Rachel Evans
Catholicism and Christianity are often considered to be distinct from one another, with some even believing Catholics are not Christians. However, Catholics are indeed Christians, as Catholicism falls under the umbrella of Christianity, which is a world religion that stems from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus. Catholics were the first followers of Christ, and they worship God, asking Mary to pray for them and respecting her role in bringing Jesus into the world. Catholics also read the Bible and have prayer books with biblical readings. The central issue during the Protestant Reformation was the means of salvation, with Protestants arguing for salvation by faith alone, while Catholics believe in salvation by faith and works.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholics are considered Christians | Catholics are considered Christians because they are trinitarian in their understanding and outline some basic Christian beliefs. Catholics affirm trinitarian theology and would accept the Apostles Creed. |
| Catholics are not considered Christians | Catholics are not considered Christians because they believe the formal teaching of the Catholic Church, which insists that Protestants are not Christian. Catholics do not rely solely on the Bible for their beliefs, instead relying on Scripture plus tradition. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics are the first followers of Christ
Catholicism is a form of Christianity, and Catholics are indeed Christians. The Catholic Church is the original Church founded by Jesus Christ and established by St Peter, the first Pope. The Catholic Church teaches that its public ministry began on Pentecost, occurring fifty days following the date Christ is believed to have resurrected. At Pentecost, the apostles are believed to have received the Holy Spirit, preparing them for their mission in leading the church.
The early Church was Catholic and Christian. The term "Christian" was first used to refer to disciples of Christ in Antioch, and these early Christians were part of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church was not a new invention of men much later in Christian history, as some may claim, but was established by Jesus Christ and continued by St Peter and his successors.
The early Church was a very organized group, even though they practised their faith "underground" due to persecution. Ignatius of Antioch, an early Christian martyr and disciple of John, wrote around AD 160 that the Church was a unified Church, and that those who were not in union with and under the authority of the bishops were not following the Church that Jesus Christ established. Ignatius also referred to the Church as the "Catholic Church".
The Bible as we know it today was defined by the Catholic Church at the Councils of Hippo and Carthage. The Catholic Church determined which books made it into the New Testament and which did not. The Catholic Church has an unbroken lineage of Popes from St Peter to Pope Francis today. All other forms of Christianity branched off from this original lineage, and the Catholic belief is that they have some but not all elements of the Truth.
The Catholic Church teaches that it "is the continuing presence of Jesus on earth" and that it alone possesses the full means of salvation. Through Christ's sacrifice, the Church believes that individuals can enter the Kingdom of God.
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Catholics affirm trinitarian theology
Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with about 1.3 billion adherents out of the 2.5 billion Christians worldwide. Catholics affirm trinitarian theology, which is central to Christianity, and this distinguishes them from pseudo-Christian cults like Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons.
Trinitarian theology, or Trinitarianism, is the belief in one God that exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine is not explicit in the New Testament, but many theologians, apologists, and philosophers argue that it can be inferred from its teachings about God. The Old Testament has also been interpreted as referring to the Trinity in several places, such as the Genesis creation narrative, where God says, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."
The Catholic Church, along with the Orthodox Church, considers itself one of the two surviving arms of the ancient church, upholding the creeds formulated by the early ecumenical councils. At the centre of their beliefs is the firm conviction in one God comprising three persons. This is reflected in Lumen Gentium 4, which describes the Church as a "people brought into unity from the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
While the Latin West traditionally begins with the unity of God (de Deo Uno), the Greek East starts from the perspective of the three persons of the Trinity (de Deo Trino). This tension between the West and East regarding the nature of the Trinity was particularly evident after the Council of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381). Despite these differing perspectives, both traditions affirm the fundamental trinitarian belief in one God with three distinct persons.
In summary, Catholics affirm trinitarian theology, which is a core Christian doctrine. While there may be differences in interpretation and emphasis within Christian denominations, the affirmation of trinitarian theology is a unifying factor that distinguishes Catholics as Christians.
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Catholics worship God, not Mary or statues
Catholics are Christians, but they differ from other Christian churches and denominations in their beliefs about the sacraments, the roles of the Bible and tradition, the importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints, and the papacy.
