Which Protestants regard Catholics as non-Christian?

[yermanyonda]

Hi

Following a recent question in the AAA forum I would like to know which Non-Catholic Churches regard Catholicism as Non-Christian and why?

I was brought up in the Catholic Faith and go to church but I am quite ignorant of Non-Catholic Churches who, The Holy Father tells us, are Brother Christians on a different road to God; even though The R.C. road is the best road.

Thats good enough for me and I wouldn’t at any stage make derogatory remarks about Non-Catholics; its pointless.

However I do get the impression that there is a continuous, and disappointing, trend among Non-Catholics to attack The R.C.Church; its almost as if some think that the only way to promote their own Church is to attack the R.C. Church.

Whereas subjects like Ecumenism and different interpretations of Scripture are interesting and, sometimes, enlightening I cannot see the point in deliberately attacking another Church; unless, of course, you are dealing with extremists.

What think ye?

 

[MercyMia]

The newer the denomination the more likely they are to not see Catholics as Christians. You see, in order to justify their very existance and authority to start their own church, they have to discredit everything that came before them. There are some Protestants on this board who recognize us as their brothers and sisters in Christ (as we do to them) who defintely see us as Christians and will even gives us proper credit for a lot of things. They probably go underappreciated on this board sometimes. These tend to be Lutherans or Anglicans who are very similar to Catholic Church and who probably get condemned for their “rituals” by these Johnny-come-lately denominations as well.
I don’t know that we can get a difinitive list, since there 38,000 + denoms with new ones popping up ever day. Here’s a small list of which do not think we are Christians (though there are exceptions in every church). Common thread is that mostly any church that describes itself as a bible-church yet refuses to recognize where the bible came from:

church of Christ
Baptist (all hundreds of flavors)
JW
Mormon
Seven Day Adventist
Every church started in some guy’s basement that swears it is not a denomination, the church has just been feeling shy to come out and play for the past 1900+ years.

 

[surfgirlusa_200]

I would like to say that many Seventh Day Adventists do believe that Catholics are Christian; they tend to like Catholics as people, but dislike the hierarchy and structure of the Church, especially the role of the papacy, and disagree on many theological issues.

 

[surfgirlusa_200]

As an after thought, the same goes for Baptists- some might believe that Catholics are not Christian, but many do acknowledge that we are Christians, albeit weird ones (to their way of thinking).

 

[katrntogo]

I know the church of Christ thinks Catholicism in an abomination. My ex-husband left me when I converted (he was OK with me being a non-practising Methodist & he has even been kicked out of the church of Christ but he still thinks it is the only true church - he says I am going to hell because I should know better than to be Catholic). I still pray for him but I am better off without him.

 

[yellowbird]

Most Evangelicals where I live would say that if I were a Christian, it’s in spite of being Catholic and not because of it. Like I’m some sort of freak of nature… "She’s a Christian even though she’s Catholic… "

They would include people who go to Willow Creek Church of the Open Door Harvest Bible on the Hill Church of the Fruit of the Vineyard Calvary’s Cross of the Bible Fellowship Chapel. Or something like that.

 

[surfgirlusa_200]

I know the church of Christ thinks Catholicism in an abomination. My ex-husband left me when I converted (he was OK with me being a non-practising Methodist & he has even been kicked out of the church of Christ but he still thinks it is the only true church - he says I am going to hell because I should know better than to be Catholic). I still pray for him but I am better off without him.

I’m sorry that he adheres to that way of thinking. My friends and relatives were confused when i became Catholic, but none of them have ever thought I would go to Hell because of it. In fact, my SDA grandma seems happier with me than with my parents, because at least I go to church every week. It’s funny, in a way.

 

[MercyMia]

I know the church of Christ thinks Catholicism in an abomination. My ex-husband left me when I converted (he was OK with me being a non-practising Methodist & he has even been kicked out of the church of Christ but he still thinks it is the only true church - he says I am going to hell because I should know better than to be Catholic). I still pray for him but I am better off without him.

Katrntogo - We should trade notes on the church of Christ. My husband grew up in the church of Christ and he refers to it as a “cult.” His parents basically shun him because he left. Understand that your husband was probably subject to a lot of pressure and emotional absuse at the hands of his fellow church-goers and it can be hard to shake the brain washing. Just curious, what did he get kicked out for?

 

[katrntogo]

Katrntogo - We should trade notes on the church of Christ. My husband grew up in the church of Christ and he refers to it as a “cult.” His parents basically shun him because he left. Understand that your husband was probably subject to a lot of pressure and emotional absuse at the hands of his fellow church-goers and it can be hard to shake the brain washing. Just curious, what did he get kicked out for?

Cheating on his first wife (I didn’t know about that until after I married him by a justice of the peace) & she left him. He thought when we divorced he would be able to attend but the local church still will not let him. I do not know why they won’t. but it seems to me they should be encouraging him to attend to bring him closer to Jesus, not preventing.

