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 magisterial (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 magisterial is able to establish the authentic meaning. Similarly the contents of Sacred Tradition can only be known through the magisterial. 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 favor. 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 editorialALffice, 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.
Catholicism was founded by Jesus Christ when he handed the rock to Peter. Christianity believes in Jesus, but not necessarily in the immaculate conception of Mary. Christians do not always recognize the Pope as their spiritual leader.
Catholics ARE Christians. People who say otherwise are showing a profound ignorance of the history of their own religion, its' founding and its' practices. Catholicism is the original Christianity, all others are branches based off of what one person or another disagreed with in it.
Catholics put a lot of emphasis on the virgin Mary, and they have stricter rules, at least some of them do. Christian are more laid back. They're more or less the same, since they both have Christ as their savior and all that stuff.
Catholicism is one of many forms of Christianity. Protestants like to demonize Catholics, but the truth is their religious views (depending on the group and the individual, of course; let's not generalize) are often more skewed, distorted, self-serving and blasphemous as the worst Catholic doctrine. Neither group is perfect, and neither is entirely in line with Christ's teachings.
Christianity is more flexible than Catholicism, they allow people to divorce and have no strict in practicing the religion, they can adapt to any culture and customs while Catholicism you have to follow the Boss in Rome.
Catholicism is a denomination or part of Christianity. Its certain group of Christianity just like Baptist,Methodist, and much more. To me, denominations are not as important as other things in Christianity.
Catholics are the ones that accepted Jesus when the Jews did not. During a certain time (after Jesus had died and came back and went away again), a man decided that he didn't like everything the Catholics did! (He was Catholic, by the way.) So he "broke off" from the Catholics and made a few changes (the things he didn't like and also added things he thought they should do) causing a "new" religion. Thus Christians were made! So Christians are Catholics but Catholics aren't Christians...get it! (It's like a rectangle is a square but a square isn't a rectangle!)
But not all Christians are catholics. Christianity is about a relationship with God. Its not about religion. It's about following Christ and His way of life. To be a Christian is to follow Christ Jesus. if you dint follow Christ, then you are not a christian.Thats the simplest , and the basic concept of Christianity -- following Christ and making him as our Lord in our lives --- Not just membership to any denomination. Relationship with God will only take place when one will believe and follow Jesus Christ. Remember, He is the way to the Father. He is the only mediator between God and men.
Many differences.
Christians don't have;
Traditions of men,
Precepts of men,
Rituals of men,
Idols.
Christians don't make the virgin Mary a Deity.
Christian don't repent to man for their sins.
Catholicism is a form of religion that branched off from Christs true church in the time of Constantine, Constantine wanted to unite the church and his government in order to better control his people and to gain their trust. they then created their own laws that they felt a christian should follow. later the catholic church tried to destroy Jesus' true church because they threatened what the catholics believed. hence the dark ages. while the catholics teach Jesus they do not teach salvation. for a period of time the catholic Church did not even allow its members to have a bible because they felt that only the priests could understand it. but in reality they knew that they did not teach the truth and did not want its congregation to know. while catholics may mean well they still have it wrong, you wont get to heaven confessing your sins to another man. confess them to Jesus and believe he died for your sins that is all god requires in order for you to have eternal life, nothing more.
Christianity has three main strands: Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant.
Until about 1000 AD, there was basically one group.
Then a split produced the Orthodox in Eastern Europe and Catholics in Western Europe cent red in Rome.
About 1500 AD, protests against abuse in the Roman Church produced the Protestant Churches, who quickly began to disagree amongst themselves, and divide further.
Tragically, we are left with a situation where many, many groups claim that they're the only Real Christians.
However, mainly since the 1960s, most (but not all) Churches have become closer, and recognize that no one way is right for everyone.
Many of us believe that this is an answer to Jesus's prayer "May they all be one".
Catholics claim to be Christians but according to church teachings they are not. Most religions actually come down to one of two beliefs. Do or done. What I mean by that is that most religions including Catholism teach that you have to do something to be saved. True Christianity teaches that Jesus did it all. All we can do is receive salvation as a free gift from Him.
Here is an excellent resource on where Catholics are Christians.
http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0071/0071_01.asp
I personally believe Catholics ARE Christians, but I disagree with them on a few issues. They still recognize the initial act of justification to be by grace through faith. I don't think they take it far enough, though. A lot of the differences stem from the belief in the infallibility of the Pope.
What's the difference between Christianity and Catholicism?
