another mediator between God and man is not only extra-biblical (found only outside of Scripture), but is also unbiblical (contrary to Scripture). Acts 4:12 declares that Jesus is the only redeemer. 1 Timothy 2:5 proclaims that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men.

Many other examples could be given. These issues alone clearly identify the Catholic Church as being unbiblical. Every Christian denomination has traditions and practices that are not explicitly based on Scripture. That is why Scripture must be the standard of Christian faith and practice. The Word of God is always true and reliable. The same cannot be said of church tradition. Our guideline is to be: “What does Scripture say?” (Romans 4:3; Galatians 4:30; Acts 17:10). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Answer 4

Technically, one can be a Christian, and also be a Catholic. Catholic does mean "universal", and Christianity is definitely universal. However, I am playing with words. The Catholic believes in things that the Protestant believer does not. While both believe in God, and Jesus, the Catholic church takes on other things that really brings in a pagan slant to things in the way they practice their religion.
There is a difference, however in religion versus faith. Religion is basically the effort of man to show that by his own effort he should be acceptable to God. Faith, on the other hand is man's knowledge that without God, and what God did for man to give him a means to be redeemed by God, then he is totally lost. Faith gives way to relationship with Jesus, and God. Religion just wears you out in your efforts to please God believing that you just might succeed, but ignoring the fact the Bible says that you will not succeed.

Answer 5

Very few catholics are Christians.You can ask them if there Christians and many of them will say they are Catholic. They worship statues which is idolatry Leviticus 26:1.They baptize infants which is blasphemy Acts 2:28 says to repent and be baptized an infant can't repent.Mark 16:16 tells us that those who are baptized and don't believe are cursed, infants can't believe. Martin Luther left the Catholics because they were charging people money to have their sins forgiven."Freely we have received,freely we should give".In the latter days we are told that there would be those who would depart from the faith,giving into seducing spirits,and doctrines of devils,FORBIDDING TO MARRY and to ABSTAIN FROM CERTAIN MEATS which God had given to be received with thankfulness, 1 Timothy 4:1-3.Catholics have put many people to death in the 1500's for not excepting their infant baptism, Martyrs Mirror.When you hear stories of how Christians have put people to death, it was the Roman Catholic Church that did it.

HOW can all of you catholics make such a boisterous statement that "ALL CATHOLICS ARE CHRISTIANS". That name was given to those that follow Christ.Surly you know all Catholics don't follow Christ don't you???



YOUR BEST ANSWER is with kait.

Answer 6

All Catholics are Christians not all Christians are Catholics, so it really is not two different religions. There are about 2 billion of us in the world that are Catholic. We are by far the majority of Christians world wide. The other types of Christians differ from us in all sorts of ways impossible to name completely. I do not even know how many different groups there are calling themselves Christians. The Orthodox and the Anglicans are nearly identical to us. The Lutherans are not so very different either. The rest are all over the place in their beliefs and since they are not unified in their beliefs it is impossible to say how much they differ or in what ways. Peace be with you

Answer 7

Both are christians, but you have catholics and protestants(methodist, baptist, church of christ, etc.).

The main difference is that protestants usually only recognize 2 sacraments, baptism and communion. Catholics have 7 sacraments: confession, marriage, communion, and so on and so forth. And, worship styles differ greatly. I was raised lutheran, and we referred to that as "catholic light".

*Added*

Concerning Alexandra's answer, all christian religions carry pagan traditions in them, as the protestant religions are "seceded" from the catholic religion. Do you celebrate easter(Ostara) and christmas(the winter solstice)? Many of the symbols and traditions of the two major holidays are pagan traditions and symbols.

Answer 8

Do you know what Jesus meant by "in vain?" Jesus was telling those people that they were wasting their time because you CANNOT worship God in heresy. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24). If you try to worship God in a false religion, you are just wasting your time. Also, notice the correlation God makes between worship and doctrine. This is very interesting...and important! You can't truly worship God unless you worship Him in TRUTH. Most of the people in the world who "think" they are worshipping God are in reality living a lie, worshipping in vain, wasting their time. The Islamic Moslems claim to love God and are known worldwide for their intense worship of Allah (god). Unfortunately, Moslems worship Allah in VAIN because they do not worship the True God, Jesus Christ. Likewise, every Catholic who tries to worship or pray to God THROUGH MARY is doing so in VAIN. You are wasting your time, God is not part of your worship. If you don't worship God in TRUTH, then you are just practicing false religion.

The Catholic religion is the unrepentant sinners religion. You can still live like the devil and feel comfortable in a Catholic church. Most of the Catholics I have known over the years cursed in God's name, indulged in pornography, had contempt for true Christians, went to strip joints, never shared their faith with anyone, and had an arrogant attitude about the fact that they were "Catholic." You won't feel comfortable living like this in a good Baptist church. This is another reason why the Catholic religion is so popular...you are not required to live right. There is NO call to holiness. Instead, you are taught by the Catholic priests to go into a confessional booth to make everything right (a license to sin). It's sickening! The Catholic religion does not require you to carry your cross, but Jesus does. Read, Carrying Your Cross.

The catholic religion is perfect for the heathen who doesn't want to be "born of the Holy Spirit", but does want religion. The Catholic religion is perfect for the heathen who wants to continue living and sin and never be told to repent and get right with God. You can remain an unsaved, unrepentant sinner and feel at home by being a Catholic. But be warned, you will perish in hell when your time comes.

The Christian life is a life of FAITH, not ceremonial religion or organized formalism. We read in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Many people refuse to live by faith; instead, they prefer to see, hear, touch, smell, and taste religion. Catholicism eliminates faith. When a Christian prays, they do NOT need to pray through a statue of Mary. Rather, the Christian prays to God from within the heart. Jesus said, "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21). The kingdom of God is within your heart only if you have been born of the Holy Spirit through the blood-atoning work of Jesus Christ. No religion can save you, not even the Baptists. ONLY Jesus can save you (John 14:6). The Catholic religion offers all the external manifestations of religion, but their hearts are FAR FROM GOD because for doctrines they teach the commandments and traditions of men. The "Immaculate conception of Mary" is NOT taught in the Bible. The "Seven Sacraments" are NOT taught in the Bible. The "Rosary" is NOT taught in the Bible. The little wafer on a pole that the Catholic masses worship is NOT Jesus, and this evil religious practice is certainly NOT taught in the Bible. Think for yourself!

Don't forget friend, the road to destruction is often paved with good intentions...

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." -Proverb 14:12

Answer 9

That reminds me of the phrase "born again Christian." It's bad grammar because it's redundant. Every Christian is born again and every Catholic is a Christian. By your use of the term, are you suggesting that only protestants are Christians and that Catholics aren't?

Answer 10

There is no difference, despite what someone else might try to tell you. We Catholics worship the one living and true God, and we believe that His only-begotten Son died for our sins. There is no other salvation except through Christ Jesus, Who said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man cometh to the Father except through Me." If that doesn't make us Christians, then I'm hard-pressed to know what would.

We don't worship Mary, statues aren't 'idols,' and the bulk of what people believe about Catholicism simply isn't true.