Why do people think catholics aren't christians?

Question

i dont know why anytime i say im a catholic people reply............oh you are not a christian?

Answer 1

I think we should just drop this Catholic vs. Protestant thing. It's got to be a work of satan.....such division!

Answer 2

There is a certain amount of historical conflict between catholics and protestants. It is important to understand that the U.S. was settled first by protestants. These people were by definition not a part of the Catholic Tradition. The pope viewed these people as ex communicated. Since Catholics believe it is necessary to follow the teaching of the Catholic Church to get into heaven, then according to the Pope all these people are heretics and are going to hell. Recently the current pope said similar things. In the U.S. where the pope is not viewed as God's ultimate authority on Earth, people who claim that the pope is not necessary distinguish between Catholics and Christians people who do not follow the pope.

I personally find this sort of thinking to be suspect on both sides, because belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior makes one a Christian. But since you asked :)

Answer 3

Most non-Catholic Christian denominations accept Catholics as Christians. A very few do not.

The World Council of Churches which brings together more than 340 churches, denominations and church fellowships in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world, representing some 550 million Christians accepts the 1.1 billion Catholics as Christians. http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/faq-e.html#07

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 4

Catholicism is a religion, Christianity is a people who follow Christ and his Word. Religion will not get you saved only a relationship with Christ will.
He is the Way, Truth and the Life.

see John 14:6, Acts 4:12

Answer 5

First let me tell you that I am Protestant. I personally don't think Catholics are not Christians. Only God knows what's in our hearts and it's for Him to decide. There are plenty of self-professed Protestants who don't act like Christians and the same with Catholics - it's all about how we live our lives.

I have thought a lot on your particular question myself, and the conclusion that I made (again, coming from a Protestant viewpoint) is that there appears to be a lot of emphasis placed on Mary and saints, which appears that higher reverence is placed on them rather than God and Jesus. Also the works for forgiveness...as a Protestant Christian, I have always been taught that there is nothing we as humans can do on our own to earn God's grace. We already have it, but we have to accept it. Again, I don't know much about Catholicism...this is just my perception. I think all Christians get a bad rap as we hear a lot about the Crusades where there was a lot of murdering and pillaging in the attempt to force people to convert to Christianity/Catholicism. However, I think most Christians (this includes Catholics) understand these days that no one can force someone to come to Christ. To be sincere, it must be done on each person's own free will. We are obviously facing this again with Muslim fanatics, but that's another story.

I hope I haven't made anyone angry - this is just my own personal opinion, and I have the highest respect for your question. God bless!

Answer 6

ignorance, plain and simple.

i have read the posts above mine and could only shake my head. Catholics are baptized and given unto Christ. we teach & are taught that, once you accept Christ it is our duty to uphold all He has shown us through Scriptures as to HOW we are to live. people that go around saying only "you have to come to Jesus" while that's fine and dandy and truly needed -- what next?! don't you want to truly be a child of Christ as do all that scriptures tell us we are to do? in our masses we read from the bible - readings & Gospels and are taught how to live as Christ told us & showed us. we are reminded that we are sinners and have to confess with our mouths and strive everyday to be a true Child of Christ.

I AM a Christian who learns and practices my faith through the Roman Catholic Church.

YSIC

Answer 7

There are HUGE differences in protestant and catholic beliefs. I didn't hear about what catholics believe when i was growing up bec/ I usually lived in small towns that were mostly protestant and because my family never studied or discussed these differences. Now that I'm older and I have begun to study different beliefs and compared them with what God said in scripture, I have to (in good conscience) expose false doctrine. I feel that since I do know what the Bible teaches, I will be held accountable if I don't say something. I honestly believe that the RCC is full of deception and lies created by satan, and that catholic people are lost and have completely hardened their heart to the truth of the Bible.

Answer 8

Catholics live by works and tradition. Christianity is based on a relationship with Christ. The bible says "1.you shall have no statues.2. the only way to the Father, (God) not the priest, is through Jesus Christ and not Mary ( who cannot hear prayers). 3.You shall call no man father, referring spiritually, except the Father in heaven." Look them up in the bible

Answer 9

because catholics are not very popular, catholic church has always been side by side with fascist governments, catholic church has had a craving for power, political and social power and for money as well...and today they are paying the wrongs of the past...christians dont want to be mixed with them and they reject catholics saying they are no christians (same as saying "they are not what we are")

Answer 10

Other Christians, ie protestants, believe that the Roman Catholics have corrupted the word of God and are therefor not true Christians.

Catholics believe in Christ and are therefor Christian. End of
Don't listen to bigots.

PS. Not all protestants believe this. We should focus on the similarities not the differences.

Answer 11

I agree with Ester, we may have differences in doctrine but the "correct" doctrine isn't what gets us saved, it's the sole belief in Christ as our Lord and Saviour.