Difference between Christian and Catholic

[Scarletprayers]

Hi Everyone....

I am wondering what is really the difference between Christian and Catholic religion? I know Christianity is what many other religions stem from, but what are the little differences?

Do Christians take the Bible literally and Catholics don't? I just really don't get it. I want to go to my town's Catholic church for mass and I want to be informed.

Thanks!!!

The Catholics have their own bible and they advocate prayer to Mary and the saints and dead Popes who are men and women made Deity by other men and not God.

True Christians preach intimate relationship with Christ and prayer only to Him.

The Catholic Clergy believe they are the only humans on earth who are appointed by God to properly interpret scripture and no one else on earth can do so.

But Christianity believes the the Holy Spirit will lead us to all truth.

Just to name a few but there are many more differences that are eternally significant.

And THIS is what will get this thread closed.

[OneLight]

OK ... maybe I should clarify my previous post. Calling Catholics a false religion is bad. Pointing out the difference between their denomination and your own is cool. The warning is due to the many heated threads, hurt feelings and name calling in threads on this topic from the past. If we keep the discussion to facts and do not pretend to know if they are saved or not (your personal opinion), there should be no problems!

In Him,

Alan

[stacey c]

This is one topic that really bothers me. I have seen and heard too many of my "christian" brothers and sisters state that so and so can't be a christian because they don't think like me. I worked in a "christian" preschool for many years where the director tried to convert everyone to her way of thinking because she thought all other religions were wrong. What was so bad is that we went to the same church. I have a very good friend who had just had some joyous news and she gave God the glory by saying "Hallelujah". The director heard her say this and told this friend "yuo can't say that your catholic, not a christian." Being christian is not a title but a state of heart. As in every religion you have your pew warmers. Please dont put everyone in a lump sum. Each of us will be judged individually, not according to our church affiliation.

[nanasimmons]

I believe that one's doctrine is 'the' gospel and one is 'another' gospel....

One says that salvation is based on the docrine of justification by faith in Christ alone....

The other says anyone who says that we are justified by faith in Christ alone is 'anathema'.........

The following is the stand of the Roman Catholic Church on Justification By Faith Alone.

Canon IX. If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining of the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema. (Roman Catholic Council of Trent).....

Some further explainations of the doctrine of jusification can be found here:http://www.worthyboards.com/index.php?show...p;#entry1149899

I'm sure others here can lead you to others........

The notable theologian Charles C. Ryrie had this to say;

[hr.jr.]

Yes...Roman Catholicism is simply a branch of Christianity.

There is no need to separate the two.

Additionally, not all Christians take the Bible literally. Pretty much only Conservative Fundamentalists take the Bible literally.

When you analyze the Catholc faith, you must take their written doctrine as the means you use to make your determination about whether they are or are not Christians. During the 16th Century at Trenat and Rome, the Roman Catholic Church condemned Sola Fide. This condemnation has never been altered or condemned. At the Council of Trent it was written "If anyone says that the faith which justifies is nothing else but trust in the divine mercy which pardons sins because of Christ, or tht is trust alone by which we are justified, let him be anathema."

Sola Fide is the Crux of the protestant gospel. The councel of Trent in essence labeled the entire protestant world anathema.

If the Catholic church does not accept Soal Fide, they do not even teach the gospel. If a church does not teach the gospel, what are they?

Based on the Council of Trent's rejection of Sola fide, you must look hard at whether you apply the term "christian" to the Catholic faith.

[sweetycakes]

I was brought up in a Catholic school and church.

I don't now subscribe to their doctrines, knowing what I know. But I admit that most catholics that I know are sincere in their beliefs. But I honestly believe that they are misled.

Counting down to when this thread is closed......10.......9......8......7......6.....5.....

[hr.jr.]

OK ... maybe I should clarify my previous post. Calling Catholics a false religion is bad. Pointing out the difference between their denomination and your own is cool. The warning is due to the many heated threads, hurt feelings and name calling in threads on this topic from the past. If we keep the discussion to facts and do not pretend to know if they are saved or not (your personal opinion), there should be no problems!

