So Catholic is Christianity...?

Question

but the what is the DIFFERENCE. All I heard is that Catholics pray to "dead saints"....is that true?

Answer 1

Christians follow the basic message of the bible. This is God's word for us. If it says to obey the 10 Commandments (which it does) we abide. If it says there is no reward or punishment until Resurrection and judgment (which it does) we believe. That means there is none in Heaven or hell. If it says that there is no way to the Father but through Jesus Christ (and it does) we confide in this way only.

Christians are to do the will of the Father. Just as His Son instructed. To do anything beyond or beneath is NOT what is asked of us personally by Jesus. To do so differently as if by the authority of a man or church, we may create our own rules is blasphemy. This is dangerous.

Many church organizations are turning out willing followers of not Jesus but the church itself. This is by no means Christianity. At least not that Christianity as taught by our Lord and Savior.

Many denominations are denying the very reason Jesus lived as a man and died for us. He took away the shadows of the law (traditions, ceremonies, etc.). And carried a cross so that no man, woman, priest, saint, or church could ever again come between us and God.

So the answer is quite simple. If they do not do as Jesus taught. They are not Christian. Take a close look at what people do and draw your conclusions based on that.

God bless

Answer 2

Would you also label the Methodist, Presbyterian, other Protestant churches not Christian simply because the word Christian is not attached to the name of their Church?

Roman Catholicism is a Christian denomination. The name "Catholic Church" originated in 107 AD when Ignatius of Antioch used the phrase to describe Jesus' "Church.
Catholics adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ who founded this Church. Acts 11,26 defines Christian an "adherent" of Christ. The word Catholic simply means the larger or universal church. The early church fathers were the first to use it. For example the epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude are referred to as the Catholic Epistles. So when we say the Catholic Church, we mean the universal Christian Church.

Why would we pray to someone who is dead? All the saints we ask to PRAY FOR US are in heaven. Read the the book of Hebrews and Revelation. The saints are in heaven and praying for us.


May the Lord's peace be with you!

Answer 3

There are no Prophets and the Saints who are dead even those who were physically dead in the past; it is because their spirits which are their real selves and not their physical bodies ascended to celestial heaven where they reside today. And THE HOLY SPIRIT composed of the HEAD -GOD in the Spirit called EMMANUEL; then the seven spirits (archangels) before the throne of THE LORD GOD; then the spiritual community of the 100 million prophets and saints and all the angels in heaven around the throne of THE LORD GOD. Thus, the HOLY SPIRIT may send an archangel or a Prophet or a Saint dead or alive or angelsl like the ball of light of Paul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. So Prophets and Saints are revered to help only the peoples or their devotees for asking the mercy and the love of THE LORD GOD. .

Answer 4

There are huge differences between the RCC and Bible believing Christians.

I have a five page long MS Word document which outlines many of the major differences and its annotated with bible verses and with Catholic Catechism paragraph numbers so you can easily check out what its saying from the source documents.

I'll send this document to anyone who asks for it.

However, I can only send it if you sent me your regular E-mail address.

Pastor Art

PS: All Catholics are NOT Christians just like all Baptists are NOT Christians. Surveys based on the Bible tell us that only about 20% of Roman Catholics fit the Bible's definition of what Christianity is and the highest percent of any group being saved would be non denominational Christians and the three largest of the pentecostals groups which is about 80%.

Answer 5

Absolutely Catholics are Christians. The Catholic church was the first Christian church, all others came from the Catholic church. Some Christians have a problem with just how Catholics worship, I am not a Catholic but have no problem at all with the Catholic church and like many, many Christians, I believe the Pope is the leader of all Christians.

Answer 6

All Roman Catholics are Christians, just like all Baptists are Christians and all Methodists are Christians. We differ from our protestant brothers and sisters on several theological points, but the major differences are as follows:

Catholics believe in the Communion of Saints. The "People of God" includes all the believers who are living and also all the holy men and women who have gone before us. We take God at his word in his promises of eternal life; we believe these saints to be alive in spirit and able to take an interest in what goes on in the world. I think this is where your idea that we pray to dead saints comes from. Let me clarify that we do not pray to the saints as you or I would pray to God. Worship is only for God, and we do not worship anyone but Him. When we "pray to the saints", we ask them to pray for us to God, much in the same way you might ask a living friend to say a prayer for you.

Many Protestant denominations preach Sola Scriptura, or "only the Bible." The Bible is their only recognized source of spiritual leaning and truth. In the Catholic Church, we recognize that our foundation is built upon 2000 years of Christian tradition. The Bible is, of course, our highest source of spiritual guidance, but we also place a great deal of significance on the Sacred Traditions developed during the early days of the Church and on certain theological treatises written by saints. For example, St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica is not held up as an equal to the Bible, but it is a profound work of theology and philosophy from which we draw some of the finer details of our Faith. We also have the Catechism, which is sort of like an instruction manual for Christian living, and it is something which devout Catholics study alongside study of the Bible.

One final difference that I'll address here is our differing beliefs about what one must do to achieve salvation. Both Catholics and Protestants believe that faith is necessary for salvation. If you wish to attain eternal life in Heaven, you must believe in God. You must believe in Christ and in His Sacrifice, which freed us from Original Sin. Many protestant denominations stop there. They will tell you that once you believe, your ticket to Heaven is assured. Catholics take to heart the words of James 2:14-17, that faith without works is dead. We believe that, if we want salvation, we have to be willing to put our money where our mouth is and live the faith we say we have. This is one of the reasons why Catholic parishes are usually very involved with soup kitchens, crisis ministries, hospice, and the like.

There are other theological differences, of course, but these are the main points. I hope this helps answer your question.

Answer 7

The word catholic defined means universal. All Christians are catholic. Roman Catholic is a religion, and is considered Christian. A religion is a way that a Christian decides how to worship God. Google catholic, and get the definition .

Answer 8

+ Saints +

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

And prayer to the saints is optional not required.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 946 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946

+ Catholic Christians +

Most non-Catholic Christian denominations accept Catholics as Christians. A very few do not.

A dictionary would say that a Christian is someone professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.

Catholics would fit this definition.

In the Nicene creed, from 325 C.E., Catholics profess:

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.

Through Him all things were made.

For us and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are baptized as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

We truly are spiritually "born again," we just don't usually use those words.

For a complete description of what Catholics believe, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 9

There are different sects of Christianity. The two main ones are Catholics and Protestants. Catholics follow the Pope, whereas Protestants don't. Thats the key difference.

Answer 10

Christianity STARTED with Catholicism. There are many priests and scholars who can answer this question much better than I can. My answer is from the heart, not based on Canon Law, but faith... Prayer and worship are two different things. "Saints" like friends or family members are confidants we converse with for guidance and support. Catholics, like many Christians, believe the spirit lives on after the body dies.