are christians and catholics considered completely different religions?

Question

i don't know much about this, but i have friends who say "no, i'm not a christian, I'm a catholic"

i always thought catholicism was just a denomination.. So, do you call catholics christians? enlighten me, somebody?

Answer 1

(edited to clarify - catholicism is a denomination of christianity. it is impossible to give a universal statement on the salvation of all members of any denomination of christianity. not all baptists are saved. not all presbyterians are saved. not all lutherans are saved. salvation is determined by personal faith in Jesus alone for salvation, not by titles or denominational identification.) 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. like 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.

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. hope ths helps.

Answer 2

While not all Christians are Catholic, all Catholics are Christians.

Catholicism is the primary denomination of Christianity. It is right to call one's self a Catholic Christian. One cannot be Catholic without being a Christian. They are one in the same.

Your friend's response is perplexing. Perhaps it was a curiously poor attempt to differentiate your friend's denomination from the others. But to say Catholicism is not not Christian is grossly misguided.

Usually, such a claim comes from misguided Protestants. This is the first time I've heard of it coming from a Catholic!

Answer 3

Christianity is a blanket term which includes any sect that includes Christ as their main religious belief.

Catholics like to be known as Catholics because their religious sect is the oldest, and one of the strictest. Even within Christianities denominations, some still believe they are closer to the truth and want to make the distinction between their own beliefs and everyone elsese. Catholics for instance believe in transubstination, wherease a lot of Christians don't.

I expect Mormons and LDS prefer to be known as that rather than simply Christian, I expect Lutherans do too etc.

Answer 4

First and foremost, the Catholic Church never ever claimed to be a denomination church. No! the Catholic Church also never ever claim to be a different religion. Catholics are Christians. It's the protestants that claim otherwise. Sometimes Catholics will say that they are Catholics because, they are telling a misinformed individual that they are not protestants!

Answer 5

I'd consider the Roman Catholic Church a Christian denomination as well. They believe in the Bible, and in the Jesus Christ presented there (which is what I'd define a Christian as).

Maybe you could ask your friends who declare "No, I'm not a Christian, I'm a Catholic" what they mean by that. (And if possible, could you post their responses here? Now you've got me curious as to their line of thought in that reguard.)

Answer 6

>>i have friends who say "no, i'm not a christian, I'm a catholic"<<

Looks like the fundies have been so successful in convincing people that Catholics are not Christian, they've even got some Catholics believing it! Very sad...

>>So, do you call catholics christians?<<

Yes, I call Catholics Christians, because we are.

Answer 7

The first type of Christian I found is “The Dead Christian”.

Thier beliefs is unbiblical and reject the Word of God.

The second type of Christian I found is “The Bound Christian”.

Catholic and Mormons are 2 kinds of “The Bound Christian”.

The third type of Christian is the “Free Christian”.

Christian don't belong to any Religion. Beliefs base only in the written Word of God.

The fourth and final type of Christian I found is the “Complete Christian”.

The true follower of CHRIST.

Answer 8

Not really.

"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

Greetings,

I've encountered people like that as well. The fact is, they're ignorant. Anyone who follows the teachings of Christ is truly a Christian. When a few of the disciples saw a guy casting out demons in Jesus' name (Luke chapter 9 verses 49-50), Jesus said "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us."

There is a lot of hypocrisies with Christians, non-Christians and non-believers. What is 100% certain is that people have always and will always create divisions...... but God does not.

Good day,
TCL

Answer 10

A key distinction between Catholics and Christians is the view of the Bible. Catholics view the Bible as having equal authority with the Church and tradition. Christians view the Bible as the supreme authority for faith and practice. The question is, how does the Bible present itself? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “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.” Scripture, of itself, is sufficient for the Christian to be thoroughly equipped for every good work. This text tells us that Scripture is not “just the beginning,” or “just the basics,” or the “foundation for a more complete church tradition.” On the contrary, Scripture is perfectly and fully sufficient for everything in the Christian life. Scripture can teach us, rebuke us, correct us, train us, and equip us. Bible Christians do not deny the value of church tradition. Rather, Christians uphold that for a church tradition to be valid, it must be based on the clear teaching of Scripture, and must be in full agreement with Scripture.
A second key difference between Catholics and “Bible Christians” is the understanding of how we can approach God. Catholics tend to approach God through intermediaries, such as Mary or the saints. Christians approach God directly, offering prayers to no one other than God Himself. The Bible proclaims that we ourselves can approach God’s throne of grace with boldness (Hebrews 4:16). The Bible is perfectly clear that God desires us to pray to Him, to have communication with Him, to ask Him for the things we need (Philippians 4:6; Matthew 7:7-8; 1 John 5:14-15). There is no need for mediators or intermediaries, as Christ is our one and only mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), and both Christ and the Holy Spirit are already interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 7:25). Catholic friend, God loves you intimately and has provided an open door to direct communication through Jesus.
The most crucial difference between Catholics and “Bible Christians” is on the issue of salvation. Catholics view salvation almost entirely as a process, while Christians view salvation as both a completed status and a process. Catholics see themselves as “being saved,” while Christians view themselves as “having been saved.” 1 Corinthians 1:2 tells us, “…to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy…” The words “sanctified” and “holy” come from the same Greek root. This verse is declaring that Christians are both sanctified and called to be sanctified. The Bible presents salvation as a gift that is received the moment a person places faith in Jesus Christ as Savior (John 3:16). When a person receives Christ as Savior, he/she is justified (declared righteous – Romans 5:9), redeemed (rescued from slavery to sin – 1 Peter 1:18), reconciled (achieving peace with God – Romans 5:1), sanctified (set apart for God’s purposes – 1 Corinthians 6:11), and born again as a new creation (1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Each of these are accomplished facts that are fully received at the moment of salvation. Christians are then called to live, practically (called to be holy), what is already true, positionally (sanctified).

Answer 11

Catholicism IS just a denomination... Christianity is more of a blanket term, covering everything from the Greek Orthodox Church to Calvinism to Mormonism to those backwoods guys who like to practice snake-handling and speaking in tongues - basically, so long as you label Jesus the messiah, you're a Christian (Muslims accept Jesus as a prophet only, and definitely not son of God)