are catholics not christians?

Question

why do some seperate catholics from christians? meaning if your asked if your a christian why not just say yes, instead of saying im catholic? or if you ask a question why is it christians or catholics? what is the difference? isnt catholic just another denomination?

Answer 1

Catholics are not saved, and are not Christians. I have posted many times why doctrinally catholics are not saved, and you are welcome to look it up in my answers.

Answer 2

This is akin to the split between the Sunnis and the Shiites. Both follow the same religion, with minor differences.

I never quite understood the chasm between Catholicism and Christianity until I put it into the perspective I mentioned above. The fact is that if it were not for the Roman Catholics, Christianity would not have spread as quickly and as far as it did. Despite many Protestant Christian's claims to the contrary, Catholics are Christians. They meet the one requirement, after all: acceptance of Jesus as the savior.

This is another reason why I favor the separation of church and state. If two groups of people who worship the same god can't get respect each other (Catholics/Protestants, Sunnis/Shiites), and the differences often result in hatred, intolerance, and violence (Ireland, Iraq, for example), what chance does an atheist, a pagan, or a Buddhist have in such a climate?

Answer 3

They are Christians as a matter of fact they are the first and original Christians. The Catholic church traces its history back to Peter the Apostle right after the days of Christ. As for the other denominations they are all offshoots of the Catholic church of whom the first schism was in the 10th century when the orthodox heirachy broke off followed by the Protestants in the 15th century of whom has over a four hundred year period have schisomd over 1600 times. The Catholic church has held its own for close to two thousand years, which is pretty impressive!

Answer 4

Christian = Someone who followed Christ.

Contrary to some self-righteous protestant denomination's thinking, Catholics follows christ, therefore a christian.

Some of these protestant denomination sometime call themselves "non-denominational" which is another word for "I am right and the true christian, others are false and only I will be saved".

I am wondering, if the compiler for the bible is not a christian denomination, then perhaps all others who took this bible and amend it do not qualify to be even called christian.

Answer 5

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 6

Catholic isn't just another denomination. Essentially, you have a handful of Catholic denominations, such as Roman Catholic Greek orthodox, Episcopalian, etc. Then you over 35,000 Protestant denominations who practice a form of Christianity that is very different.

Answer 7

I must admit, I think that I am Catholic before I am Christian. The two are synonymous to me, however. They are so intertwined that I can make no distinction. At my back, I feel the presence of those who are alive in Christ, and who have gone before me. It is a mystical Church.

My attitude toward other Christians I take from the example of my friend St Alphonsus de Ligouri, who offered prayers for the unity of Christians every Monday. Prayers for Christians are offered in every mass I attend, and the thoughts of all are united, even if it is only lip service, the words are recorded by angels.

Answer 8

The Catholic church was the original Christian church... Since the so called "Born again Christians" appeared on the scene, Catholics who are not all verbal about this, and live their lives as Christians or Christ like, would prefer not to be associated with the evangelistic "lets convert by force rather than show" attitudes. I don't blame them.

Answer 9

Catholics are Christians. We just have stricter rules and are one of the oldest religious. I find it amusing that people ask this question a lot..."Are Catholics Christians?" Considering nobody would ask that question to a baptist, southern baptist, Methodist, united Methodist, non-domino national, you get the drift.....but if the word Catholic comes up people assume we believe in something total different. Let me sum it for you...We believe in the holy trinity....THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Answer 10

1) Christians? Yes
2) Separate? Because they have no idea what Catholics believe
3) Catholics, like most sects, consider their sect to be best, and so offer more detailed information when asked if they are Christian
4) Christians or Catholics? same as 2)
5) Yes, Catholic is just another denomination

Jim, http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com , former RC, still a Christian

Answer 11

Catholics are Christians because we believe in Christ however, the absolute righteousness of the most sects don't consider Catholics as Christians and they advertise that Catholics won't go to heaven. The other sects don't want to share their piece of heaven with us.