Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 14 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 22 years, 10 months ago by
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I’ve always wondered about the different Christian religions and who’s right about what. I’d really like to know, though, if most Catholics are really Christians. I know they believe in God, buy have they accepted Him into their lives?
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Name : Jillian H., Gender : F, Religion : Christian, City : Lansing, State : MI, Country : United States, Social class : Lower class,Yes, Catholics are considered Christians. It is believed that the Catholic Church was started by the apostle Peter.
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Name : Mark, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Age : 37, City : Mountain Home, State : AR, Country : United States, Occupation : Manufacturing/technician, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Lower middle class,Catholics are not christians, and peter did not start the Catholic church, the Romans started it as a universal church,(catholic means universal) The book of revelations tells all about the catholic church and her abonimations,and the false teachings and the ultimate destruction of her.Please read your bible and you will see exactly how false the catholic doctrine is.
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Name : Curtis Morrison, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Christian, Age : 39, City : Assumption, State : IL, Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower class,This is such a touchy subject, but I believe that it is different for every person. If a Catholic asks Christ into their life and gives their life to Jesus, then I do believe that they are Christians. I know many Catholics who haven’t made that personal decision, so in that case I don’t think they are religious. In the same respect there are people who claim to be Christians just because they go to church, but that doesn’t make a person a Christian either!
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Name : karen T, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 21, City : escondido, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 4 Years of College,The Catholic Church sees itself as the one true church founded by Jesus Christ, and all other Christians are either directly or indirectly split off from it. It would also be historically accurate to say that Roman (Western) Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy spring from a common root, and each regards the other as schismatic. Catholics regard that root to be Catholicism, and Orthodox regard that root to be Orthodoxy. As far as a genuine Christian committment is concerned (‘accepting Jesus as one’s personal Saviour’), much that is explicit in fundamentalist (Protestant) Christianity is more implicit in Catholicism. A Catholic’s ‘personal relationship with Jesus’ is carried out through the seven sacraments, indeed, traditional Catholics believe that the Eucharist (Communion) is truly the Body and Blood of Christ, not just a symbol, and yes, they do kneel and worship It as well as eat It and pray to It. (How much more ‘personal’ can you get?) There has always been the danger that the Christian committment gets lost in the ritual observance, but serious reflection and prayer show why this can never be the case. The core of Catholic belief in the Eucharist can be found in a literal interpretation of the sixth chapter of John.
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Name : Augustine23535, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 39, City : Columbia, State : SC, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,There is a clear misconception as to the discussion of Catholics being Christians or not. Although there are many parallels with that religion and other denomenations that are called Christians, the Catholic religion is far from the scripture written in the Bible. No where in the bible does it refer to Mary being and exhalted being or any saints for that matter. No where does the Bible mention a reverential being on Earth called the POPE. The use of priests, cardinals, nuns, etc.. are not scriptural. Christians are to put no man before God. The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10 ‘If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that God raised Jesus from the dead, thou shall be saved’. It further states that Jesus died and ascended into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of God the father making intercession for the saints (believers-Saved ones). Petitions for forgiveness are to be made in the name above all names ‘Jesus’. There is no scriptural basis for confessionals and man forgiving others for their sins. Ultimately, there is too many holes in the Catholic Religion to call them Christians. This includes the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons. The Bible (The Word of God) is VERY Clear. ‘The word of God becomes of no effect because of the traditions (religion) of men’
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Name : Paramoure, City : Brandon, State : FL, Country : United States,There’s no way around it: If it weren’t for the Catholic Church, there would be no Bible for Protestant Christians to interpret for themselves. Catholics not only accept God into our lives, we accept the totality of his message in a way no other group of Christians do.
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Name : John, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, City : Detroit, State : MI, Country : United States,The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ on Pentacost in the year 33 A.D. It is not a Christian denomination as all the denominations split from the Catholic Church or from one of the denominations that split from Her. She is the Original Christian Church founded by Christ on Peter, her first Pope.
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Name : Isabelle, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 41, City : Huntsville,, State : AL, Country : United States, Occupation : Homemaker, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,A Christian is anyone who recognizes Jesus Christ as God, so of course Catholics are Christians. In fact, many consider them the ‘first Christians.’ The question of ‘accepting Christ into one’s life’ is personal and entirely subjective. How could you even venture to judge something like that? What troubles me are Protestants who wear their Christianity like a badge of honor, even to the point of judging others for not being as ‘Christian’ as they are or for worshiping the ‘wrong’ God. Religion will always be something personal between an individual and their ‘God,’ whatever they call him/her.
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Name : Sharon-G, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Catholic, Age : 31, City : San Antonio, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Professional, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,In fact, you could say Catholics are the ‘original’ Christians. When the Christian Church was formed, it had no denomination, it was just ‘the Church.’ While there were several branches of Catholicism (Eastern Orthodox, Russian Orthodox), it wasn’t until the Reformation in Europe that the Protestant denominations were formed, in protest (hence the name Protestant) of perceived corruption in ‘the Church.’ Thus, in the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe, we see the formation of what would become Lutherans, Episcopalians, Baptists, Congregationalists, etc. So yes, Catholics are Christians.
