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eydey
Guest
My 7 year old daughter asked me what the difference is between Catholics and Christians? I know the answer could get complicated, so I wanted to simplify it for her. What’s the best way to explain it?
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LSK
Guest
I was taught (at that age) that Catholics are the First Christians. We have the fullness of Faith and belong to The Church Jesus founded. St Peter was our first Pope.
That was just fine for 7 yrs of age.
There are lots of great resources at EWTN Children’s site for kids this age.
That was just fine for 7 yrs of age.
There are lots of great resources at EWTN Children’s site for kids this age.
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JimG
Guest
Yes, just tell her that Catholics are the original Christians. Over the course of many centuries, different groups have separated from the Catholic Church but still call themselves Christians, which is okay, but they’re not the original Christians.
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Giggly_Giraffe
Guest
We are all brothers & sisters in Christ invited to a great banquet. Catholics enjoy the fruits of the banquet (Eucharist-Jesus) while our fellow brothers and sisters just pretend too (like playing tea time)
7 yr old: Then let’s invite them to the banquet.
Great idea! It’s nice to first invite them to how to dine with us (RCIA) and ask if they want to move from the kid table to adult table. First we need to teach them to wash their hands before they eat (baptism, & goto confession). Many times its offered, but they just are not ready. If they are not ready, we still need to be great at hospitality & make them welcome.
7 yr old: Then let’s invite them to the banquet.
Great idea! It’s nice to first invite them to how to dine with us (RCIA) and ask if they want to move from the kid table to adult table. First we need to teach them to wash their hands before they eat (baptism, & goto confession). Many times its offered, but they just are not ready. If they are not ready, we still need to be great at hospitality & make them welcome.
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KendraDZ1902
Guest
I LOVE this explanation! May I write it down and use it when I have kiddos?
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NSFrame
Guest
Geez, this question irks me. Catholics ARE Christians. How is that hard for people to understand? A Catholic is one type of Christian, a Presbyterian is another, a Lutheran another, etc. No need to get into the nitty-gritty about the Eucharist, sola scriptura, etc. with someone so young, just mention some of the general differences in worship if she presses.
Also, it’s a bad idea to bad-mouth other religions to a 7-year-old (we are at a banquet while “they” are at a tea party??). You want to teach respect for others who are sincere in their faith.
Also, it’s a bad idea to bad-mouth other religions to a 7-year-old (we are at a banquet while “they” are at a tea party??). You want to teach respect for others who are sincere in their faith.
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UnumCorpus
Guest
:clapping::clapping::clapping: Thank you for this. I’m certain that martyred Protestants (for example Dietrich Bonhoeffer) would feel insulted at the notion that the faith they died for was equivalent to a “tea party”.
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maryjk
Guest
All toads are frogs, but all frogs are not toads.
All Catholics are Christians, but all Christians are not Catholic.
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stephe1987
Guest
Yeah, that is being disrespectful to others’ faith. Saying that Catholicism is the fullness of Christianity is a better explanation than saying other denominations are playing pretend tea party. Maybe say that other denominations are missing books of the Bible, the Communion of Saints, Our Lady, etc. But they are not pretend.
I believe that “pretend” referred to the fake protestant communion service. It is pretend. The Catholic Church has the real Eucharist.
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NSFrame
Guest
Riiiiight, however, the implication of the question “are you Catholic or Christian?”, something I have heard many times in my life, is that Catholics are not Christians. That is what I am addressing here, making sure to clarify to a child that she is indeed a Christian.
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maryjk
Guest
Which is why I used something most kids learn. I tried to put it into terms that a child would understand.
Sorry, must have missed the boat.
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eydey
Guest
I was taught (at that age) that Catholics are the First Christians. We have the fullness of Faith and belong to The Church Jesus founded. St Peter was our first Pope.
That was just fine for 7 yrs of age.
There are lots of great resources at EWTN Children’s site for kids this age.
I like the way that you two put it. I think I will use this as a my response!
I do believe the "pretend’ part refers to the communion services they have. I will most likely reserve that discussion for when she gets older
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NSFrame
Guest
Ah, got it. I thought you were disagreeing, sorry!Which is why I used something most kids learn. I tried to put it into terms that a child would understand.
Sorry, must have missed the boat.
Although the first time I heard that saying it was “All Fords are cars, but not all cars are Fords”, and that blew my mind at age 11.
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maryjk
Guest
I learned the toad saying from another home school mom.Ah, got it. I thought you were disagreeing, sorry!
Although the first time I heard that saying it was “All Fords are cars, but not all cars are Fords”, and that blew my mind at age 11.
At first, I was going to suggest a Venn Diagram. But then I realized that 7 year old children haven’t been introduced to them yet.
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