Why don’t Catholics normally refer to themselves as Christians?

Question

I grew up Catholic and primarily heard the term “Christians” when referring to other faiths, such as Baptists, just as an example. I know that Catholics are Christians, but you don’t here them refer to themselves as such often in public. Why? Or did I just grow around a different kind of Catholics?

Answer 1

I was baptized and grew up with the Catholic faith. I personally think it's pseudo cultist. The primary difference is that in other Christian faiths, one must accept Jesus and only through him will you attain salvation. Being a Catholic is slightly different in that Jesus is there but now you have a plethora of entities to pray to as well for guidance or salvation. (Mother Mary, Various Saints...etc) Not to mention Catholic church masses are depressing and just seemed obligatory. I didn't feel the holy ghost at all when I used to attend. Catholics also borrowed much of their ideology from Paganism in it's early years which also explains why other Christians may separate themselves from Catholics.

Answer 2

I think it just depends. In reality, the terms are synonous on the one hand, but obviously, Catholic is more specific. I would guess that if you hung around say Baptists long enough, you would at times hear them refer to themselves as Baptists at times. It has been my experience over 50+ years that both terms are used througout the Church. Now, it is also my experience that many Protestants or so-called non-denominational groups will almost exclusively use Catholic to describe Catholics.

Answer 3

Catholics are a very self-assured bunch. They don't find it necessary to consistantly and constantly remind people of how religious they are and how wonderful they are because of their religion.

Other faiths think it is their right and duty to honk about being christian as much as possible. This is suppose to remind others of their supposed superiority over everyone else.

Catholics have the good sense to realize that religion and faith are personal matters and not open to public review.

Plus, Catholicism has been around much, much longer that the fringe Protestants....so, they have nothing to prove.

Catholics also don't really care what anyone thinks of their faith, don't think it's their job to convert everyone they meet, don't think that there is a special place in heaven just for them.

Mind you, the Catholic religion is not perfect by any means....but, at least they have their act together and don't bore everyone within hearing by constantly yakking about it.

Answer 4

There was indeed a time when Catholics did not use the term Christian regarding themselves and this was because it was hijacked by Protestants since the reformation and deliberately used to put Catholics down by repeatedly announcing that they were not Christian but damned etc, this had great implications on the confidence of Catholics at one time,but this no longer applies as Catholics now realize that they are indeed Christians and belong to the true church.

Answer 5

it may not be that you grow up around a different kind of Catholic:) maybe it's just that when people say christians the first thing that would come to mind are, just like you said, Baptists, Mormons etc. so maybe to make it easy to let their faiths be known they just refer to themselves as Catholics so then they won't have to explain that they are Christians but they are Catholics and not Baptists, maybe it's just to make a long story short. but I know that they also refer to themselves as Christians. and hey what does it matter... the imporatant thing is that we believe in the same God:)

Answer 6

Because it's implicit in the name; the Catholic Church is Christian. But we do identify ourselves as Christians depending upon the circumstances, when that additional clarity is necessary.

Edited to add: Many Baptists, as well as other denominations, also make a distinction in order to "differentiate themselves from other denominations of Christianity". In the Southern Baptist congregation I used to belong to, "I'm a Baptist" was said much more often -- and with quite a lot of pride -- than "I'm Christian". So go figure.

Answer 7

Look up the word catholic. It means universal. After the Reformation, the Catholic church is looked upon by many other Christians churches as bad. Even to the point of racism, xenophobia, and slander. Not a very Christian attitude.

I was raised Catholic. They just teach you to say Catholic and it sticks I believe.

Answer 8

A flip side of the question is "Why don't other Christians call themselves Catholics?" The words Christian and Catholic, used properly can be used interchangeably. Look at the original version of the Apostle's Creed. It refers to the Holy Catholic Church. Perhaps Roman Catholics never found it necessary to convert to the word Christian.

Answer 9

The idea is for identification not for recognition of creed. If someone says they are Christian I am sorry to say they are immediately saw as someone not connected to the Catholic Faith so when asked we say Catholic to clear it up right away as most people should know that Catholics ARE Christians

Answer 10

catholics refer to themselves as ... christians by nature so they do not even mention it ... when you sign you put naturally your name and then your surname ... you do not put the type of animal you are (human) then the sex (f or m) and then your names ... same for catholics ... christians call themselves christians because they are from the reformed church ... that has to make its case ... as christians ... then they also have some branches ... pentcotist, baptiste, evangeliste ... and sometimes do not mention any more that they are christians ... but simply say they are baptiste !!

in any case they are christians (i am !) despite sometimes an exageration of the importance of Mary !!! it is not a Mary church but a christian church