Was Catholicism the first religion?

Question

Ok I eliminated the Church of Christ because you can't tell me that was the first church. Most members are trying to convince me telling that was the real name. If so why does that matter? I am just curious because a friend brought it up.

Answer 1

I think paganism, druidism, any god will do-ism, came first!

the catholic-ism is more of a do-as-I-tell-you-ism or else-ism!

don't you just love isms?

Answer 2

The “first church” is the church that is recorded in the New Testament, especially in the Book of Acts and the Epistles of Paul. The New Testament church is the “original church” and the “one true church.” We can know this because it is described, in great detail, in Scripture. The church, as recorded in the New Testament, is God’s pattern and foundation for His church. On this basis, let’s examine the Roman Catholic claim that it is the “first church.” Nowhere in the New Testament will you find the “one true church” doing any of the following: praying to Mary, praying to the saints, venerating Mary, submitting to a pope, having a select priesthood, baptizing an infant, observing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper as sacraments, or passing on apostolic authority to successors of the apostles. All of these are core elements of the Roman Catholic faith. If most of the core elements of the Roman Catholic Church were not practiced by the New Testament Church (the first church and one true church), how then can the Roman Catholic Church be the first church? A study of the New Testament will clearly reveal that the Roman Catholic Church is not the same church as the church that is described in the New Testament.

The New Testament records the history of the church from approximately 30 A.D. to approximately 90 A.D. In the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries, history records several Roman Catholic doctrines and practices among early Christians. Is it not logical that the earliest Christians would be more likely to understand what the Apostles truly meant? Yes, it is logical, but there is one problem. Christians in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries were not the earliest Christians. Again, the New Testament records the doctrine and practice of the earliest Christians…and, the New Testament does not teach Roman Catholicism. What is the explanation for why the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th century church began to exhibit signs of Roman Catholicism?


The answer is simple – the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th century (and following) church did not have the complete New Testament. Churches had portions of the New Testament, but the New Testament (and the full Bible) were not commonly available until after the invention of the printing press in 1440 A.D. The early church did its best in passing on the teachings of the apostles through oral tradition, and through extremely limited availability to the Word in written form. At the same time, it is easy to see how false doctrine could creep into a church that only had access to the Book of Galatians, for example. It is very interesting to note that the Protestant Reformation followed very closely after the invention of the printing press and the translation of the Bible into the common languages of the people. Once people began to study the Bible for themselves, it became very clear how far the Roman Catholic Church had departed from the church that is described in the New Testament.

Answer 3

First there was Christianity, not broken up in denominations such as Catholic or Protestant. Before that there was Judaism. Before that there were all kind of religions and false Gods. Judaism started with God's covenant with Abram shortly after the tower of Babel was taken out and the people were scattered. This is probably when the false gods and idols came about. Before that the people seemed to think they were or could be gods.
Acts 11:26 The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch
The exact phrase 'church of Christ" is not found anywhere in the Bible. I checked KJV NIV Amp NAS. Couldn't find it.
Christian means little Christ.

Answer 4

Catholicism was absolutely not the first religion. Beginning with the definition of Religion:

1. beliefs and worship: people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life.

There is much to show that even as far back as the neolithic or "Stone Age" people had beliefs and worship regarding the existence of Deities.

You might take some time to investigate some of the archaeological and anthropological findings regarding the religions of Pre-Christian peoples.

Answer 5

You realize of course that religion has been around for at least 10 thousand years and Christianity (in all its forms), has only been around 2K?

How can it be the first?

By the way, the Orthodox denominations have been around for as long as the Catholics. Both are organizations that derived from the early Church. It's false to say otherwise.

Answer 6

Definitely not. Many pagan religions existed long before Catholism. If you're referring to specifically to the "God of Abraham" religions, then Judaism came first, then Christianity (that's the religion, Catholicism, Baptist, etc. are factions), then Islam. Within Christianity the first faction may not have actually had a name. I'm sure they had one but I don't know what it is.

Answer 7

No! Catholicism was created centuries after Jesus lived. Jesus was a Jew, so Judaism clearly was an earlier religion. Before that, there were many polytheistic faiths. There was Buddhism and Hinduism. In fact in paleolithic caves pictures of animals have been found that are believed to have been used in spiritual ceremonies praying for a successful hunt.

If you mean first Christian sect, you may be right. After Jesus died, the followers of Jesus were still considered Jews. Once the Christians broke away, they became what we now know as Catholics.

Answer 8

No the first religion was in Babylon . A king named Nimrod conned everyone saying he was the creator and he had people worship him as the sun ... one day he was murdered and his queen unwilling to let the people know he was dead and have them take away all her riches or have her marry someone else told them she had eaten his body and concived a son but this was not her son it was Nimrod... the people believed her and carved out statues to her holding a child and the sun in the background (like a halo)
This image became translated into other religions like Egyptian mythology and eventually it became Catholic...
Also Nimrod had a way of controlling the people in his kingdom ... he made it manditory that all men confess their sins and when they did he would tell them that if they ever tried to go against him he would tell everyone their sin.

Answer 9

Many religions predates Christianity including Judaism.

The Church has referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 AD (about 10 to 15 years after the last book of the New Testament was written), when the term appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans:

"Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church."

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html

All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 A.D. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."

With love in Christ.

Answer 10

Good choice for eliminating them, one word "CULT". I was a member of ICC international Church of Christ they are affiliated with Church of Christ. The true church is the body of be livers the ones who have accepted Christ as there lord and savior in faith hence "Body of be livers".

God bless

Answer 11

No, there were other religions based on polytheistic beliefs. A quick study of history would show you that different cultures and people had rituals that they followed to approuch their Gods and ask for their intervention.