Christian or Catholic?

[belmontmac]

If someone were to ask you what religion you are, how would you answer, Catholic or Christian, and why? Do we say as Catholics, we are Catholic, or do we say we are Christians, or Catholic Christians?

 

[MusicforMovies]

Good Question - if I’m talking to a Protestant I tend to say Catholic, but if I’m talking with a non-Christian, I tend to say Christian, followed by Catholic if I need to clarify.

I have to admit though it disturbs me greatly when people, even Catholics, say they aren’t Christians (I’m assuming thinking that Christian is some sort of Protestant label), or the Protestant that denies that a Catholic is a Christian.

 

[smichhertz]

I would simply say I am Catholic. But Catholics are Christians. We are THE Christians because our church was founded by Jesus Christ. All other Christians are separated from the the one, true church, but still Christian because they are validly baptized.

 

[Rascalking]

I just say I’m a Christian. Who wants to start a fight or reinforce the differences between the sects of Christianity?

 

[paul_c]

I would be specific. Catholic. Catholic Christian is simply redundant and Christian implies you are hesitant to state your allegiance to the Pope (and in some circles would strongly imply your opposition to the Pope)

 

[Paul2274]

I always say I’m Catholic.

Why skirt around it? Trying to be more"PC"?

Don’t deny your Faith and give off the impression that you are anything but a Catholic… when you say “Christian” you are cowering and giving the impression that you are Protestant.

Paul

 

[belmontmac]

I always say I’m Catholic.

Why skirt around it? Trying to be more"PC"?

Don’t deny your Faith and give off the impression that you are anything but a Catholic… when you say “Christian” you are cowering and giving the impression that you are Protestant.

Paul

I don’t know, maybe you didn’t read past the title. And no I’m not trying to be “PC” or cowering, please. Google world religions, Catholic isn’t an option, but Christianity is, thus the question. And I always say I’m Catholic as well…

 

[tafan]

I just say I’m a Christian. Who wants to start a fight or reinforce the differences between the sects of Christianity?

How is saying one is Catholic starting a fight? As to reinforce differences between sects, that part of your statement has a couple of problems. First of all, the Catholic Church is a Church, not a sect. Protestant religions are sects. Do not pretend that we equate their status with ours, we do not. Secondly, the disunity among christians is a scandal, and ignoring them will do nothing but perpetuate the scandal indefinitely. If everyone just stops worrying about it, how can it ever be fixed ? So an open acknowledgement that we are not united and of our differences is a good thing, not bad.

I say Catholic, we should be proud of it and work under the assumption that means we are Christian. There is every reason to be as specific as possible, as that is what the person asking the question probably wants.

 

[Rascalking]

How is saying one is Catholic starting a fight? As to reinforce differences between sects, that part of your statement has a couple of problems. First of all, the Catholic Church is a Church, not a sect. Protestant religions are sects. Do not pretend that we equate their status with ours, we do not. Secondly, the disunity among christians is a scandal, and ignoring them will do nothing but perpetuate the scandal indefinitely. If everyone just stops worrying about it, how can it ever be fixed ? So an open acknowledgement that we are not united and of our differences is a good thing, not bad.

I say Catholic, we should be proud of it and work under the assumption that means we are Christian. There is every reason to be as specific as possible, as that is what the person asking the question probably wants.

Good for you. I think differently.

 

[PJM]

=belmontmac;7428659]If someone were to ask you what religion you are, how would you answer, Catholic or Christian, and why? Do we say as Catholics, we are Catholic, or do we say we are Christians, or Catholic Christians?

***FIRST and always FIRST…" A Catholic," then a Catholic-Christin."

Like the lamp placed on the hillside for all to see… ALWAYS acknowlede that you are a member of the HOUSEHOLD of God Himself; a Catholic!

esus intended ONLY One ew Church; ONLY One new Faith [set of beliefs and pactices], and only ONE New Covenant in His Blood which ONLY Catholics can and do partake in in the Most Holy Eucharist… Jesus Himself!

Any position other than this is a denial [to some varying degree] of our Catholic Faith!

God Bless,
Pat***

 

[Rascalking]

Yes, so differnetly that I’ve called myself a Catholic Baptist, Catholic Mormon, and Catholic in favor of Cheese.

Just because I have a sense of humor and don’t take things too seriously doesn’t mean I’m any less of a Catholic.

 

[LDNCatholic]

I answer Catholic, unless someone specifically asks ‘‘are you a Christian?’’