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Name : Terry24706, Gender : F, Age : 36, City : Richmond, State : VA, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College,I realize that Jillian asked that question in all sincerity, but I have heard people ask that question in ‘real life’ with a condemning tone in their voices, and it disturbs and bewilders me. I don’t know why some other Christian sects would question whether Catholics are Christian. If a person believes Jesus is the Son of God and died to pay for the sins of people, which is central to Catholic doctrine, then what on earth would undermine the status of the Catholic Church as a Christian church? As another poster noted, there are some usually evangelical Christians who try to rank who is ‘more’ Christian within Christianity. That seems to be beside the point. Recently I heard a noted modern theologian say that Christians need to worry more about themselves and whether they are truly being ‘Christian’ before they get all worked up over others. It would seem to me that perhaps people who are Christian but not Catholic need to worry more about whether they are living their lives for God rather than worrying about one-upping others in the name of ‘who’s really a Christian.’
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Name : Jennifer31049, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Methodist, Age : 27, City : Memphis, State : TN, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College,I can understand your question. I am Catholic, yet work for a charismatic organization. Part of the problem is that when people began to go away from the Catholic Church, they told lies to draw people into their church (a long, long time ago) and some of those myths are believed today. I once had someone tell me that Christians do things differently than Catholics. That is the first time I ever found out people didn’t consider us Christians. I am a Christian. God lives in my heart and Jesus Christ is my savior. If you are interested more in Catholics, I would talk to someone. I bet you will find a lot of the stuff you heard is not true.
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Name : Evonne, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 26, City : Tulsa, State : OK, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College,A good question, and, unfortunately, one that causes division rather than unity. The word Christian means ‘one who follows the teachings of Christ.’ Jesus gave no instructions to form denominations or to fight about who was ‘better’. If someone has accepted Christ as the Lord of their lives and submitted themselves to be obedient to him (following his teachings as HE gave them — not as others may interpret and massage them) then that person is a Christian. The problem with the Church (in general) is that it has become what man has made of it. Man has introduced many traditions and practices that have no precedence in the Bible. If you want to know what a church is supposed to be, and what a Christian is supposed to be, look through the book of Acts and scrutinize the first church and the first Christians.
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Name : Rich, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 30, City : Raleigh, State : NC, Country : United States, Occupation : Technical, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,Jillian: I can understand the confusion about the issue of true Christianity within the Catholic faith; especially when taking note of the difference in beliefs of those who have answered your question. The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:10 made clear to Christians in his day: ‘Now I exhort you brothers; through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.’ You might ask yourself if this is true of this particular religion? (I will speak in general terms throughout my answer so as not to discriminate against anyone’s religion, as these are questions to ponder about any form of ‘Christian’ religion.) Are the members of this religion in agreement about their faith worldwide, or would it be likely to differ depending on what church I went to; or even, do the members within the same church agree concerning their faith? It’s a good idea to go to the Bible to answer your question since the Bible itself defines what Christians should be. Another indication that Jesus himself gave to identify who would be his disciples is found in John 13:35: ‘By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.’ At first glance this may seem simple to answer, but think about it. Do members of this faith all worship together with no racial, national, or ethnic barriers; or is there a Caucasian church or an African-American church of the same faith? It’s also important to consider the beliefs of a faith professing to be Christian – are they based on the Bible or on the viewpoint that is generally accepted in modern times? Jesus himself rebuked the religious leaders of his time saying in Matthew 15:7-9: ‘You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you, when he said, ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’ This is a powerful statement that Jesus made, especially when reflecting on the many different ‘expressions’ of Christianity today, yet Jesus makes clear that worship is ‘in vain’ if based on the commands of men. There is so much in the Bible to teach us about Christianity, but I hope that the aforementioned scriptures can help you to come to a reasonable conclusion to your question.
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Name : Holly, Gender : F, Age : 28, City : Annapolis, State : MD, Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College,Yes, Catholics are Christian. We accept Jesus at Baptism, First Holy Communion, Conformation, and through the other four Sacraments. We receive the Lord Jesus every time we receive the Eucharist(John6:22-71). You didn’t ask, but we are a Bible based religion also. At Mass we read four Scriptures and then are given a homily from our Priests in reference to the readings. If you go to Mass every day for three years you will have read the entire Bible. I don’t believe other religions can say the same. Without the Catholic Church, the Bible as we know it would not even exist! The bible you study, no matter what version, has it’s roots in Catholicism. Are we saved? We were never lost!
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Name : Delana Arnaud, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 27, City : Eunice, State : LA, Country : United States, Occupation : homemaker, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,
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