Catholicism = Christianity?

[Lenne520]

i would actually call them kind of the same thing because they both belive in god so i dont see what the big problem in fighting over 2 things that r kind of the same thing

[Chez Daja]

Add more content to your posts. It's AGAINST RULES to one-line. Also, no, Christanity and Catholic beliefs are not exactly the same, although they are extremely similar. (In my view).

Still, though, they are not exactly the same. Just thought I would point that out.

[TomStrife]

Originally Posted by James

I think the problem with this entire thread is that it is being used as a debate, when really it is a yes or no answer. What it has become is elitism, and anti-Catholicism. Nondenominational Christian Churches are a fairly new idea, and all of the sudden you know everything and decide who is going to Heaven? Sounds like why the Protestants left the Church in the first place.

We follow exactly what the Bible says and no, we are not a "new" idea.
We are a 2000-year-old existing movement.

Originally Posted by James

Didnt you say you attend that church? I guess you are not a Christian then, they are Protestant.

I'm not Catholic. Therefore, I would be Protestant.

Originally Posted by James

The Bible was written two thousand years ago. Before we were born, before your nondenominational church was created, and before the Christian Church. The different interpretations, as well as emphasis on tradition, define the different sects.

The Bible was around far more than two thousand years ago. The whole Christian faith is based on believing Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. The first members of my religion were around directly when Jesus died on the cross.

Originally Posted by James

What are YOUR beliefs? They are your interpretation of the Bible. You are fifteen years old; you do not get to decide who is Christian and who is not.

Tell me how my age has any relevance. So if I never shared my age, you would assume I could tell who is Christian or not? You are obviously a more intelligent individual due to your longer stay on this earth but as far as the topic at hand goes, that was quite off topic.

Not only James, I have no problum admitting my knowledge of this topic is next to nothing compared to you but my belief is that Catholics and Christians are different. It's what I believe, and I am firm to it. I don't know everytihng about Catholics, but I know everything about Christians and I know enough to realize there is a difference in the belief system.

[Dead & Grateful]

Originally Posted by TomStrife

We follow exactly what the Bible says and no, we are not a "new" idea.
We are a 2000-year-old existing movement.

-That's been around for a few decades. On top of that, you've been around for less than two. Where's your logic with this one?

Originally Posted by TomStrife

I'm not Catholic. Therefore, I would be Protestant.

And you said yourself that Protestants aren't Christians. Case closed.

Originally Posted by TomStrife

The Bible was around far more than two thousand years ago. The whole Christian faith is based on believing Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. The first members of my religion were around directly when Jesus died on the cross.

What the hell does this even mean? Jesus died 2006 years ago... so... wait... oh forget it.

Originally Posted by TomStrife

I don't know everytihng about Catholics, but I know everything about Christians and I know enough to realize there is a difference in the belief system.

This statement in itself is a contradictory paradox.

Also, I'm assuming you either completely agree with or don't have an argument for my last post, since you chose to ignore it.

[User Name]

I don't think the debate should be whether or not Chatholocism is a Christian sect rather then are there Christian Catholics the same as are there Christian Mormons, Baptists, Calvists, et cetra? You see, I was raised with the idea of that it was what you believed, what you know in your heart that makes you Christian. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore then wearing black makes you Goth. It is what's in your heart that makes you who you are.

[Jof]

Originally Posted by TomStrife

I'm not Catholic. Therefore, I would be Protestant.

First, i dont quite get this statement. Are you inferring that If your not a Catholic that makes you a protestant? If you go to a Protestant church it is there that you learn Protestant ideals. Making you a Protestant as you believe what they believe. Anyway, the "Protestant Church" is not even strictly a church anymore as it no longer has apostolic succesion making any bishops/priests/clergy not 'holy' but im going WAY off topic.

Back to the debate at hand...

A quick google search of Christian denominations returned to me with these results...