 

[tafan]

Good for you. I think differently.

THere is the issue of just being respectful to the person asking you the question. If is highly probably they want a specific answer. If you say Christain, when he finds out Catholic, he is likely to think you were being evasive.

But what part in specific do you think differently about?

 

[tafan]

Yes, so differnetly that I’ve called myself a Catholic Baptist, Catholic Mormon, and Catholic in favor of Cheese.

Just because I have a sense of humor and don’t take things too seriously doesn’t mean I’m any less of a Catholic.

Explain the humor in those answers? They seem rather non-sensical, which does not directly imply humor. Not trying to be argumentative, just trying to understand your point of view.

 

[Rascalking]

Explain the humor in those answers? They seem rather non-sensical, which does not directly imply humor. Not trying to be argumentative, just trying to understand your point of view.

I like to have fun. By calling myself those various names, it makes people chuckle (I’ve had people tell me they like the light heartedness of it. They find humor in it, and I do as well.

With all humor, you either get it or you don’t. You can’t explain it.

 

[tafan]

***FIRST and always FIRST…" A Catholic," then a Catholic-Christin."

Like the lamp placed on the hillside for all to see… ALWAYS acknowlede that you are a member of the HOUSEHOLD of God Himself; a Catholic!

esus intended ONLY One ew Church; ONLY One new Faith [set of beliefs and pactices], and only ONE New Covenant in His Blood which ONLY Catholics can and do partake in in the Most Holy Eucharist… Jesus Himself!

Any position other than this is a denial [to some varying degree] of our Catholic Faith!

God Bless,
Pat***

Pat, nothing wrong with saying Catholic-Christian, just don’t turn it around, as that saying Christian Catholic (ie making the word Christian the adjective, which grammatically is stronger than the noun) would imply that there are non-Christian Catholics. Similiarly its ok to say, IMO, I am a Catholic American, but one should never say one is an American Catholic. The Catholicism affects my Americanism, not the other way around.

 

[tafan]

I like to have fun. By calling myself those various names, it makes people chuckle (I’ve had people tell me they like the light heartedness of it. They find humor in it, and I do as well.

With all humor, you either get it or you don’t. You can’t explain it.

Ok, so someone asks you a serious question, what is your religion, you give them a joke for an answer, they have a good chuckle and then say “seriously, what is your religion?” What is your answer? Why do you disagree with my answer above?

 

[Rascalking]

Ok, so someone asks you a serious question, what is your religion, you give them a joke for an answer, they have a good chuckle and then say “seriously, what is your religion?” What is your answer? Why do you disagree with my answer above?

I simply say, “I am a Christian”. I have never, ever been asked “what type of Christian?” Never. If I was asked, I’d say, “I’m a Christian who thinks that Christianity is borderline obsessed with the differences between us while ignoring the atheistic onslaught on our values. Instead of the ‘I’m this type of Christian’ why don’t we all admit to being Christians, fight the secularist attack on our cultures, then go back to bickering between one another after.”

There. That would be my answer.

Why in the world does it matter?

 

[tafan]

I simply say, “I am a Christian”. I have never, ever been asked “what type of Christian?” Never. If I was asked, I’d say, “I’m a Christian who thinks that Christianity is borderline obsessed with the differences between us while ignoring the atheistic onslaught on our values. Instead of the ‘I’m this type of Christian’ why don’t we all admit to being Christians, fight the secularist attack on our cultures, then go back to bickering between one another after.”

There. That would be my answer.

Why in the world does it matter?

Apparently it matters to you, why would it not to others? It is an interesting question as it obviously highlights some of our different thoughts on approaching ecemunical issues. That is why it matters to me. Why to you?

I am sure the questioner may accept the answer “I am a Christian”, I doubt the questioner really wanted that broad of an answer. Thats one of my points.
But how is simply saying specifically and consisely what we are “bickering”? It is this mentality I also don’t understand. If I ask you were you are from, you can say the US, you can say New Hampshire. Since I am from Texas and not New Hampshire, I would not take the fact that you chose the specific answer as bickering.
As to fighting the secularist attack first before the resolution of our disunity, well perhaps that is bound to fail because of the scandal of our disunity?

 

[Rascalking]

So you say. I’d rather walk with my pro-life, pro-family, pro-Christ Christian brethern than alienate them.

Again though, why in the world does my opinion matter? To be honest, yours doesn’t matter to me. Mine shouldn’t matter to you!