In Him,

Alan

The Catholic Church officicially rejects Sola Fide. What would you call them? The gospel is plain. Works based salvation is false doctrine. Works based salvation provides no salvation. If you reject Sola Fide, your reject the Gospel as taught by Christ. These are not denominational differences. The Catholic church says that if you hold to Sola Fide, you are accursed. The protestant Church holds that salvation is based on Sola fide.

You can not have it both ways. If You hold Sola Fide to be the gospel, you must hold The Catholic Church to teach false gospel. You can not have it both ways!

[Reuben Hick]

OK ... maybe I should clarify my previous post. Calling Catholics a false religion is bad. Pointing out the difference between their denomination and your own is cool. The warning is due to the many heated threads, hurt feelings and name calling in threads on this topic from the past. If we keep the discussion to facts and do not pretend to know if they are saved or not (your personal opinion), there should be no problems!

In Him,

Alan

The Catholic Church officicially rejects Sola Fide. What would you call them? The gospel is plain. Works based salvation is false doctrine. Works based salvation provides no salvation. If you reject Sola Fide, your reject the Gospel as taught by Christ. These are not denominational differences. The Catholic church says that if you hold to Sola Fide, you are accursed. The protestant Church holds that salvation is based on Sola fide.

You can not have it both ways. If You hold Sola Fide to be the gospel, you must hold The Catholic Church to teach false gospel. You can not have it both ways!

Yeah, whatever.

If you carefully read the boards here and elsewhere, everyone is Arminian when its their own salvation at stake, and these same people instantly transform into Calvinists when its the other guy's salvation in question.

Soteriology of convenience. Doctrine only divides.

[hr.jr.]

OK ... maybe I should clarify my previous post. Calling Catholics a false religion is bad. Pointing out the difference between their denomination and your own is cool. The warning is due to the many heated threads, hurt feelings and name calling in threads on this topic from the past. If we keep the discussion to facts and do not pretend to know if they are saved or not (your personal opinion), there should be no problems!

In Him,

Alan

The Catholic Church officicially rejects Sola Fide. What would you call them? The gospel is plain. Works based salvation is false doctrine. Works based salvation provides no salvation. If you reject Sola Fide, your reject the Gospel as taught by Christ. These are not denominational differences. The Catholic church says that if you hold to Sola Fide, you are accursed. The protestant Church holds that salvation is based on Sola fide.

You can not have it both ways. If You hold Sola Fide to be the gospel, you must hold The Catholic Church to teach false gospel. You can not have it both ways!

Yeah, whatever.

If you carefully read the boards here and elsewhere, everyone is Arminian when its their own salvation at stake, and these same people instantly transform into Calvinists when its the other guy's salvation in question.

Soteriology of convenience. Doctrine only divides.

That was a most informative post. What does it have to do with with addressing the Council of Trent's rejection of Sola Fide? Doctrine only divides? When the "doctrine" being discussed defines salvation, it is worth division.

[mrs]

Hi Everyone....

I am wondering what is really the difference between Christian and Catholic religion? I know Chiristianity is what many other religions stem from, but what are the little differences?

Do Chirstians take the Bible literally and Catholics don't? I just really don't get it. I want to go to my town's Catholic church for mass and I want to be informed.

Thanks!!!

Mamato, nana has basically nailed the different between christianity and catholicism right on. There are many areas in which catholicism proves itself to be unBiblical but the most glaring and most dangerous is their view of justification.

Basically, a Christian will tell you that Scripturally they were saved by grace alone, thru faith alone,, by Christ alone.

Catholic doctrine teaches that we must add good works and/or our own effort to Jesus' sacrifice. Essentially they believe that sanctification is part of justification instead of being the fruit of it.

I believe that one's doctrine is 'the' gospel and one is 'another' gospel....

One says that salvation is based on the docrine of justification by faith in Christ alone....

The other says anyone who says that we are justified by faith in Christ alone is 'anathema'.........

The following is the stand of the Roman Catholic Church on Justification By Faith Alone.

Canon IX. If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining of the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema. (Roman Catholic Council of Trent).....

Some further explainations of the doctrine of jusification can be found here:http://www.worthyboards.com/index.php?show...p;#entry1149899

I'm sure others here can lead you to others........

The notable theologian Charles C. Ryrie had this to say;