Just curious,what does it mean to be a Catholic?? What do they believe in'what GOD'??

Question

THIS ISN'T MEANT TO OFFEND ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Catholics are the earliest Christians.
This can be quickly verified through any religious encyclopedia of book on the history of Catholicism.
They believe in the God of the Old Testament.

Answer 2

The beliefs of Catholics are summed up nicely in the proclamation known as the Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Answer 3

How can you question what God I believe in and then put in the disclaimer, " this isn't meant to offend anyone". Well it is quite offensive, because the last time I looked, we worship the same God that every other Christian does. Wow, Roman Catholicism is the largest single Christian religion in the country and you would think we are some weird cult. In 2007, this is laughable.

Answer 4

In the beginning of the Christianity there was really one church. There was a bit of a spat and that left two churches, the one centred on Rome and one in the East. The western church was labelled "Roman Catholic" and the Eastern "Orthodox".

And so it carried on for a few centuries until Martin Luther 'rebelled' and started Protestantism. He said the church was corrupt, the church said it was "original and best".


That's about it really. The Roman Catholic Church still obeys the Pope, other churches don't. Naturally as the years go by all these churches form different ideas on little bits of the faith (transubstantiation, priests marrying, etc) but basically what you have got is different "brands" of Christianity. Protestants say their brand is "New Improved!", Roman Catholics say "Original and Best!"

Schneb, there have been plenty of Catholics burned by Protestants.

Answer 5

To be a Catholic means you belong to the universal (that's what the word Catholic means in Latin) Church started by Christ. Many Christians believe that Catholics worship the Saints, Mary, and the Pope but nothing could be further from the truth. Many Christians believe that we believe in things that are unbiblical such as Purgatory and Limbo. Both of which I know are Biblical concepts.

Catholics are Christians despite a very popular belief that they aren't. The Church has a wonderful history and has preserved the Bible and much of Christianity.

The Catholic Church is perfect but the actions of the people running the Church aren't. Many people refer to the Crusades and the Inquisition in attempt to prove that the Church is evil but these were just attempts by men to eliminate evil. They didn't understand the importance of living side by side with others who don't believe exactly what you believe.

You may find the history of the Church interesting. At least history buffs can appreciate that.

Catholics also celebrate the body and blood of Christ but contrary to most Christian denominations they believe in the real presence.

Catholics baptize their babies within a few days or weeks of being born because like many Christians they believe that all who are not baptized cannot go to heaven. People who appose this idea say that the babies are not old enough to choose for themselves but later on Catholics have a ceremony called Confirmation where the person later chooses for themselves.

Catholics DO NOT believe Mary is co regent with God or Jesus!!

The Bible itself says it's not the soul word of God. That is why Catholics believe in tradition.

There is no proof Jesus had siblings. If you point out that verse where they identify Jesus as the brother of so-and-so, you need to remember that in Hebrew the same word for cousin is the same word for brother. Joseph could have had a child from a previous marriage as well.

Many Christians don't believe in repetitive prayer but if you're fixing to die within a matter of seconds having a prayer on hand that you don't have to make up yourself is handy.

Catholics also believe that everyone is a saint. But there are only a few people who are officially declared saints. There is an interesting history on this if you wish to look it up.

Catholics do not believe that only priests can understand the Bible. I can understand the Bible so can you.

anthonypaullloyd is right Queen Elizabeth burned more Catholics than Queen Mary killed Protestants but Queen Mary is remembered as Bloody Mary.

The Pope did not do away with Hell Purgatory or Heaven or even Limbo. They still exist.

You may want to look certain things up in the Cathechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) If you have any specific questions I'll gladly explain things with scripture for you. (I'm too lazy to look everything up right now but if you narrow it down I'll do it)

To CJ, prove to me that it's a pagan religion based on Babylonian Gods!!!

Answer 6

We believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The faith is best defined by the Nicene Creed:
"We believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, of all things both visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all time; light from light, true God from true God; begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For the sake of us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was made flesh by the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life; he proceeds from the Father and the Son, is adored and honored together with the Father and the Son; he spoke through the prophets. We believe in one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church. We profess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We expect the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."

Answer 7

I'll assume your question is sincere, and answer it.

Catholics are Christians. They believe, doctrinally speaking, that Jesus was the Mesiah promised to the Jewish people in the Old Testament. Of all Jesus' accomplishments, Catholics venerate him for Raising from the Dead; a death he suffered for the forgiveness of original sin, and all subsequent sins. Catholics believe Jesus to be the son of God.