* African Methodist Episcopal (1)
* African Methodist Episcopal Zion (2)
* African Orthodox Church (1)
* American Baptist Churches USA (4)
* Amish (24)
* Anabaptist (4)
* Anglican Catholic Church@
* Antiochian Orthodox@
* Armenian Evangelical Church (1)
* Armenian Orthodox@
* Assemblies of God (21)
* Associated Gospel Churches of Canada@
* Association of Vineyard Churches (5)
* Baptist (151)
* Baptist Bible Fellowship (2)
* Branch Davidian (3)
* Brethren in Christ (1)
* Bruderhof Communities (11)
* Byzantine Catholic Church@
* Calvary Chapel (3)
* Calvinist (6)
* Catholic (1675)
* Cell Church (14)
* Celtic Orthodox@
* Charismatic Episcopal Church (2)
* Christadelphian (16)
* Christian and Missionary Alliance (6)
* Christian Churches of God (1)
* Christian Identity (7)
* Christian Reformed Church (5)
* Christian Science (10)
* Church of God (Anderson) (3)
* Church of God (Cleveland) (4)
* Church of God (Seventh Day) (1)
* Church of God in Christ (2)
* Church of God of Prophecy (1)
* Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (150)
* Church of Scotland@
* Church of South India (2)
* Church of the Brethren (8)
* Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (2)
* Church of the Nazarene (17)
* Church of the New Jerusalem (4)
* Church of the United Brethren in Christ (2)
* Church Universal and Triumphant (3)
* Churches of Christ (34)
* Churches of God General Conference (5)
* Congregational Christian Churches (3)
* Coptic Orthodox@
* Cumberland Presbyterian Church (1)
* Disciples of Christ (13)
* Episcopal@
* Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (4)
* Evangelical Congregational Church (5)
* Evangelical Covenant Church (1)
* Evangelical Formosan Church (1)
* Evangelical Free Church (3)
* Evangelical Lutheran Church (31)
* Evangelical Methodist Church (1)
* Evangelical Presbyterian (1)
* Family, The (aka Children of God) (8)
* Fellowship of Christian Assemblies (1)
* Fellowship of Grace Brethren (3)
* Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (2)
* Free Church of Scotland (4)
* Free Methodist (6)
* Free Presbyterian (2)
* Free Will Baptist (4)
* Gnostic@
* Great Commission Association of Churches (2)



* Greek Orthodox@
* Hutterian Brethren (4)
* Independent Fundamental Churches of America (4)
* Indian Orthodox@
* International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (3)
* International Churches of Christ (7)
* Jehovah's Witnesses (35)
* Living Church of God (7)
* Local Church (7)
* Lutheran (39)
* Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (17)
* Mar Thoma Syrian Church (7)
* Mennonite (27)
* Messianic Judaism@
* Methodist (19)
* Moravian Church (3)
* Nation of Yahweh (4)
* New Frontiers International (1)
* Old Catholic Church@
* Orthodox (102)
* Orthodox Church in America@
* Orthodox Presbyterian (2)
* Pentecostal (25)
* Plymouth Brethren (4)
* Presbyterian (71)
* Presbyterian Church (USA) (17)
* Presbyterian Church in America (10)
* Primitive Baptist (4)
* Protestant Reformed Church (10)
* Reformed (14)
* Reformed Baptist (9)
* Reformed Church in America (4)
* Reformed Church in the United States (3)
* Reformed Churches of Australia@
* Reformed Episcopal (10)
* Reformed Presbyterian Church (6)
* Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (5)
* Revival Centres International (4)
* Romanian Orthodox@
* Rosicrucian@
* Russian Orthodox@
* Serbian Orthodox@
* Seventh Day Baptist (4)
* Seventh-Day Adventist (51)
* Shaker (13)
* Society of Friends (43)
* Southern Baptist Convention (14)
* Spiritist (2)
* Syrian Orthodox@
* True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (4)
* Two-by-Twos (3)
* Unification Church (12)
* Unitarian-Universalism@
* United Church of Canada@
* United Church of Christ (14)
* United Church of God (3)
* United Free Church of Scotland@
* United Methodist Church (112)
* United Reformed Church (2)
* Uniting Church in Australia@
* Unity Church (3)
* Unity Fellowship Church (2)
* Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (2)
* Virtual Churches (13)
* Waldensian Church (3)
* Way International, The (4)
* Web Directories (7)
* Wesleyan (9)
* Wesleyan Methodist@
* Worldwide Church of God (4)


Im not sure what the numbers are for...*shrugs* but as you can see Catholic is classed as a denomination of Christianity.