 

[adstrinity]

Just curious, what did he get kicked out for?

Yes, I’d like to know this as well. It’s an odd concept, to be kicked out of a church body. I can understand being kicked out of a physical church building for any reason, but, that’s not how it sounds in the post… Do they have a hierarchy or committee that can keep tabs on him, that is, say, make sure he doesn’t go to another Church of Christ Church the next two counties over or something? Catholics have excommunication (but, they’re always allowed to be forgiven, and, if they cannot or do not repent, they can still GO to church, just not recieve the Sacraments), Mormons have their ex-fellowshipping thing, JWs, I think, will shun you, as will the Amish, but, still, one I believe is allowed to go to meetings. …I don’t know any mainline Protestant branch that will kick a member out of it’s church.

To the OP: Apologies for going off topic.

 

[MercyMia]

Yes, I’d like to know this as well. It’s an odd concept, to be kicked out of a church body. I can understand being kicked out of a physical church building for any reason, but, that’s not how it sounds in the post… Do they have a hierarchy or committee that can keep tabs on him, that is, say, make sure he doesn’t go to another Church of Christ Church the next two counties over or something? Catholics have excommunication (but, they’re always allowed to be forgiven, and, if they cannot or do not repent, they can still GO to church, just not recieve the Sacraments), Mormons have their ex-fellowshipping thing, JWs, I think, will shun you, as will the Amish, but, still, one I believe is allowed to go to meetings. …I don’t know any mainline Protestant branch that will kick a member out of it’s church.

To the OP: Apologies for going off topic.

Oh boy - then consider yourself lucky if you have never encountered the church of Christ.
They don’t have a committee per say, just elders who job it is to nose into everyone’s life and make judgments. They don’t have a chain of communication between churches but they have tons of gossip and 'lil bit o spying on members. In my husbands church they took “secret” attendance. Some guy hid up on balcony and took attendance. These are the people that knock on your door if you miss church on Sunday. Also, when you went up to do a “walk of shame” that is, a pubic confession, they made you write your sins on little index cards and then elders kept them on file. If you did anything to tick them off, watch out because your sins are getting dug up and printed in the bulletin when they ex-communicate you. They excommunicate and shun like its going out of style. Even if you leave by choice in a peaceful way, they will still excommunicate you out of spite when you aren’t even there. Divorce is weird for them, they sort of pick and choose depending on who are you or who you are related to or how much money you have, it will depend if you get kicked out or not.

Yea sorry OP, tell me if I am hijacking this.

 

[phummel]

I would like to say that many Seventh Day Adventists do believe that Catholics are Christian; they tend to like Catholics as people, but dislike the hierarchy and structure of the Church, especially the role of the papacy, and disagree on many theological issues.

Agreed!

 

[Bluegoat]

Baptists do not normally consider Catholics to be non-Christians, though there are many different kinds of Baptists.

Overall, the kinds of Protestants that think Catholicism is not part of Christianity are a real minority. The ones that do often take the view that it is a perverted institution that the devil uses to mock Christianity and lead people astray. Rather crazy stuff.

On the other hand, many mainstream Protestants do not consider Mormons or JWs to be Christians. At best they are on the fringes. Their theology is really quite different, greater than the difference between Catholics and Baptists, for example.

I think many fundamentalist Protestants are quite offended in that they think Catholicism tries to add man-made ideas to the Christian message. And if that were true, it would indeed be quite offensive, a kind of terrible hubris and vanity. So they react strongly against it.

In my experience, many Protestants and Catholics too easily dismiss the theological ideas of the other without a real understanding of them. I guess this should not be a surprise, since many don’t have a clear theological grasp of their own doctrine - but then perhaps it is best just to be silent about others theology. But Luther and Calvin were not uneducated or stupid, and neither was Augustine of Thomas, to name a few who are often invoked or criticized. It really makes me feel steamed when people assume that their arguments were simplistic or obvious.

 

[MercyMia]

Baptists do not normally consider Catholics to be non-Christians, though there are many different kinds of Baptists.

Overall, the kinds of Protestants that think Catholicism is not part of Christianity are a real minority. The ones that do often take the view that it is a perverted institution that the devil uses to mock Christianity and lead people astray. Rather crazy stuff.

On the other hand, many mainstream Protestants do not consider Mormons or JWs to be Christians. At best they are on the fringes.

You know, you may be right about those thinking we are not Christians being in the minority. I think we sometimes forget that beause the ones that don’t think we are tend to be the LOUDEST about it.

 

[greggy53]

I would like to say that many Seventh Day Adventists do believe that Catholics are Christian; they tend to like Catholics as people, but dislike the hierarchy and structure of the Church, especially the role of the papacy, and disagree on many theological issues.

