Are Catholics considered Christian?

[randirhoades]

Beloved Friends,

I think I know this answer but need affirmation. And I know this is probably stupid. Plus, my plate is full and I’m stressed and don’t know why I can’t remember. :shrug:Thank you for all responses in advanced.

Love ya’ll,

Sheila

 

[lynx]

I would classify Catholics as a sect of Christianity.

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

Beloved Friends,

I think I know this answer but need affirmation. And I know this is probably stupid. Plus, my plate is full and I’m stressed and don’t know why I can’t remember. :shrug:Thank you for all responses in advanced.

Love ya’ll,

Sheila

Yes, Catholics are Christians. In fact, Catholics were the first Christians. To be a Christian, theologically speaking, you need to believe in:

1. The Trinity
2. The divinity of Jesus Christ

Thank you,
**Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk
**

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

I would classify Catholics as a sect of Christianity.

This would actually be incorrect depending on what way you look at it. A sect, or a denomination, is a breaking off from a movement. Catholics never broke away. Protestants did (hence the word “protestant”, which derives from the word “to protest”). So the words “sect” and “denomination” are better applied to Protestantism as opposed to Catholicism.

Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

 

[lynx]

This would actually be incorrect depending on what way you look at it. A sect, or a denomination, is a breaking off from a movement. Catholics never broke away. Protestants did (hence the word “protestant”, which derives from the word “to protest”). So the words “sect” and “denomination” are better applied to Protestantism as opposed to Catholicism.

Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

Christianity as it’s being used is meant to represent the whole of Christian religions. Any sub-section of Christianity in this context, whether one chooses to believe that they are the original “Christian” or not, is a sect. But, it is also true that Protestantism would be a sect of Catholicism.

 

[Dave_B]

Beloved Friends,
I think I know this answer but need affirmation. And I know this is probably stupid. Plus, my plate is full and I’m stressed and don’t know why I can’t remember. :shrug:Thank you for all responses in advanced. Love ya’ll,
Sheila

Only certain fundamentalist Christian sects would consider Catholics to be not Christian. Which is kind of strange, considering Jesus founded one universal, apostolic church. Peace

 

[GloriousOrder]

Have you ever actually been to Mass, O.P.? Whoever considers the inside of a Catholic church non-Christian seems to be lying to himself, or has a head injury. The whole liturgy is full of references to Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

[illmatic]

Yes.

 

[Bookcat]

Yes.

We are Christians…have been since the first century.

First called “the disciples”…

Later called followers of “the way” …and it seems “Nazarenes”

then at Antioch we started being called Christians.

Later in the first century the Church started to be called “Catholic” (see St. Ignatius --again at Antioch --use around the year 100)

So in time Christians began to be also called Catholics.

And as various heresies arose in the first centuries…which claimed to be Christian …the word was used to differentiate Christians from the others was Catholic…

Of course we still called ourselves Christians…but also we used the term Catholic.

Now a days we have many sorts of Christians --who are indeed Christians and our brothers…though we are unhappily not yet in full communion.

Catholics are Christians who in full communion with the successor of Peter. We call ourselves Christians all the time…Pope Benedict XVI when addressing the faithful does not usually say “Catholics this or that” but he calls them Christians…for that is what we are.

Other Christians have various degrees of communion with us (not speaking here of Holy Communion …but of “being in communion with”).

Are Catholics Christians??? Yes most certainly! (see my description of myself in the upper right corner)

As one early Christian noted (375AD)

“If you want to know who I am,” he said, “Christian is my name, Catholic is my surname.”

St. Pacian

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

Yes.

We are Christians…have been since the first century.

First called “the disciples”…

Later called followers of “the way” …and it seems “Nazarenes”

then at Antioch we started being called Christians.

Later in the first century the Church started to be called “Catholic” (see St. Ignatius --again at Antioch --use around the year 100)

So in time Christians began to be also called Catholics.

And as various heresies arose in the first centuries…which claimed to be Christian …the word was used to differentiate Christians from the others was Catholic…

Of course we still called ourselves Christians…but also we used the term Catholic.

Now a days we have many sorts of Christians --who are indeed Christians and our brothers…though we are unhappily not yet in full communion.

Catholics are Christians who in full communion with the successor of Peter. We call our selves Christians all the time…Pope Benedict XVI when addressing the faithful does not usually say “Catholics this or that” but he calls them Christians…for that is what we are.

Other Christians have various degrees of partial communion with us.

Are Catholics Christians??? Yes most certainly! (see my description of myself in the upper right corner)

As one early Christian noted (375AD)

“If you want to know who I am,” he said, “Christian is my name, Catholic is my surname.”

St. Pacian

Very informative post

Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

 

[crystal_waters]

Christianity as it’s being used is meant to represent the whole of Christian religions. Any sub-section of Christianity in this context, whether one chooses to believe that they are the original “Christian” or not, is a sect. But, it is also true that Protestantism would be a sect of Catholicism.

i agree:thumbsup:

 

[Monica4316]

Beloved Friends,

I think I know this answer but need affirmation. And I know this is probably stupid. Plus, my plate is full and I’m stressed and don’t know why I can’t remember. :shrug:Thank you for all responses in advanced.

Love ya’ll,

Sheila

Yes we are definitely Christians but sadly some people don’t think that we are. However, they are misinformed

God bless

 

[crystal_waters]

Yes we are definitely Christians but sadly some people don’t think that we are. However, they are misinformed

God bless

i dont call myself christain on a day to day basis though because you say christain and people thing of protestants, baptists etc…

i just call myself catholic

 

[Bookcat]

i dont call myself christain on a day to day basis though because you say christain and people thing of protestants, baptists etc…

i just call myself catholic

I call myself Christian and also call myself Catholic to further distinguish. (that is what I am )

One can say " I am a Christian…a Catholic" Or one could say “I am a Catholic Christian”…
or like the early Christian I quoted above “My first name is Christian and my surname is Catholic”

But certainly it is important for us to call ourselves what we have always been since Antioch in the Acts of the Apostles.

I love to read this from the early Christian Martyrs (who were Catholics):

earlychristians.org/testimonies_martyrs/scillitan_saints.html

Every morning as part of my renewal of my Baptism…I say "With they early martyrs I say “I am a Christian”…(I also say “I will follow you as your disciple”…

 

[Claire_from_DE]

A friend once told me her minister told her that Catholics are a ‘cult’. I asked her to define ‘cult’ and she said a religion that doesn’t believe in the bible alone as the source of revelation. So we had a very long discussion about Tradition and the Magisterium (teaching authority of the church). She became a Catholic 3 or 4 years ago!

It’s helpful to ask people to define the words they use.