What's the difference of being a catholic to being a christian?

Question

I thought they all believed in the same thing so what's the difference?

Answer 1

"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.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

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.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Catholics are Christians, and we do all believe in the many of the same things, especially the more important things. We all worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in the necessity of Christ's sacrifice for our redemption. We look for the Second Coming and the Kingdom of Heaven.

There are some differences, however, between Catholicism and tradition Protestant sects. Unfortunately, some of these differences have led to misunderstandings, which in turn cause some Protestants to say that Catholics aren't Chritistian. Here's the logic:

1. The Saints. It's thought that by praying to saints, Catholics are worshiping them. This isn't true. Catholics ask for a saint's intercession like you might ask a friend to pray for you. Even if one does ask something directly of a saint, however, it could only be granted if God gave them the power to do so, like when he gave the Apostles the power to perform miracles. You can see how people might think Catholics aren't Christian if they thought this prayer was equal to worship..
2. The Bible. Because Protestants don't have a Church structure the way Catholics do, Protestants often end up paying a lot more attention to the Bible, memorizing passages etc. It seems to them that Catholics ignore the Scriptures and so the word of Christ. This isn't true either, but it's a not-infrequent misconception.
3. The Eucharist. Catholics say that the Eucharist is the essence of Christ, present with us. We worship Christ in and through the Eucharist. If you're Protestant, you (generally) think the Eucharist is bread, symbolic of Christ, but not actually Christ. So if they see us worshiping God in the Eucharist, they think we're bowing down to a piece of bread. Obviously, that would seem sacriligious.
4. Salvation. Generally, Protestants believe that salvation can only come from accepting Christ as your savior. Essentially, no matter how good a person is on their own, because they're not perfect, they wouldn't be able to make it to heaven if it weren't for Chirst's sacrifice. Catholics believe this is true, but that you also have to 'walk the walk, not just talk the talk.' Salvation is based on the acceptance of Christ as savior combined with good works. The reason some Protestants have a problem with this is because they're thinking we're discounting the importance of Christ's sacrifice and that we think we could get into heaven on our own.

So you see, the concept of Catholics not being Christian is generally based on misconceptions, but in truth we all believe in Christ as the source of eternal life. Hopefully one day, we'll all be able to recognize this truth each other as true brothers and sisters in him.

Answer 3

The Bible tells us that Jesus established His church on the day of Pentecost. Some time after the New Testament was written (about the turn of the first century) man started adding stuff. We added Catholic or Protestant to our name. We added doctrine such as praying through Mary or voting to have someone added to the church membership. Yes, we believe in the same God, but we continue to seperate based on our preference of churches as if Jesus established more than one. There is nothing in the Bible that authorizes denominationalism because we seperate based on what we want. Christianity is about what God expects. We should just be Christians like the followers were the New Testament. We should just use the Bible for our doctrine. We should rely on Jesus to forgive us of our sin and no one on earth. No, it's not gonna happen anytime soon but it should.

Answer 4

There isn't. Catholics are the original Christians. Everyone other kind of Christian is Protestant. Don't believe the crackpots who will tell you that Catholics aren't Christians because they "worship the saints and the Virgin Mary" or any other such nonsense. Catholics worship Jesus Christ as the son of God and the savoiur of mankind.....The very definition of a Christian.

Answer 5

The phenomenon found in some Christian groups. It appears to work like this:


"if you don't believe that faith alone saves, then you must believe that you can work your way into Heaven (something Catholics are constantly falsely accused of believing),"
"if you don't believe in sola scriptura, then you are a follower of the 'traditions of men',"
"if you think we can cooperate in our salvation, then you're saying that Christ isn't enough,"
"if you believe that one can freely turn his back on God, then you're denying God's omnipotence," .
These either/or arguments consist of an "if" statement, coupled with an implied premise that amounts to a false dichotomy, and followed by an invalid conclusion.

Catholic rebuttals to these sorts of assertions often rely on the heavy use of prepositions:


"we are saved by grace, through faith and works inspired by the Holy Spirit's love,"
"the source of Christian Truth is the Church that is guided by the Holy Spirit and which is both the source of and is bound by Sacred Scripture,"
"we are saved solely by the grace of the Cross, with which we must co-operate,"
"God can do whatever He wants, whenever He wants, but He chose to give us free will with which we can freely choose Him," .

It's been said that the Catholic Church is a "both/and" Church; another way of saying it is that, when arguing with Protestants, we are a "Yes, but..." Church:


"Yes, grace saves through faith -- but a faith that works,"
"Yes, Christ is the only way to the Father, but we Christians co-operate with Him in His divine plan and therefore, in a real but limited sense, play a co-redemptive role in salvation history,"
"Yes, we must be born again, but 'born again' refers to Baptism,"
"Yes, Christ is the Spiritual Rock of the Church, but He made Peter the earthly Rock" .

Answer 6

Catholics.... WERE NOT.... the Original Christians! Anyone that Says SO..... NEVER.... Read the Books of ACTS... in the Bible!

(Acts 11:26) And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. = = = And the disciples = = = were called = = Christians = = = first in Antioch.

A Real Christian.... As I am NOW..... Who was ONCE A Catholic.... IS BORN AGAIN!

You may read my Testimony on my 360 / Blog!

I have the Assurance of Heaven... and Sins.... Forgiven!

I have the Blessedness.... of Going STRAIGHT to GOD... in Prayer... and Not though some one ELSE!

I can ask for Forgiveness.... for Sins... TO GOD... directly.... 1John 1:5-to-10.... and DO NOT NEED an earthly.... Person... called a priest!

I..... have the Knowledge OF GOD.... From the HOLY SCRIPTURES.... and not from some church... that does Not Allow its MEMBERS.... to study the WORD OF GOD!

ALL THIS.... AND .... MORE! Please read my 360 / Blog for my Testimony! Click on my Avatar.... picture of the Tube.

Thanks... FOR.... ASKING! ..... RR

Answer 7

Catholics seem to be more pleasant & accepting of others.