What's the difference between Catholic and Christian?

Question

It sounds like they're 2 different religions.

Answer 1

It has to do with what the individual does with the errors in doctrine and what their foundation is built on. Of course, such errors or rejection of errors differ from Catholic to Catholic.

Catholics adhere to the Pope as the vicar of Christ.
Christians believe that the Bible is the final authority.
2 Timothy 3:16

Catholic tradition is of equal authority with the Bible.
Christians believe traditions of man cause error.
Matthew 15:3

Catholics adhere to Mary as a co-regent of Jesus.
Christians beleive that Mary was blessed, but only human.
Luke 11:27-28

Catholics believe that priests or Mary are mediators.
Christians believe there that only Jesus is Mediator.
1 Timothy 2:5

Transubstatiation recrucifies Christ at the communion.
Christians believe Christ died just once.
Hebrews 6:6

Catholics believe Mary was a perpetual virgin.
Christians believe the Bible that Jesus had siblings.
Mark 6:3

Catholics call their priests "father".
Christians call their teachers "pastor" or "minister".
Matthew 23:9

Catholics pray repetitive words with Rosary Beads.
Christians pray the same as they speak.
Matthew 6:7

Pope canonizes those to be called "saints".
Christians believe all who believe are saints.
Philippians 1:1

Pope decides who is "priest" in church leadership.
Christians believe all who believe are a priesthood.
1 Peter 2:5

Celibacy is enforced on priests and bishops.
Christians believe they should be married.
1 Timothy 3:2-5

Catholics believe Peter was the first Pope and not married.
Christians stand by the Bible that he was married.
Mark 1:30

Catholics bow down and burn candles to graven images.
Christians do not bow to images.
1 John 5:21

Catholics believe only the priests can understand the Bible.
Christians believe they can study and understand the Bible.
Ephesians 3:4

Catholics believe Mary was without sin.
Christians believe only Jesus was without sin.
Romans 5:12

Justification pronounced as anathema by Council of Trent.
Christians believe we are justified by faith.
Romans 3:28

Catholics hold to Peter as foundation "rock" of the church.
Christians hold to only Christ as foundation Rock.
1 Corinthians 3:11, 1 Corinthians 10:4

Catholics worship Mary as the Mother of God.
Christians only worship the Godhead.
Revelation 19:10

Answer 2

There is none.

Catholics were the first Christians. What you mean is the difference between Catholics and Protestants. Protestants (of which there are a good dozen or more Denominations) were created in the Middle Ages when they "Protested" the Catholic churchs established ways be leaving the Catholic church and creating a new Christian church.

The only thing required to be a Christian is to believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, nothing more. But the arrogance of many Protestants prevents them from understanding that.

It will also mean that I'm going to get at least three thumbs down for my answer because the Protestants are simply NOT willing to acknowledge the truth.

Answer 3

There is a difference between Catholic and Protestant.

But both are Christian.

You see, Protestants originally split from Catholicism because they "protested." Some protested the pope. Some protested indulgences - which were being SOLD in the time of Martin Luther.

Naughty church. Naughty!!

Over the last 500 years of Protestantism though, more and more non-Catholic denominations are sprouting up that don't "protest." They could more or less - care less...

So the term Protestant has been replaced with Christian. Christian in a general sense.

You will still find Protestants who say Catholics are not Christian - even though there would be no Christianity without us. And sadly, you will find Catholics who relate the term Christian to contemporary Protestants. So they will insist they are not Christian when what they mean is they are not Protestant.

People are just so silly.

PS: nothing Schneb says is true. All anti-catholic misinformation.

Answer 4

Schneb,

If you are going to State what Catholics believe and pretend to be an authority, PLEASE take time and do some research first.

It is un-Christian to mis-state others beliefs, or to say you know them when you clearly do not.

If you are as interested as you come off to be, you should read the Catechism of the Catholic Church at least once so you do not say false things about the Catholic Faith. Many of your examples are exaggerated, and others are just plain wrong.

I used to be a Protestant, and while I do not feel that the Protestants have the fullness of faith that Catholics do, I would NEVER say false things about Protestants. I know so many good, faithful Protestants and the Catholic Church does not teach that only Catholics can get to heaven. We also do not worship Mary as an equal to Jesus, on and on, I am not going to hit every point, but you get the idea.

Please return the same in the spirit of the same Christ that we both believe in.

To answer the question,

Catholics are Christians, but Protestant Christians also believe in the same Divinity of Christ, but have branched off from the Catholic Church around 1600.

Peace and God Bless!

P.S. Connie, where did you learn that Catholics believe that the Pope is God on earth?????????/ Where did you get that?????

Not true again...

