What is the difference between Christians and Catholics? What
@samantha_nicole (66)
United States
8 responses
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
26 Mar 08
Well to put it simply Christians believe in Jesus Christ. Catholicism is one of the many organized religions based off those beliefs. One can be a christian and not be associated with any organized religion. However if one is a Catholic, Protestant or Baptist for example then they are part of an organized form of religion based on the Christian belief. Organized religion determines how one prays, the rituals one might partake in or how one lives their life is determined by the laws of that religion.
Hope that helps explain it a bit for you.
@luv2cook4u (398)
• United States
26 Mar 08
It is very common for the titles of "Protestant" and "Christian" to be used interchangeably, but it comes down to high school logic. All Protestants are Christians, but not all Christians are Protestants, some are Catholic, Orthodox, or another Christian religion. It is also common for certain Christian groups/denominations to decide to define Christianity in their own terms in which they then label other groups/denominations, including Catholics, as non-Christian. In strict definition, a Christian is one who follows Christ and His teachings. The problem lies with how those teachings are interpreted by the various denominations. Personally, I am not one to tell ANYONE they are not a Christian if they feel they are. The know what is in their heart and what they believe and I believe it is God who will decide who the real Christians are.
1 person likes this
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
26 Mar 08
Catholics are christians and always were i dont know where this crazy idea that they are otherwise came from!they worship Jesus as the sone of God just as do any other christians they are just a more legalistic branch of christianity !
@HawaiiGopher (1009)
• Belgium
27 Mar 08
Actually, isn't the Orthodox branch more centered around the legalistic aspect?
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@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
27 Mar 08
as a non denominationalist myself i find problems with all organised churches!
@HawaiiGopher (1009)
• Belgium
26 Mar 08
Catholicism is a denomination of the Christian religion. The Christian religion also consists of many other denominations. However, the three main Christian denominations are Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodox.
@HawaiiGopher (1009)
• Belgium
26 Mar 08
Actually, I don't know if denomination is the correct term. To put it more simply; Christianity has three main groups (Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox). Catholicism is mainly found in the United States, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Poland, Croatia, Belgium and Ireland. Protestantism is found mainly in the United States, Great Britain, the Scandinavian countries (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, etc..), Holland and Germany. Orthodox is mainly found in Russia, Serbia, Greece and Romania.
I'm sure I missed out countries, I'm just naming countries off the top of my head where I know what the main Christian 'separation' is.
1 person likes this
@lolalolacherrycola (899)
• United States
28 Mar 08
Catholics are Christians. There are different Christian Denominations. Protestant and Catholic. There are also Lutherans and Presbyterians; whom are also protestants, I believe.
However, Catholics are definitely Christians. Not sure how you thought they were not.
@samantha_nicole (66)
• United States
10 Apr 08
Maybe I phrased my discussion poorly. I understand that Catholics are Christians, as are Protestants, Methodists, Baptists,etc. What I want to know is what seperates them? What makes Catholics a branch-off of Christianity and not Christianity itself? There has to be some variation.
@beccarose (121)
• United States
26 Mar 08
So if catholic is like another form of christianity, what is "non-denominational" considdered?
Interesting question.
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
27 Mar 08
a non denominational christian (like myself) does not profess unity with any organised form of christianity however we are still christians since we accept jesus as our saviour
@luv2cook4u (398)
• United States
26 Mar 08
Technically, non-denominational refers to not being associated with any specific religion, Christian or othrwise. However, in my experience, every non-denominational church I have attended has been Christian-based, but not denomination specific (though many do have their own beliefs as to who is a Christian-see my post below for an explanation).
1 person likes this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
29 Apr 08
I see your original question has more or less been answered now, but you've raised other questions in your responses.
Each Christian religious variation has sometimes small & sometimes large difference in various areas of beliefs. Catholics for example hold that Mary & Joseph were virgins throughout their lives, that Mary ascended bodily into heaven and various other ideas that other Christian faiths may not believe. For the most part, only Catholics believe in saints, the rosary or confession.
