Christians vs. Catholics?

Question

What exactly is the difference in these two religions. Please don't say something like, "This one's the right one!".
I'm curious. I've always thought that Christianity was like a sect of Catholicism. But I have a Christian friend who was very offended by that idea.

Thanks!
)O(

Answer 1

you're Christian friend is, to put it lightly, stupid.

Catholicism is a sect of Christianity, the oldest sect and can trace it's roots to Christ.


big difference is the pope. Catholics have one, protestants don't
2nd difference is salvation. Catholics believe in faith and works, protestants believe in faith alone.
3rd is the Eucharist. Catholics believe in Real Presence, which means it's the Body and Blood of Christ. Protestants believe its symbolic.

some other things (no particular order):
catholics believe in intercession of saints(basically a friend in Heaven who will pray with you, like asking a friend to pray for you on earth)

catholics also believe in purgatory (those who die in good graces but with some sin are purified before going to Heaven so that they are sinless entering Heaven)

catholics believe in confession with a Priest, protestants don't

some protestant sects don't baptize babies

oh and fyi-
if you see anything written by Jack Chick, don't read it. it's utter garbage. when i read his stuff, i get a similar feeling to when i read Holocaust-denier websites.
i'm only saying that because of the dimwit who posted the link.

Answer 2

Catholicism is a form of Christianity. (Where have you BEEN?) Catholicism was the dominant form of it for Millenna, so it is more like the parent. But there have been a series of reform movements in which parts of the trappings of Catholicism have been removed. As the more successful assimilation faith, Catholicism has acquired a lot of baggage from other beliefs and some of these reforms (even the ones internal to Catholicism) have been aimed at cutting the flash, as it were. It has allowed the faith to evolve, while purging dissidents from the Catholic faith, this maintaining the control by the High Church in Rome.

Answer 3

I'm going with a simple answer on this.Christians believe in the teachings of Christ and the Apostles.They believe the Bible is correct and true.They take the Bible as the final authority.
The Catholics take the Bible as being able to be changed by their Man-Made traditions.That the Traditions are more important than scripture.That they can add or take away from scripture.That if the Pope speaks "Ex cathedra" it is as good as or even better than scripture.
I left the Catholic Church because of those things.As Martin Luther said "Solas Scripturas" Scriptures Only.Everything else is subject to change and interpretation by man. That was the ruin of first century Judaism. Too many man made commentaries upon commentaries to where they forgot the original intention to which Jesus had to keep pointing them."You've heard it said...but I tell you..." and then He would clear it up.Catholics are for the most part Christian but I believe some of their teaching can hurt some of their eternal rewards.

Answer 4

Christianity takes in Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Trinitarian Protestantism
Catholicism claims to be the oldest and original form of Christianity and so does Orthodoxy
Catholicism is the largest subset of Christianity
Protestantism came out of Catholicism.
Catholics are Christians

Answer 5

Christianity is a (amongst other things) 'global' grouping; Catholicism is a subset of it. While I am not Catholic; (I went thru most of RCIA), I will talk about it logically. Of the 7 (big picture) 'deviations' from God's word.presently in the USA I would put it at 3.5 deviations (the Protestant sect I was raised in was had all 7 deviations).

Answer 6

I am a life long Catholic. That statement alone is enough to offend many born again Christians. Most don't believe you can be born to God. In the view of many, you must find him or in other words be "born again".

I have always been offended that many Christians have told me that Catholisism is not Christianity. What nonsense and even arogance.

The Catholic Church can trace it's begginings through all the Popes, going back to the very first Pope: Peter, deciple of Christ, Jesus.

Pretty hard to be more Christian than that.

Answer 7

Catholics are Christians. Some protestants think the Catholic church is wrong. They seem to forget it was the first church. The differences are between Catholics and Protestants. Probably the biggest difference is how the two groups view communion or the eucharist. The Catholics believe the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ. Protestants believe it is symbolic. There is a lot of I feel foolish anti-Catholic sentiment. I don't see the problem. I don't agree with some of the dogma, but I respect their right to believe the way they do.

Answer 8

There are many religions that use God and Jesus Christ stories for their religion and then argue about all the details and specifics. Some broke off of other religions due to petty arguing over rituals, details, morals, etc.
Aks the Pope and he will tell you Catholic is the one and only religion of God's.
Ask someone else and they will claim superiority too.
There are dozens of Christian religions, some more obvious than another.
To me Christian is more of a beingness, one of tollerance, love and service to fellow kind. Christian means to love one another.
All those who argue points of difference and superiority are not Christian at all but just lost souls.
For a discription of the major Christian religions see links below....

Answer 9

Catholics are Christians, Catholicism is a sect of Christianity.

Answer 10

Well, seeing that Catholics practice the faith of Christianity(Christ-Followers) I don't see how it can be a battle between them? Catholicism is a sub-group of Christianity, now you have other sub-groups that don't agree with some of the Catholics different believes, but they are all Christians.