What the difference between CHRISTIANS and CATHOLICS?=)?

Question

i am catholic but the other day a person said that catholics and Christians are all the same so i was wondering if there is any difference.. i mean i am sure there is differences so i wanna know that it is.

Thank you

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

There are Protestant Christians and Catholic Christians.

From a Protestant perspective, not all Catholics are actually Christians, because not all Catholics have been born again; some just follow the religious teachings of the Catholic church, but do not have a personal relationship with Jesus.

To learn more about the Protestant perspective on Catholics, read the related links on the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministries' site. I would include the link to the site, but for some reason I'm temporarily getting an error message from Yahoo, so just Google it.

Answer 3

Christian is a broad term that refers to anyone who believes in Christ. Catholic is a more specific term that refers to a particular group of Christians with a certain set of beliefs.

There are two general divisions within Christianity - Catholic and Protestant, and there are several hundred divisions within Protestantism (Episcopalian, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc.).

There are some major differences between Catholic and Protestant beliefs, and it's too much to go into on here. There's a general chart here: http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/catholic_protestant.htm

And you should also check out the book What Catholics Really Believe by Karl Keating. It explain the basis of the Catholic faith and traditions.

Answer 4

Catholic means universal;-} Roman Catholic is main group.
We believe what has been taught by the Apostles (Creed).
Catholics elect the Pope, through the Cardinals, as leader.
The next largest group of Christians are the Orthodox.
Their beliefs are largely the same, but their practice differs.
The remaining group are Protestant, from the Reformation.
They reject the authority of the Pope, & various teachings.
They accept only the literal interpretation of scripture.
There are hundreds of such small independent groups.

Answer 5

I assume you mean Protestants and Catholics?
We believe that Christ's work on the cross was all sufficient for the forgiveness of all our sins, we have no need to seek forgiveness from another man standing in for God.
We believe the Church is made up of all believers in Christ, it isn't a monolithic structure handing down laws and ordinances from on high.
We believe all believers are equal before God, there is no one above another. No hierarchy.
We believe that those who are saved, are saved eternally, since God did the saving, we can do nothing to lose that salvation.
We do not believe that there is a place called purgatory, since the work of Christ forgave all our sins.
We do not believe in the mass, which is a bloodless sacrifice of Christ, over and over again.
We do believe the Bible is the sole and final authority on all things spiritual. Tradition and the teaching magistrate of the "church" are not on equal footing.
We believe a Christian is one who is chosen or elected by God, who is born again, indwelt with the Spirit, forgiven and redeemed by His work on the cross and justified by His resurrection.
We do not believe in sacraments, we have two ordinances, baptism and the Lord's supper.

Answer 6

Catholics ARE Christian. The Apostles' Creed tells you what we believe in a nut shell.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

Answer 7

Catholics believe in Jesus. They believe that He is the Son of God. ..and they try to follow His teachings. I think the difference is that some protestants don't believe Catholics are Christians because they also honor Mary...the mother of Jesus...not as a savior..but as Jesus' mother.

Answer 8

All Catholics are Xian but not all Xians are Catholic.

Alright. First, after J*sus, there was Catholicism. That was the Xian church. Xian and Catholic were synonymous with each other. There was no Protestantism until I think the 1500s with Martin Luther (don't quote me on the date) and then there were two kinds of Xian--Catholic and Protestant.

:-)

Answer 9

A Catholic is a Christian. Catholicism is one denomination of Christianity, there are differences in all of them, but they all share the belief that Jesus was Christ.

Answer 10

Christians are to Catholics as Cars are to the Model T. Does that help?
It is the original form of Christianity, and still a part of it.