Catholics worship God, and God alone. However, Catholics do revere Mary, the Mother of God, and the saints. This is often a point of confusion for non-Catholics, who mistake this reverence for worship. When Catholics pray to Mary, they are honouring her and asking for her intercession on their behalf. They are not praying to her in the sense that they expect her to change things through her abilities. Instead, Catholics believe that Mary intercedes for them with her Son, Jesus.
Catholics believe that Mary played a massive role in forming Jesus, teaching him what it meant to live a faith-filled life and to care for other people. She was with Him at both the beginning and end of His life, and such closeness to Jesus is something that every Christian should strive for. The fact that she played such an important and unique role in human salvation makes it only right that she receives more veneration than the saints.
Catholics also use statues, paintings, and other artistic devices to recall the person or thing depicted. They help Catholics to remember, in the same way that looking at a photograph of a loved one can help jog one's memory. Statues are also used as teaching tools, especially for the instruction of the illiterate. However, Catholics do not worship these statues. God forbids the worship of images as gods, but he doesn’t ban the making of images. The key to understanding this is found in the first commandment, Exodus 20:5: “You shall not bow down to them or serve [adore] them.” The Lord did not prohibit statues; he prohibited the adoration of them.
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Catholics rely on Scripture and tradition
Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with about 1.3 billion followers out of the 2.5 billion Christians worldwide. However, the question of whether Catholics are considered Christians is complex and depends on one's definition of a Christian.
Catholics rely on both Scripture and tradition, whereas Protestants typically argue for "sola scriptura" ("Scripture alone"). The Catholic Church recognises that the Bible does not endorse the view that it is the only rule of faith. Catholics believe that Sacred Tradition is necessary to know how to interpret Scripture correctly. They argue that the Bible is a difficult book to understand, and the existence of numerous denominations and disagreements on various issues among Christians who follow sola scriptura supports the need for Sacred Tradition.
According to Catholics, Sacred Tradition hands down God's word, entrusted to the apostles by Christ and the Holy Spirit, to their successors. This allows them to preserve, explain, and spread God's word faithfully. Thus, the Catholic Church draws its certainty about revealed truths from both Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, which are to be revered equally.
Catholics believe that Sacred Tradition is necessary to determine which writings are inspired by the Holy Spirit and thus constitute Sacred Scripture. They argue that no part of Scripture states which writings are inspired, and it is through Sacred Tradition that the Church recognised which books were truly in accordance with Christ's teachings.
While the Bible does not explicitly state that tradition holds equal authority with Scripture, Catholics interpret certain passages as supporting this view. For example, in 2 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul tells Timothy to continue in what he has learned, referring to the oral teaching he had given Timothy, and the scriptures he had been taught in his childhood. This, Catholics argue, is an appeal to both apostolic tradition and Scripture.
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Catholics are considered Christian
Catholicism and Christianity are often mistakenly thought of as distinct from one another, with some even believing Catholicism to be a cult. However, Catholicism is, in fact, a branch of Christianity. Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with an estimated 1.3 billion followers out of 2.5 billion Christians worldwide.
Catholics are indeed Christians, as they affirm trinitarian theology and recognize the Apostles' Creed. Trinitarianism is central to Christianity, and those who reject it cannot be considered Christian. Catholics also worship God and ask Mary to pray for them, fulfilling her prophecy that "All generations will call me blessed."
Catholics do not worship statues of saints, but use them as reminders of the saints themselves. They also do not solely rely on the Bible for their beliefs, but instead on Scripture and tradition. This makes sense, as there was a church and sacred tradition before the Bible was formalized in the late 4th century AD.
The confusion surrounding whether Catholics are Christians may stem from the Protestant Reformation, which questioned who could be considered a Christian and the means of salvation. Protestants argued that salvation was by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and according to scripture alone. They also rejected the idea that the church, personified by the Pope, was the highest authority, instead placing scripture at the highest level of authority.
Despite these differences, Catholics are considered Christians, as they were the first followers of Christ, and their beliefs are based on his teachings.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholics are considered Christians. Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, and all Catholics affirm their allegiance to Christendom. Catholics were, in fact, the first followers of Christ.
Catholics are considered Christians because they are trinitarian in their understanding and outline some basic Christian beliefs. Catholics affirm trinitarian theology and would have no problem with the Apostles' Creed.
Catholics rely on Scripture plus tradition for their beliefs. This makes sense because there was a church and sacred tradition before there was a formal Bible. In the late 4th century AD, the church determined which writings should be included in the Bible.
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