[TomStrife]

That's funny.
The Orthodox Church dislikes the Christian movement and makes fun of those things.

9/10 of the things you posted are completely different religions that share no similarities to Christianity whatsoever. You even got some cults there.

Sorry, not convinvced.


Meh, I guess I don't understand what Pentecost means.

[Jof]

So, are you going to show me 90% of those that are not linked to Christianity? 80%? 70%? 60% and so on?

This is different sects and denominations of the Christian Church. that is a fact. therefore Catholocism is a denomination of Christianity. They share beliefs and as was put rather well with the whopper example it means that they are all cut of the same cloth. (yes that was a rather unfunny joke)

[Fernester]

"Catholicism and Biblical Christianity are divergent religions. They are built on different foundations, and they propose different ways of salvation.
In principle, Christianity is built solely on the Holy Scriptures, the written Word of God. The Bible is our only infallible rule of faith, being sufficient to give us the sure knowledge of the Gospel for our salvation and holiness.
Roman Catholicism demands submission of the intellect and will to the doctrines taught by the Roman magisterium (the Pope and bishops). It is claimed that the Catholic Church derives its doctrines from the "sacred deposit" found in Scriptures and Sacred Tradition. However the faithful cannot verify these doctrines by referring to the original sources. The Scriptures are inaccessible because only the magisterium is able to establish the authentic meaning. Similarly the contents of Sacred Tradition can only be known through the magisterium. Roman Catholicism is mental and spiritual slavery to the Vatican.
As expected, since the foundations are different, so also are the edifices built upon them. Christianity stands on the Gospel of God's sovereign grace. In love, God predestines His chosen ones to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ, their sole mediator. The Son became man and gave His life as a ransom to secure their freedom from sin. Being dead in sin, they are completely unable to convert ourselves or merit God's favour. Therefore God graciously grants His people repentance and faith to turn to Him and trust in Christ Jesus for salvation. Believers are accepted in Christ, solely on the merit of His righteousness and blood, and not because of any goodness or human merit. God also resides in His people by the Holy Spirit, enabling them to obey and glorify the Father, and to guarantee their inheritance in heaven forever.
Rome's "gospel" is not good news at all. The Roman institution, calling itself "The Church", usurps Christ's mediatorial office, proclaiming herself as the "sacrament of salvation." The "Church" dispenses salvation to her faithful in small portions, starting at baptism and continuing throughout life. Forgiveness can only be obtained through the sacrament of penance. The benefits of Christ's sacrifice are accessible through the sacrifice of the Mass. Instead of teaching the faithful to rest in Christ by faith, Catholics are taught to perform religious works to "merit grace" and to do penance to make satisfaction. Even after death, Catholics remains dependent on the "Church" to relieve their suffering in Purgatory by masses and indulgences.
The Roman Catholic Church is a mighty obstacle to anyone seeking salvation, enslaving millions of people to a religious system and preventing them from coming directly to Christ.
The choice is between the Bible and the Roman magisterium; the choice is between salvation by grace through faith in Christ, or through human merit and effort in the Roman religion."

Dr. Joe Mizzi wrote this.

[Bunny]

You are a wily one, Fernester, I will give you that. However, I will also give you a warning for plagirism of materials that are not your own. That is unless, of course, you are Dr. Joe Mizzi. I, however, am not one to believe that a doctor would join a forum about video games. Call me a non-believer, and feel free to dispute my words(in a private area), but my warning still stands.

In extension of this, I would like this to be a warning to everyone else that this is a forum for your own thoughts about a variety of subjects. If you are going to use someone elses works, by all means, go ahead. But do so in a manner befitting the forum and its purpose, and by that I mean, only use someone elses work if you are enhancing your post. And make it clear that it is not your own, an example of such would be using the "quote" code.

I know how to use the internet. And I know when someone is not saying something in their own words. Do not test me in this matter.

Fernester and all others, a response to this post will be dealt with by an issuance of another warning. A response to Fernester's post, which will be kept as an example for everyone else on what not to do, will also earn you a warning.

Continue with your discussion.

Source

[Fernester]

"Copyright Dr Joe Mizzi. Permission to copy and distribute this article without textual changes."

That was stright from the source, ****er! You should learn to read the Copyright.

[Bunny]

Warning Number Two, Fernester.