wats the difference between a cathlic and a christian?

Question

what is the differences as in like beliefs because because my friends "crush" cant go out with her because his parents said that she is cathlic and he is christian..... i didnt even kno they were different.....

Answer 1

There are a lot of differences, we both believe in the same God, we both believe tha Jesus was God in the flesh. But than there is things like they pray to mary so she can pray to God for them. They believe that communion is actually literal, meaning the wine changes into Jesus's blood, and the bread turns into His body, gross. Baptism is done at birth, and it is sprinkling. They have saints they pray to also, idols they have in there church. They believe whatever the pope says in his chair is infalliable, they believe he is the Vicar of Christ. There is more but it is a big difference. As far as not hanging out with them, that is dumb, I have a good friend that is catholic. We always talk about this kind of stuff, it is actually good too because you can witness to the catholic. So I don't agree with the parents.

Answer 2

Hi. You can be both, Christian and Catholic. I grew up a Roman Catholic (and still attend when I go back home) and when I moved away to uni, I tried an Apostolic (closest to Pentecostal Church) because it was within walking distance. On the first day, I got invited back for a meal and over it, they asked what church I usually attend. I told them and I'll never forget the looks that went round that table! At the time, I didn't understand what I'd said wrong. I hate it when people automatically think that Catholics aren't Christians. Some Catholics are born again and there are people in every church who are just church goers - professing Christianity without really being at that point. I am, however, of the opinion that there is more opportunity to miss the point of the message of Jesus in the Catholic Church. I did, I knew about God, but only gained a relationship with Him when I moved away. They place quite a lot of influence on the Virgin Mary and the saints. Also traditional Catholics believe that you should go and confess your sins to a priest rather than going straight to God. My gran (a traditional Catholic) was so shocked that I reading the Bible - that, to her, was the priest's job! Another difference, between my church and Catholicism is the repetitive prayer. Patterned prayers have there place, (I love the "Our Father" and wish we said it in church more often. However when you've said a prayer thousands of times in your life, you can allow you're mind to wander into the realms of counting the spots on your trainers. When you are praying you're own individual prayer then you've got to concentrate and you are fully focussed on that and that alone, which develops a deeper relationship with God. Hope this helps Hels

Answer 3

I've noticed several "Catholics aren't Christians" posts. Odd, then, since the Anglican church and all Protestant denominations - Methodist, Baptist/IFB, Pentecostal, etc. - broke away from the Catholic Church. The only currently-existing denominations that did not originate from Catholicism are the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches.

A Christian is a person who believes in the divinity of Jesus, as the son of God. Catholics, Protestants, and Mormons all believe this, though they all have different ideas on dogma. They are all still Christian by merit of faith in Jesus.

The "True Christian" fallacy is only used by those who want to feel superior to others by denigrating their beliefs.
Those people were once called Pharisees.

Think about that the next time you start telling others what and how they believe.

Answer 4

I'm not Catholic but some strict believers of the faith believe Catholics should only marry Catholics or those willing to follow the Catholic doctrines though conversion. Many followers of Judaism believe the same so its not just exclusive to Catholic teachings. However the church does allow for conversion into the faith. Without it the marriage isn't recognized by the church so you are considered being married outside the church and living in sin.

I never heard of Protestants taking the same stand but their are so many different churches on so many different scales and under leadership that reaches beyond my scope of understanding it wouldn't surprise me.

Ireland was split in two for so many years between the Catholics and Protestants. Up until recently they killed many on both sides. Are his parents from Ireland?

Abide by his parents wishes. He needs to follow their rules till hes older, on his own, and can decide for himself.

I'm my eyes there is no difference but that's obviously not what they believe and you have to respect that.

Answer 5

That that is kind of like saying "what is the difference between Americans and U.S. citizens?" The name Christian predates the Evangelical Church by over a millennium! Whether or not someone agrees with Catholic doctrine is their prerogative. But all who look at history will admit that Catholics are clearly Christian. "No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 12:3)

Answer 6

some catholics are saved and some aren't.....just like some protestants are saved, and some aren't....

what the parents are doing is indicating they do not believe the girl is saved, just because she is catholic.....also if they get serious, the catholic church will require the boy to convert to catholicism before they can get married. the parents do not agree with this.....

there is no way to know where people stand unless they actually talk it out.....

Answer 7

A real Christian will do this: trust God. Catholics and other Christian denominations who have strayed away from the true message trust in their works and put their trust in other things like saints and Mary. If this wasn't true they wouldn't be praying to them. But they trust in saints and Mary. A sort of ancestor worship.

Jesus said that God is One, and he said that you have to trust also in him, so the Catholics and other denominations tend to trust in themselves, Mary, or saints including other idols which are not God. They don't see it that way, tradition being more important than the scriptures, they will blame people like me as being 'literalist' and practicing 'sola scriptura'. Well, if the scriptures tell me that I ought to trust in God throughout the Bible then I think that I am right by doing so, and any one 'Christian' denomination that tells me I should trust in councils and traditions ought to take a place with the doctrines of demons; those I should avoid.

God made me what I am, and Jesus washes me clean - that is found in scripture. All the other people saying something different are not what I should listen to. And that's what I do.

Answer 8

Catholics are Christians because they do believe in Christ. They just dont follow the teachings the same way. In many ways they can be regarded as a denomination of Christianity... but in other ways they predate the modern definition/offshoot of Christianity. They are by all means very distinct.

Don O, above me, is correct in his criticism of Catholicism... but you have to remember that most so-called "Christians" arent even that much. Many people falsely label themselves "Christian" even though they fail to live their life in strict accordance.

Denominations are different because they pick and chose and highlight and emphasize and deemphasize... just like the Catholics have. And there are many hypocrites too

Answer 9

Catholics believe that they are the only church that is saved. So her parents would definitely want him to become a Catholic and would be a little upset if she started going to a non-Catholic church.

Answer 10

Both are Christian. Just different rites of worship and teachings.

Not true about conversion. My brother's wife is Catholic and their wedding was in a Catholic church. He was not forced to convert, only promised to raise his children as Catholics.

25 years later, my brother is still a Methodist.