What is the difference? Catholic vs. Christian?

Question

Whats is the difference with these two groups? I was born Catholic. But I feel as though the two are very similar and need clarification. If anyone would be so kind?

Answer 1

Catholicism is just one branch of Christianity. The differences should be obvious.


VLR

Answer 2

First of all, you have to understand the most important difference between Catholicism and Christianity (any denomination). Christianity believes that salvation is a free gift, which means both your past and future sins do not factor into your salvation. You will be saved from the lake of fire and although harsh, this is not eternal. Catholicism believes that salvation takes a lot of work and effort. They believe that you must confess your sins to a priest regularly and even then you might have to go to purgatory after death before you can get into heaven. Catholicism also believes that most people will suffer in eternal hell. Now over many years these two views have been twisted by various leaders in the church with pagan beliefs thrown it. Protestants are a major denomination of Christianity that rivaled the Catholic Church in the 15th and 16 centuries. They disagreed with many of the Catholic doctrines. There are other denominations of Christianity as well including Lutheran, Baptist, Eastern Orthodox, Presbyterian, etc. I wrote an article on the origin of Catholicism that explains all of this in greater detail. See the link below. God bless.

Answer 3

A Catholic is a Christian who belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. A catholic is as much a Christian as a Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, a member of the Church of God or any other Protestant. Catholics believe in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit just as much as any of these other churches. Their means of worship are a little more ritualistic, and they have communion at every service whereas some of the other churches have it less frequently.

The Catholic Church was the first organized church and prevailed throughout Europe until the time of Henry VIII and Martin Luther. Neither of these men agreed in toto with the Catholic Church, so they started their own churches. This was the beginning of Protestantism.

Since then, there have been many new churches spring up. If you are searching for a church, do a little research into the belief systems of several and find the one that best agrees with your beliefs.
Visit the ones that you think you might like then decide when it feels right. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

There are many types of so called Christians. Baptists, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodists and even interdenominational or nondenominational churches call themselves Christian. I'm a Baptist and I consider myself a Christian. There are a few differences between the Catholics and us. Our final authority is the Bible. I believe the final authority for Catholics is either the Pope or simply Catholic tradition. The Catholics believe a priest has the right to forgive sins. We don't. Jesus forgave sins. He gave his disciples the authority to heal the sick, cast out devils, and raise the dead. He never gave them the authority to forgive sins. The Catholics believe that Peter was the first Pope. We don't. Matthew 8:14 talks about Peter's wife. So if the "first Pope" had a wife, today's Pope can have one too. There is nothing in the Bible that forbids a pastor to get married. I'm not sure what exactly are the Catholics beliefs about Mary the mother of Jesus, but they seem to put her way above her rightful place. She was not sinless. The point of her being a virgin when Jesus was born was simply because His Father was God, not Joseph. She is no longer the Virgin Mary. She had other children with Joseph. The Bible teaches salvation by direct personal faith in Christ. The Catholic Church tries to save people by Mass, by confession, by doing penance, by saying over and over certain prayers, etc. Catholics are utterly different from Jesus Christ on the plan of salvation.

Answer 5

Catholics are Christians. If you want to make a more proper distinction, it is Catholics and Protestants.

The Catholic Church as been around since Christ founded her 2,000 years ago. She has preserved, taught, and protected His teachings from the beginning.

Most Christians - catholic and protestant - have the same basic beliefs: that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, in His life, death and resurrection, repentance and forgiveness of sins, and the hope of eternal life. After this, it's difficult to explain.

Protestantism is a break from the Catholic Church around the year 1500, and includes all non-Catholic Christian churches.

When one tries to understand what Protestants teach, they soon discover that there are as many different beliefs as there are protestants. The reason is that Protestantism fractures every time there is a difference of opinion about belief. This is why we have over 54,000 different protestant denominations. When faced with this daunting number, someone trying to find the true teachings of Christ would feel this is impossible. Ironically, while each denomination is different from the other, they each claim to have Christ's true teachings and each condemn the other. It's crazy.