What I have learned from the SDA is that if you worship on Sunday instead of Saturday you are worshiping the “Beast” from the book of St John’s Apocalypse. Protestant or Catholic it makes no difference you are condemned if you worship on Sunday.

 

[chaunceygardner]

I recall in my youth that there were churches and TV preachers who would rail against Catholics and the Pope, whom they called the “Anti-Christ”. That would imply that the Catholic Church was the opposite of Christian. What churches would that have been, are they still around, and are they still broadcasting such trash?

 

[yermanyonda]

Oh boy - then consider yourself lucky if you have never encountered the church of Christ.
They don’t have a committee per say, just elders who job it is to nose into everyone’s life and make judgments. They don’t have a chain of communication between churches but they have tons of gossip and 'lil bit o spying on members. In my husbands church they took “secret” attendance. Some guy hid up on balcony and took attendance. These are the people that knock on your door if you miss church on Sunday. Also, when you went up to do a “walk of shame” that is, a pubic confession, they made you write your sins on little index cards and then elders kept them on file. If you did anything to tick them off, watch out because your sins are getting dug up and printed in the bulletin when they ex-communicate you. They excommunicate and shun like its going out of style. Even if you leave by choice in a peaceful way, they will still excommunicate you out of spite when you aren’t even there. Divorce is weird for them, they sort of pick and choose depending on who are you or who you are related to or how much money you have, it will depend if you get kicked out or not.

Yea sorry OP, tell me if I am hijacking this.

Yes, I’d like to know this as well. It’s an odd concept, to be kicked out of a church body. I can understand being kicked out of a physical church building for any reason, but, that’s not how it sounds in the post… Do they have a hierarchy or committee that can keep tabs on him, that is, say, make sure he doesn’t go to another Church of Christ Church the next two counties over or something? Catholics have excommunication (but, they’re always allowed to be forgiven, and, if they cannot or do not repent, they can still GO to church, just not recieve the Sacraments), Mormons have their ex-fellowshipping thing, JWs, I think, will shun you, as will the Amish, but, still, one I believe is allowed to go to meetings. …I don’t know any mainline Protestant branch that will kick a member out of it’s church.

To the OP: Apologies for going off topic.

No:as stated earlier I am very ignorant of other Non-Catholic Churches and this is very interesting

 

[NotTooSmart]

Well I have read some web sites that regard Catholics as not Christian. If I were to be ambitious, maybe I could find some for you.

As for my church (Assemblies of God), I have never heard that spoken from the pulpit. Come to think of it, I can’t recall having heard anything negative about the Catholic church. Our pastor just doesn’t go into negativity concerning other churches in our town.

As for me, I consider that way to much of a broad question. Individual Catholics I am sure are Christian. Other individual Catholics are very far from the Lord Jesus Christ. The question to individual Catholics would be whether they have a personal relationship with the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Come to think of it, that is the question to individual Assemblies of God and (so as not to pick on your denomination over any other one).

 

[yermanyonda]

Baptists do not normally consider Catholics to be non-Christians, though there are many different kinds of Baptists.

Overall, the kinds of Protestants that think Catholicism is not part of Christianity are a real minority. The ones that do often take the view that it is a perverted institution that the devil uses to mock Christianity and lead people astray. Rather crazy stuff.

On the other hand, many mainstream Protestants do not consider Mormons or JWs to be Christians. At best they are on the fringes. Their theology is really quite different, greater than the difference between Catholics and Baptists, for example.

I think many fundamentalist Protestants are quite offended in that they think Catholicism tries to add man-made ideas to the Christian message. And if that were true, it would indeed be quite offensive, a kind of terrible hubris and vanity. So they react strongly against it.

In my experience, many Protestants and Catholics too easily dismiss the theological ideas of the other without a real understanding of them. I guess this should not be a surprise, since many don’t have a clear theological grasp of their own doctrine - but then perhaps it is best just to be silent about others theology. But Luther and Calvin were not uneducated or stupid, and neither was Augustine of Thomas, to name a few who are often invoked or criticized. It really makes me feel steamed when people assume that their arguments were simplistic or obvious.

I agree that ignorance, my own included, is the source of a lot of the trouble; as it is in many fields of human interaction.

 

[yermanyonda]

Well I have read some web sites that regard Catholics as not Christian. If I were to be ambitious, maybe I could find some for you.

As for my church (Assemblies of God), I have never heard that spoken from the pulpit. Come to think of it, I can’t recall having heard anything negative about the Catholic church. Our pastor just doesn’t go into negativity concerning other churches in our town.

As for me, I consider that way to much of a broad question. Individual Catholics I am sure are Christian. Other individual Catholics are very far from the Lord Jesus Christ. The question to individual Catholics would be whether they have a personal relationship with the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Come to think of it, that is the question to individual Assemblies of God and (so as not to pick on your denomination over any other one).

Yes: I think that the relationship between a person, their conscience and God is fundamental in the Catholic Church as well