S
stellatum
Guest
I have many Protestant friends. They don’t like to be referred to as “Protestants,” because they define themselves, and refer to themselves, simply as “Christians.” However, this leads to problems. You hear things like, “Oh, are you a Catholic or a Christian?” as if Catholics weren’t Christians. I need to add that they don’t mean to say that–they do understand that I am a Christian. It’s just that they are using the word “Christian” to mean what I would call “Protestant.” In other words, they’re not hostile, just clueless.
I have no trouble pointing out that Catholics are Christians, too, and I do gently correct anyone who uses the word “Christian” to unintentionally exclude Catholics. But we need a vocabulary we can share. Can you suggest a word I can use to refer to Protestants when I’m talking to them that will not be needlessly offensive to them, but that will respect the truth? The best I can do is to speak of “non-Catholic Christians,” but this is awkward and cumbersome (and maybe even a little offensive), especially if the conversation is about our religious practices, or the similarities and differences between us.
I have no trouble pointing out that Catholics are Christians, too, and I do gently correct anyone who uses the word “Christian” to unintentionally exclude Catholics. But we need a vocabulary we can share. Can you suggest a word I can use to refer to Protestants when I’m talking to them that will not be needlessly offensive to them, but that will respect the truth? The best I can do is to speak of “non-Catholic Christians,” but this is awkward and cumbersome (and maybe even a little offensive), especially if the conversation is about our religious practices, or the similarities and differences between us.