For the fullness of Christ's teachings and to be part of the Church He originally set down, we must study and live our Catholic Christian faith.

God bless and take care.

Answer 6

I've been raised Catholic also, but I've always gone to a Christian school, so i can point out some differences. Catholics are much more based in tradition. They do things like honoring and praying to the saints and Mary, do confession, and all the other sacraments. Protestants are more relaxed about tradition and strict reverence. They also dont believe in purgatory. They are generally more enthusiastic than subdued in worship. They do not have the heirarchy of the Catholic church (priests, bishops, cardinals, etc.), but have pastors and church leaders. They are also generally less about good works and more about faith. Also, Protestants seem to put more emphasis in actually witnessing to people.
Happy Easter!

Answer 7

This question has been asked frequently. Basically, many Christians think it is very wrong to have statues in churches and it's especially wrong to bow down in front of them. The Bible says don't do that. Also there are many Christians who have experienced the Spirit baptism, and that's not part of official Catholic doctrine, although some Catholics do say they have experienced it. Some Christians also think it's wrong to have a Pope and to call the priest Father; actually we believe that all true Christians are priests.
Tracing the Roman bishop to Peter does not prove anything; what Peter preached is what is important. Read Acts 2.
The Catholics did not put the Bible together either; the Jews gave us the Old Testament and a list of the New Testament canon was compiled around 180 AD. In the 4th century the Catholics added a few things to that list.

Answer 8

Your question is between Catholic and Protestant. They have more in common that they differ. Same God, Jesus, all the important stuff. They differ in that Catholics have added a lot of mostly man made beliefs (they'll say biblical, but their hard pressed to prove that). These beliefs keep changing with the times. Don't eat meat during lent, then only on Fridays, then only Fridays during lent, Bla Bla Bla... Too many rules and rituals. Catholicism is probably responsible for turning more Christians into non-church goers than they are into devout Catholics. And no Catholic follows all their many rules. Just ask them. They pick and choose which rules they really believe in.
Protestants mostly focus on God, Jesus and what the bible says Jesus taught. Minus all the dogma. If you want ritual, go Catholic. If you want more food for the soul, go Protestant. It's that simple.

Answer 9

Catholicism IS a form of Christianity. So if you are a Catholic, you are a Christian also. There are many forms of Christianity, which are all religions based on the teachings of Jesus Christ... but over the centuries people disagreed on the interpretation of things and separated into various different sub-religions. Catholics believe that the Pope is Gods representative on earth. Protestants don't! Anglicans at one time thought the King of England was God's Representative on earth... basically there are many types of Christian religions but they are all different in subtle or not so subtle ways.

Answer 10

Well, this is how I see it. Two thousands years ago Christ came to save the world, you know the story. His wor was carry around the world until it landed on Rome. The Romans who converted to Christianity is classified has the very first church. This original Christians followed the scriptures and sended shared the word of God. However, they were persecuted and killed because of Christ. But then one of Roman emperors converted to Christianity and Christianism as official religion of Rome. However, through time the church started mixing with pagan traditionalism and stop reading the Bible. There was complete silence of the word of hundreds of years. Until Martin Luther (a Catholic priest) decided to rebel and follow the original Bible and follow what the original Christians did, follow the Bible and stop using traditionalism. Since than, there has been alot of persecutions and war against us Evangelic Christians. They Catholic church is trying unite both churches into one. But I believe differently, I believe that I can talk to God without the need of a priest, I believe that I can read the original Bible freely. I adore directly to God Jesus christ, not some statue (without offense). I believe that the only way to be save is by accepting Jesus Christ and repent from your sins, not from your deeds according to the CAtholic church. I can tell you alot more, I suggest you go to an evangelical christian site and see for yourself. God Bless.

Answer 11

"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.