What do you prefer to be called?

[steido01]

I was under the impression that the Reformers, in response to being called Calvinists, Lutherans, etc. called Catholics “Papists”, and the modifier “Roman” was added on in the 19th century by Anglicans. Have I been mistaken?

“Papist,” “Romish,” “Roman,” etc. were all qualifiers (and, often, slurs) meant to contradistinguish between those in communion with Rome and those not. The modifier “Roman” Catholic was certainly used well before the 19th century (since the beginning of the Reformation - early 1500’s). You’re probably right about Anglicans likely being the first to use that precise term in English, since Luther usually spoke German.

CAF provides the following bit of (only-slightly-biased and victimized) history: catholic.com/quickquestions/when-did-the-term-roman-catholic-church-first-come-into-being

 

[House_Harkonnen]

I was under the impression that the Reformers, in response to being called Calvinists, Lutherans, etc. called Catholics “Papists”, and the modifier “Roman” was added on in the 19th century by Anglicans. Have I been mistaken?

No. The Catholic Church has been titling itself “Roman” since at least the Council of Constance, one hundreds years before the Reformation.
We have therefore come together with our venerable brothers, cardinals of the holy Roman church, and our court to this city of Constance at the appointed time. Being present here by the grace of God, we now wish, with the advice of this sacred synod, to attend to the peace, exaltation and reform of the church and to the quiet of the christian people.
*

 

[batman1973]

I prefer Patrick. But, most times I’m called everything but a Child of God. Being called a Lutheran doesn’t bother me in the least, but, like my fellow Evangelical Catholics, I prefer that title. But, the best title for me is Christian, or Christ follower.

 

[Publisher]

As I have learned and read more about the Reformation, I have noticed that many of the names given during its course were not exactly given in good faith. Is there any name you don’t like your community to be called, and why?

As a Catholic, I prefer to be called Catholic rather than Roman Catholic. It is not a completely inaccurate name, but when I have heard it–for example once from a history professor–the phrase often drips with disdain, as if in an attempt to communicate the foreign and distant nature of the Church.

I have no problem being called a “Christian”…or “Friend”.

 

[NovusAugustus]

I have no problem being called a “Christian”…or “Friend”.

Is Quaker not preferred?

 

[Publisher]

Is Quaker not preferred?

Most Friends that I know…go by “Friend”. “Quaker” was what our detractors called us early in our history as an emerging distinct group in 17th century England. The name “Quaker” originally was a negative pronoun others used to distinguish Friends…in time the name was “adopted” by Friends. “Quaker” to Friend is like “Mormon” to Latter-day Saints…both names have their origins among non-Friends or non-LDS…but eventually embraced by members of each of the respective movements.

Very few people “know” what one speaks of when one says “I am a Friend”…but almost everyone has some vauge understanding of what it means to be a “Quaker”.

 

[Izdaari]

I prefer to be called simply a Christian, or even better, a Christ-follower (which means the same thing, but carries less baggage and is a better conversation starter).

But if someone wants to know more about my specific faith tradition, I don’t mind telling them I’m Lutheran, Anglican, Episcopalian or even Episcopalutheran (a portmanteau word, as Lewis Carroll would say, but I mean it seriously: I have both formal affiliations as does my parish, and I value them equally).

 

[NovusAugustus]

Most Friends that I know…go by “Friend”. “Quaker” was what our detractors called us early in our history as an emerging distinct group in 17th century England. The name “Quaker” originally was a negative pronoun others used to distinguish Friends…in time the name was “adopted” by Friends. “Quaker” to Friend is like “Mormon” to Latter-day Saints…both names have their origins among non-Friends or non-LDS…but eventually embraced by members of each of the respective movements.

Very few people “know” what one speaks of when one says “I am a Friend”…but almost everyone has some vauge understanding of what it means to be a “Quaker”.

Thanks, Friend

 

[perro_sarnoso]

As I have learned and read more about the Reformation, I have noticed that many of the names given during its course were not exactly given in good faith. Is there any name you don’t like your community to be called, and why?

As a Catholic, I prefer to be called Catholic rather than Roman Catholic. It is not a completely inaccurate name, but when I have heard it–for example once from a history professor–the phrase often drips with disdain, as if in an attempt to communicate the foreign and distant nature of the Church.

If we are splitting hairs then yes, I am a Roman Catholic. Simply because the See of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church is in Rome.

For simplicity’s sake I always say I am Catholic. They may “drip all the disdain they want”, that’s what I am.

 

[cath4alltime]

Anglican for me, though i am not a part of Canterbury or the ECUSA but rather a part of the Charismatic Episcopal Church

 

[Marie5890]

Someone who is striving to be an authentic disciple of Our Lord.

 

[hn160]

What are these Reformed Churches you speak of? It always confuses me because from the outside all the churches that came during/after the Reformation could be called “Reformed.”

