whats the difference between christian and roman catholic?

Question

can someone explain the difference?

thanks! =)

Answer 1

Biblically, a Christian is one who believes what the Bible teaches and that nothing is higher (more authoritative) than that.

Psalm 138:2 says "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word ABOVE ALL THY NAME".
[Realize that the NAME of God is considered very sacred and the 3rd commandment forbids misuse of his name. ]

However, Roman Catholics, while adhering to most of the basic doctines of the Bible in theory, do not practice a faith based on the Bible alone - but on tradition. Their traditions are more rooted in the teachings of medieval Europe than the Bible's revelation. They even add books to the Bible, which were not accepted in the 2nd and 3rd century by the disciples of the original Apostles.

The Bible itself declares (and demonstrates) itself to be the Word of God; it removes all doubt - especially in the words of Jesus himself, that you cannot follow traditions which are rooted in contradictory teachings and consider yourself a foloower of Christ.

The Roman church does not agree and keeps other traditions. Consequently the division between groups.

---+++---

to Nelson and Beatlemaniac, I would say that this is clearly NOT true since the Greek church existed before the Roman and Rome is considered a break away from them; the Arabian and Coptic church existing with the Greek well before Rome organized as an Institution. The institution we know of as Roman Catholicism began well after the 4th century and began adding traditions heavily into the mix in the 7th and 8th Century. Mariology was an invention of the 8th Century - which is proven in the Vatican's own writings.

The Roman church is well established as a Church-State merger that failed as a state. Yet, the organizational routines of the institution remain, despite centuries of groups leaving Rome because they fail to reform to become "Biblical" in their organization.

To "Top of the Line": there are many Christians who trace their origins to the Apostles, who were organized as churches long before Rome was an Institution, and which do not consider themselves Protestant. Your limited view of historical eccleisiology is very inadequate.

Answer 2

Nothing. A catholic is already a christian so it is a bit redundant for anybody to name themselves a Christian Catholic. Catholic is a shorter option to say Roman Catholic. Basically, there is not any change, each are roman catholic and each are christian,

Answer 3

A Christian is one who has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

There are three main branches of Christianity:
* Orthodox Christianity, which developed in Greece, Turkey, and Asia. (You can argue that it started in the first century, or sixth century, depending upon which side you are on.);
* Catholic Christianity, which developed in the Roman Empire. (You can argue that it developed in the first century, or fourth century, depending upon which side you support.);
* Protestant Christianity, which developed in Europe during the fifteenth Century.

The Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church is the largest organization within Catholic Christianity. These people are more commonly called "Roman Catholics".

So, all Roman Catholics are Christian, but not all Christians are Roman Catholic.

Many Protestant Christians consider Roman Catholics in specific, and Catholic Christianity in general, to be non-Christian, due to major differences in their understanding, and practice of Christian Theology.
* As one example, Catholic Christianity is organized on a hierarchy, with decisions coming down from the Pope. In Protestant Christianity decisions are made at the local level, and filter up --- if their is an organization to filter up to. (For most Protestant Churches,denominational affiliation is merely to obtain a suitable preacher, or finding suitable resources for studying the Bible.)
* A second example would be veneration of Saints. This is a practice of Catholic, and Orthodox Christianity, that Protestant Christianity tends to view as idol worship. The Catholic (And Orthodox) position is that by veneration of the Saints, one will learn how to live one's life in a state of sinlessness. The Saints are practical examples of people who achieved redemption.
* A third example would be Apostolic Succession. Catholic (and Orthodox) Christianity claim that Spiritual Authority is transmitted by the laying of hands, when a Priest, Bishop, or Pope is made. (This chain goes back to when Jesus laid his hands upon Simon Peter.) Since Protestant Christianity does not have a chain of succession of the laying of hands, it has no leaders with legitimate Spiritual Authority. (There are a couple of exceptions, the best known being _The Church of England,_ and the Scandinavian Lutherans.)(This is an example of why Roman Catholicism considers Protestant Christianity to be non-Christian.)

Answer 4

Christians are those who believe that Christ was the Son of God and that he died and then rose from the dead. Catholics believe all of that and therefore they are Christians.

Christians do not have to believe in a literal interpretation of the Old Testament and most of them don't. They see much of it as allegory and metaphor. Old Testament Fundamentalists call themselves Christian but do not follow the teachings of Christ - tolerance, acceptance and love - but rather the nasty side of the mean old god of the Old Testament.

A real question would be what is the difference between Catholics and Old Testament Fundamentalists, the answer being that Catholics are Christians and the OTFs are not.

Answer 5

"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 6

Catholicism is a branch of Christianity, so all Roman Catholics are Christian, but not all Christians are Roman Catholic.