One more thing, we do NOT worship the Saints OR Mary....

Please educate yoursleves!

Answer 5

Catholics on here get very perplexed when someone asks "are Catholics Christan?" Some get very defensive and say of course we are Christian! But, I would be curious to know if Catholics had a choice to either call themselves "Catholic" OR "Christian" what would be their first choice?? Why can't they understand that when the non-catholics of the world see with their very eyes all of the importance that goes to the Pope, the priests, the Virgin Mary, and all the Saints, and Bishops, and Vatican and the rosary, and on and on and on, it does cause a person to say "Where the heck does JESUS fit in to all of that ritual and tradition??? Maybe, just maybe if they dropped the "Catholic" title, then people wouldn't have to question whether they are actually "Christians". Just a thought.

Answer 6

Catholics are Christian because we believe in Christ. You mean Catholics and Protestants. I still don't understand what Protestants are protesting, and I'm not sure that a person can change Christ's church because they don't like it and go into a protest. However, it's all still great, as long as Protestants believe in Christ, they're saved, I believe. We Catholics and Protestants need to UNITE!!, instead of attacking each other. What separates us is much less than what unites us remember.......We all believe in Christ. We are all Christians...
Catholics I think have saints, but we still know that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Protestants have like 30 different denominations of protestant; they all have their own ideas, but they dont' have saints or a pope to direct them, that's the main difference I believe. Also, Catholic church was the first Christian church in existence. Some people decided to leave the catholic church, and they named it Protestant......

Answer 7

Many... the main thing is they do not teach
Salvation as given by The Teaching of Jesus The Christ.
Those of The True Christian Faith have the absolute assurance of Their Salvation... guaranteed by a personal promise from God... and clearly stated by Christ Jesus

Roman Catholics are forbidden to teach the assurance of Salvation .No Pope has ever been permited by their own law to say that even the pope's Salvation is secure. A priest can be kicked out for teaching that Salvation can be secure.

They are indeed two seperate beliefs... but there are some, within The roman cult who have managed to find The Truth and have come to God in The Way He prescribes... not many I fear, but some...and they found The Way dispite what they have been taught, not because of it.... they remain in the cult because of long standing connection and family and friends... but the majority of RCs, who only know the teaching of the cult, are not of The True Christian Faith.

Answer 8

"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.

Answer 9

The word "Catholic" mean universal/original. All Roman Catholics(often refered to as "Catholics") are Christians. That is they believe that Jesus Christ is the messiah that he was crucified, died, buried, and rose from the dead. There is more to Christianity thatn that but this is the main point. Most denomintaions of Christianity(Episcopal, Pentecostal, United MEthodist, Lutheran, etc) believe themself to be the original/true religon and talk about themselves as being catholic(original). The Roman catholic Church's one maindifference(there are other's but they are smaller and usually ritualistic in nature) is that they believe that both teh Bible and The Pope are sources of truth/law from God. They believe that the Pope is an apostolic successor from the original Pope, Peter and therefore can speak and make church doctrine. All other Christian denominations believe in varying sources of the true faith but none believe that the Pope is one of those sources. Goto http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/comparison_charts.htm to see more comparisons between Christian denominations.

Answer 10

There are many different kinds of christians ('denominations'): catholics, anglicans, russian orthodox, greek orthodox, lutheran, netherlands hervormd, reformed, mennonites, etc. In general 'protestants' is used to denominate those who aren't catholic (that is: do not recognize the pope in Rome, and do not have the same mass as in a catholic church). But I'm not at all sure that for instance a russian orthodox would call himself a protestant.
All christians believe in Jesus Christ as Son of God.

Many religions have different 'denominations'. In Islam you have for example salafism, wahabism, sufism. In Judaism you have for example orthodox, liberal, chasidism. There are also numerous 'Bhuddisms' and 'Hinduisms'.

Shanti

Answer 11

They do have quite a few different beliefs.I was raised catholic,they told me it was a mortal sin to go into a Protestant church, that i would be punished for watching biblical movies not from the catholic bible. they believe that the pope is God on earth, that what he says came from God. they believe that you have to go to confession with a priest and he will absolve you of your sins by giving you a penance which is praying catholic prayers multiple times. they believe that the dead can go to a place called purgatory and the living can pray them into heaven.I have never seen any of this backed biblicaly. Protestants believe that you are supposed to have a personal relationship with God and you don't need anyone to intemperate for you, you take your sins to God directly speaking from your heart and ask forgiveness and repent.They believe that there are only Heaven and Hell and when you die if you are not saved you go to Hell. I have seen all this backed biblical. I am no longer catholic, I am non-denominational, i follower Christ's teachings and the word of the Bible.