About the “Lutheran,” thing, I agree that it seems time for the disparate members of the “Lutheran” body to distinguish themselves better, considering the variety of belief and practice–and differing validity of orders–among its members.

The Reform Churches were the followers of Calvin. In Prussia about 1817, the King of Prussia, Frederick William III wanted a unified Church in his lands. Since he was of the Prussian Reform Church and the majority of his subjects Lutheran, he thought that in national interest he would force the union of these two churches with a Calvinist outlook. The Reform Church saw the Lutherans as being too Catholic in that Luther didn’t go far enough.
The Church of England, the Church of Scotland are Calvinist Churches.
In America, the United Church of Christ ( UCC ), Presbyterian Churches, Reform Episcopal Church and some others are Calvinist Churches. The Reform Church in America merged with the Congregational Church to form the UCC. In doctrine and practice, there is a difference between Calvinism and Lutheranism.

 

[Peter_J]

As I have learned and read more about the Reformation, I have noticed that many of the names given during its course were not exactly given in good faith. Is there any name you don’t like your community to be called, and why?

As a Catholic, I prefer to be called Catholic rather than Roman Catholic. It is not a completely inaccurate name, but when I have heard it–for example once from a history professor–the phrase often drips with disdain, as if in an attempt to communicate the foreign and distant nature of the Church.

As an Eastern Catholic, I generally prefer that people not call me “Roman Catholic”. Often you’ll get Eastern Orthodox saying “Most Eastern Catholics are really Roman Catholics with an eastern liturgy” (or some slight variation of that wording), which is clearly meant to be completely pejorative.

On the other hand, I’m OK with “Roman Catholic” as a shortened form of “Roman-Rite Catholic”. (I sometimes think it would be better to shorten it to “RRC” but that’s another can of worms.)

 

[Peter_J]

I personally detest the name Protestant because in that group are the Reform Churches, Evangelicals, etc, it lumps Lutherans into this group. Besides there is a Lutheran Church of the liberal persuasion that is hardly Lutheran anymore. I would prefer Evangelical Catholic or The Catholic Church of the Augsburg Confession. To me, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod seems to indicate that the this Church Body is confined to the State of Missouri.

I think a big part of the problem is that people get carried away with capitalization. That may seem a small thing but consider how Lutherans (and Anglicans for that matter) will be described as “Evangelical and Protestant and catholic” (not Catholic since that would imply that being in communion with Rome). I think there would be less confusion if it were “evangelical and protestant and catholic”.

 

[Peter_J]

I just liked to be called by my name, Robert.

I was thinking about saying that, but I see you beat me to it. (Which is guess is just as well, since Robert isn’t actually my name.)

 

[jimkhong]

Most Friends that I know…go by “Friend”. “Quaker” was what our detractors called us early in our history as an emerging distinct group in 17th century England. The name “Quaker” originally was a negative pronoun others used to distinguish Friends…in time the name was “adopted” by Friends. “Quaker” to Friend is like “Mormon” to Latter-day Saints…both names have their origins among non-Friends or non-LDS…but eventually embraced by members of each of the respective movements.

Very few people “know” what one speaks of when one says “I am a Friend”…but almost everyone has some vauge understanding of what it means to be a “Quaker”.

Why, Friend? Can’t find the origin of the name online

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Certainly!

I would prefer that ‘Lutherans’ were called (and called themselves) Evangelical Catholics, or at least the Church of the Augsburg Confession. It’s more accurate than calling us “Lutherans,” which presumes that we follow the man, when we follow only Christ (1 Cor. 3:4).

I have a similar aversion to the possessive usage of a parish name. It really irks me when someone says, “Oh, you go to St. John’s? We go to St. Mark’s.” If anyone “owns my parish”, it’s Jesus, not John or Mark. (I know it’s a cultural thing, but it drives me nuts for this reason, and because of the scripture where St. Paul warns about claiming adherence to a teacher above Christ. I Corinthians 1:12, 3:4)

As for my portmanteau, I usually tell folks that I grew up “Baptecostal” because the church embraced elements of both the Baptist and Pentecostal traditions. These days, I’m proudly “just” Catholic.

 

[rfournier103]

I like “Catholic” myself; since I belong to Christ’s Universal Church. If I want to REALLY be specific; I tell people I am a “Latin Catholic of the Roman Rite”. The term “Roman Catholic” never really appealed to me… I just always told people I was Catholic.

 

[adawgj]

I prefer to be called Catholic. But normally I describe myself as a Roman Catholic

 

[Desertsilver]

This is an interesting question, I look forward to hearing what folks say about it.

Personally, I don’t like it when people refer to Asatru and other Germanic heathens as pagans or Wiccans. I’m willing to tolerate the term “pagan” casually by people who don’t know any better and because I think it’s important for members of modern pagan faiths to maintain a sense of solidarity, so bickering about the exact nomenclature is counterproductive. "

I know enough not to call a Druid a Wiccan… but to me, part of the difficulty is that so many of the people within these groups do not agree on what they want to be called.