Answer 7

This question will surely get different answers. The more answerers...the more answers. And you will probably not get the answer you want.

I guess you have to find it out yourself. I suggest you get back to the church history and find out yourself the very root of faith. I can only give you a little clue: Christianity originated in Jerusalem and never in Rome. The one that originated in Rome is actually called the Roman Church - and Rome was the "brain" behind the cricifixion of the Savior. And Rome, as we all know is the center and capital of paganism.:

Maybe I can be of little help in your search. I'll be right here...

GOD BLESS

Answer 8

Catholics think they are the only ones going to heaven. They think that Peter is the rock, instead of Christ, and they use this to say they are the "only true church" They pray to idols, and to mary, queen of heaven, and worship her. (the mother/child cult) They do not say Jesus is God. They are more about religion (like the Pharisees) and have their own doctrines they go by instead of the Bible. They exalt the pope, as if he were Jesus. They call priests Father. They think they can get to heaven by their works, and by buying their way out of pergutory (which doesn't exist)
Christians are about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They are not about religion. They believe each individual can pray to the Father(God, not a priest on earth), through Jesus Christ, our mediator, and High Priest. They don't believe you should call any man "Father" except God Almighty.They don't believe that you have to go through any man (a priest) to get to God, which is what the Bible teaches. they believe that Jesus Christ is the Rock on which the "Church" was founded, and He still is the Rock. They believe if you repent of your sins, and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will go to heaven, "not by your works, lest anyone should boast."
They believe the "Church" is not a denomination, but the Body of Believers in Jesus Christ, no matter what denomination you belong to or don't belong to. They believe in the "Rapture", or the gathering together of the saints (all believers) and the resurrection of the body, in which Jesus will come for us, and "take us where He is."


BIG DIFFERENCE

Answer 9

Oh we go agian with another person spitting out tons of propganda about Roman Catholicism. Okay Roman Catholicism is a branch of Christianity just like Protestantism is as Catholics have accepted Jesus Christ as lord and savior just like the Protestants. Catholics also believe in the concept of the trinity just like most Protestants do. Anyway Christianity is split into Catholicism and Protestantism.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism

http://www.religioustolerance.org/christ.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholicism

Answer 10

In the USA there are about 380 demoninations of churches which claim to be "Christian".

Here is the correct history of the universal church:

There were five equal Bishops or Patriarchs of the church in the 9th Century:

The Patriarch of Rome
The Patriarch of Constantinople
The Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Antioch
The Patriarch of Jerusalem

The dude in Rome started excommunicating the others and they turned around and excommunicated him. This was the start of the split between what is now known as the Orthodox Churches.

When I was in high school and I took "Early World History", we learned about the Western Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Church.

Roman Catholics today want to pretend none of that exists anymore and it was only Rome.

And there have always been other groups of Christians not connected with any of the above five in places like the Far East and Africa.

Its prideful and boastful arrogance to say the Roman Catholic Church was the only church for 1,000 years.

Its not true. It was not true then. Its not true now.

The Roman Church became the most corrupt which is why reformers started coming along hundreds of years before Martin Luther.

We don't know much about many of them because they were all murdered by the church of Rome. Martin Luther's teaching spread like they did for two main reasons:

1. The printing press had been invented in German in 1440.

2. Martin Luther was from German, so when he began writing, German printers started printing and cirulating his teachings and most of those who were educated enough to read knew he was right and the Pope was wrong.

We have to remember that Pope Leo X was horribly corrupt.

How old was Leo when he became Pope?

How old was Leo when he became Cardinal?

How old was Leo when he died and why did he die?

So let's remember that in the year 800 AD, the dude in rome controlled about one fifth of the "organizaed church".

There were lots of churches in Africa which were not connected to any of the five patriarchates listed above.

There were also churches in the far East, including India and China.

Most of what we call the bad teachings from the church of rome had their start AFTER these 5 patriarchates started to excommunicate each other.

So the mistake isn't made by the non roman churches, its a deliberate attempt by Rome to re-write history to make their own organization seem the most prominant.

Anyway once the Roman church separated itself from the rest of Christianity it began to introduce doctrines which were extremely contrary to the Bible, God's Word.

They teach that they are the ONLY TRUE church and the way to salvation is by getting Grace from God which is dispensed by receiving Sacrements from THEIR church.

Bible believing Christians, follow the Bible, period.

The Bible is our only authority.

Salvation occurs when an individual repents of their sins and believes that Jesus died and rose again for their sins.

Salavation is a relationship between you and God with Jesus as the only mediator.

See the links below and if you want to talk about it, let me know.

Pastor Art

PS: Schneb and TEK gave great answers.