Catholics are not Christians?

[BigToque]

In this thread here

Flyermax2k3 stated that Catholics were not Christians. Nobody really seemed to refute that statement and I'm a little curious to know why. It was my understanding that Jesus Christ started the first Catholic Church and appointed Peter as the first pope. This would seem to say that not only were Catholics Christian, but also that they were the very first Chrisitans. Am I mistaken?

 

[Legendary]

That's because people know better than to acknowledge flamebait like that.
Or so I thought.

 

[Stojakapimp]

Catholics are Christians, of course, but they are not the very first Christians.

That would belong to the Orthodox.

Catholics and Orthodox split off in 1054 I believe

 

[CanOWorms]

I think they are. I think of people that say they aren't are viewing it just in their limited definition, not in a global or society's definition.

 

[anxi80]

catholics pray to the virgin mary, christians do not (i believe). they are other similarities like this to distinguish the two, but thats the quickest one i could come up with off the top of my head.

 

[Balt]

Catholics believe themselves to be Christians. Every other denomination... they are not so sure of.

 

[Stojakapimp]

I have never heard of this theory that Catholics are not Christians. They are the most populated sect in Christianity today.

I hope this is all just a big joke.

And not only Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary.

 

[TheBoyBlunder]

Here's my opinion.

 

[BatmanNate]

FlyerMax2k3 is a bumbling idiot. Catholics are christians. Protestants are christians too, but they don't pray to the Virgin Mary.

 

[Nebor]

Why does it matter? You don't want them sitting at your lunch table?

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: Stojakapimp
I have never heard of this theory that Catholics are not Christians. They are the most populated sect in Christianity today.

I hope this is all just a big joke.

And not only Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary.

not be an ass, but where in my post does it say ONLY Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary? in fact, there may be Christians who do pray to her. but all the Catholics i know (have a few friends, ex-g/f, all devout Christians who told me when i asked them the difference between Catholicism and Christianity, said they didnt pray to Mary)

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
FlyerMax2k3 is a bumbling idiot. Catholics are christians. Protestants are christians too, but they don't pray to the Virgin Mary.

 

[Stojakapimp]

Originally posted by: anxi80

Originally posted by: Stojakapimp
I have never heard of this theory that Catholics are not Christians. They are the most populated sect in Christianity today.

I hope this is all just a big joke.

And not only Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary.

not be an ass, but where in my post does it say ONLY Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary? in fact, there may be Christians who do pray to her. but all the Catholics i know (have a few friends, ex-g/f, all devout Christians who told me when i asked them the difference between Catholicism and Christianity, said they didnt pray to Mary)

catholics pray to the virgin mary, christians do not (i believe).

Maybe I just took that the wrong way. I either interpreted it as a question, as a statement that Catholics only pray to the Virgin Mary, or that Catholics are not Christians.

But regardless, there is no difference between Catholicism and Christianity.

I'm interested to hear the descriptions that people give for Christianity who believe that Catholics aren't Christians

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: Stojakapimp
I'm interested to hear the descriptions that people give for Christianity who believe that Catholics aren't Christians

its cool. im kind of interested also. its been awhile since ive delved into the world of religion (going to church and stuff), so id like a refresher course on this also. i always used to think they were damn near identical when i was younger, and if more details were supplied, id be gracious.

 

[Dragnov]

It all depends on what you define as "christian". If you simply mean someone who believes in Christ, than yeah they are Christian.

But when I think of "Christian" nowadays I think of a Protestant (though I don't hear anyone calling themselves that.) They do not pray to saints or the virgin mary, do not recieve communion (and baptism I believe). Etc etc.

Theres lots of differences.

 

[Stojakapimp]

Do you think that that is the general concensus? It's just shocking to me that most people would believe that only Protestants are Christians.

 

[sparkyclarky]

They most certainly are, but the Orthodox are supposedly the first. Not that a concept of "first" matters mind you, because they all have heavily evolved over time.

 

[Analog]

Catholics are Christians , Mormons are probably more in question.

 

[djplayx714]

All the Christians that I've spoken with have argued with me for hours on end that Catholics are not Christian. In fact they believe themselves to be better than Catholics.

Although don't take the small ignorant sample of people I've encountered to represent the whole population of Christians.

I grew up going to Catholic school and usually take their comments pretty offensively. But I'm a buddhist so I try to sensible and reasonable in my arguments yet that never ever works.

You jus cant argue with a person's faith.

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: djplayx714
All the Christians that I've spoken with have argued with me for hours on end that Catholics are not Christian. In fact they believe themselves to be better than Catholics.

Although don't take the small ignorant sample of people I've encountered to represent the whole population of Christians.

I grew up going to Catholic school and usually take their comments pretty offensively. But I'm a buddhist so I try to sensible and reasonable in my arguments yet that never ever works.

You jus cant argue with a person's faith.

those people infuriate me...catholics are christian.

i'm not catholic, but i would be offended too.

 

[glen]

The Catholic and Orthodox church had not split from each other when the Church first started. As such, you can say the Catholics or the Orthodox were the first Christians, and wrote the Bible, or cannonized it.

 

[przero]

Catholicism is most definitely a Christian relgion. They are much more "works" oriented than some Protestant religions.

 

[ElFenix]

flyertroll2k3 is a moron

 

[TitanDiddly]

Oh, you can't get to heaven on rollerskates
Oh, you can't get to heaven on rollerskates
Oh, you can't get to heaven on a train
Oh, you can't get to heaven on a train
Oh, you can't get to heaven in an automobile
Oh, you can't get to heaven in an automobile

Nope nope nope can't get to heaven on rollerskates
Nope nope nope can't get to heaven on a train
Nope nope nope can't get to heaven in an automobile

<chorus>

 

[PlatinumGold]

to a true protestant a catholic would not be a christian and here is why.

to a protestant ONLY jesus can forgive sins. ONLY jesus can server as an intercessor before god.

to a catholic the Priest can forgive sins and the priest serves as an intercessor before god.


as to the post early regarding catholic church being established by jesus thru peter, that's not accurate historically. the catholic church came about 300 years after the death of christ. there is no FIRST church as the concept of denomination and such didn't exist at the time. the churches established by paul, antioch, rome and a few others were pre eminent, but there was no defined denomination, just a common thread.