The Nicean Crede lays out Catholic's beliefs:

"We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
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,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with 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 believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen."

Like other Christians faiths, Catholics adopt & practice a number of sacraments. Baptism, Reconciliation, Communion, Confirmation, Mairage/Holy Orders, Final Rights. -- If you have any questions about what they are, let me know.

Many people, literally due to ignorance of the faith, misunderstand Catholicism. The easiest example is Catholics vernoration of Mary & the Saints. -- Catholics do not pray to Mary or the Saints, but do seek to emmulate the examples these good people demonstrated over the course of their lives. Catholics may ask Mary or the Saints to pray to God on their behalf; which is, literally, the same thing as asking a living friend to pray for you. (That's usually where people ignorantly construe that Catholics are praying "to" Mary, or a Saint)

Very basically, Mary, to Catholics, is an example of a person who adhered to God's will... and choose to do as He asked her rather than as she wanted. -- Which is why she's worth emulating.

The Saints are people who followed the teachings of Christ, and lived as Jesus had intrstructed. -- Which is why they're worth emulating.

As you may know, Islam accepts The Prophet Muhammed(peace be upon him) as God's Prophet. They also accept Jesus as a prophet of God, but not as The Mesiah. Along with the many prophets of the Old Testament.

Catholics (and other Christians), Muslims, and the Jewish people all worship One God; and the same God, at that. Not that it's made obvious, given the centuries of warfare amongst themselves... each claiming to fight in the name of the same, One, God. But, effectively, they're all brothers under the auspices of the same God.

Answer 8

Catholics are considered a sect of Christianity. However, their roots are full of error. Why else did they burn other Christians for just wanting to interpret the Latin Bible into English and German? For example, William Tyndale was tried on a charge of heresy in 1536 and condemned to the stake for translating the New Testament into the common man's English. Tyndale was burned alive on 6 October 1536.
Here is what I have found from my own studies on the matter (having been raised Catholic).

Catholics adhere to the Pope as the vicar of Christ.
Christians believe that the Bible is the final authority.
2 Timothy 3:16

Catholic tradition is of equal authority with the Bible.
Christians believe traditions of man cause error.
Matthew 15:3

Catholics adhere to Mary as a co-regent of Jesus.
Christians believe that Mary was blessed, but only human.
Luke 11:27-28

Catholics believe that priests or Mary are mediators.
Christians believe there that only Jesus is Mediator.
1 Timothy 2:5

Transubstantiation recrucifies Christ at the communion.
Christians believe Christ died just once.
Hebrews 6:6

Catholics believe Mary was a perpetual virgin.
Christians believe the Bible that He had siblings.
Mark 6:3

Catholics call their priests "father".
Christians call their teachers "pastor" or "minister" (meaning shepherd or servant).
Matthew 23:9

Catholics pray repetitive words with Rosary Beads.
Christians pray the same as they speak.
Matthew 6:7

Pope canonizes those to be called "saints".
Christians believe all who believe are saints.
Philippians 1:1

Pope decides who is "priest" in church leadership.
Christians believe all who believe are a priesthood.
1 Peter 2:5

Celibacy is enforced on priests and bishops.
Christians believe they should be married.
1 Timothy 3:2-5

Catholics believe Peter was the first Pope and not married.
Christians stand by the Bible that he was married.
Mark 1:30

Catholics bow down and burn candles to graven images.
Christians do not bow to images.
1 John 5:21

Catholics believe only the priests can understand the Bible.
Christians believe they can study and understand the Bible.
Ephesians 3:4

Catholics believe Mary was without sin.
Christians believe only Jesus was without sin.
Romans 5:12

Justification pronounced as anathema by Council of Trent.
Christians believe we are justified by faith.
Romans 3:28

Catholics hold to Peter as foundation "rock" of the church.
Christians hold to only Christ as foundation Rock.
1 Corinthians 3:11, 1 Corinthians 10:4

Catholics worship Mary as the Mother of God.
Christians only worship the Godhead.
Revelation 19:10

Answer 9

Step one: Type 'wikipedia.com' into your browser
Step two: Type 'Catholicism' into the little wikipedia window
Step three: Read the results
Step four: mysteriously become enlightened without having to post a question on yahoo answers!

Answer 10

GoD's are myth characters invented by man in bronze age due to lack of science knowledge to explain the complex things around us.

easy answer was - goD made it with his magic power.