Can Roman Catholicism be considered a religion, or is it just a subset of a religion? If it isn't, then why is there an article on Yahoo that says that Islam surpassed Roman Catholicism to become the world largest religion, if it still isn't bigger than Christianity? Here's the article:
It is the original (excluding Orthodox) Christian denomination, all the others are the results of schisms.
Why wouldn't you include it under Christianity? That would be like saying that Islam *isn't* as large as it is because you are counting the Shi'a, Sunni and Sufi sects individually.
It is true that the comparison is, like all statistics, interpretable. The RCC is one sect of Christianity, the largest one actually, simply because it is not as fragmented as Protestantism tends to be, yet it is being compared with ALL sects of Islam, Sunni, Shia and otherwise. Perhaps Yahoo! is trying to alarm Christians into some kind of panicked, unspecified reaction. While it is an interesting fact, by itself it doesn't mean much.
As to whether Catholicism is a distinct religion, that depends on how specific or general you want the definition of "religion" to be. If Catholicism is a "religion", so would Protestantism be, yet no one attends the local "Protestant" church, only a specific denomination (or non-denomination is some cases). There is no overall "Protestant" hierarchy or spokesperson. But comparing individual Protestant denominations with Catholicism is statistically unfair because Catholicism isn't a "denomination" of Protestantism. It has a unifying structure that keeps its many varieties of spirituality and social thinking technically under one roof. So while Protestants are all different varieties of apples, Catholics are oranges. Both fruits, but you can't quite compare them.
no. However, it is the largest christian denomination, so people usually just call its own religion, even though its just as much a part of Christianity as the Anglican, puritan, and protestant denominations.
Apparently you have not and probably will not take the time to read anything. Catholicism is the founder, it is Christianity, it is the root of all the christian beliefs. Catholic dogma has been at the base of all the insanity of Christianity. It is and has always been called the 'mother' church. All things religious [christian] stem from all its dogma.
Is all Christianity one religion? Or is each denomination a different religion? Do you count Baptists with Methodists? Or Presbyterians with the Salvation Army?
The article goes on to say: When considering all Christians and not just Catholics, Christians make up 33 percent of the world population.
The whole body of Roman Catholics define schism, a separation from the Truth that is found in Jesus The Christ., a separation from the "Church, wrong; at the very threshold. This will easily appear to any that calmly consider the several texts wherein the word "schism" occurs: from the whole tenor of which it is manifest, that it is not a separation from any Church, (whether general or particular, whether the Catholic, or any national Church,) but a separation in The Church of Christ.
Let us begin with the first verse, wherein Paul makes use of the word. It is the tenth verse of the first chapter of his First Epistle to the Corinthians. The Words are, "I beseech you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms" ( the original word is schemata) "among you." Can anything be more plain than that the schisms here spoken of, were not separations from, but divisions in, the Church of Corinth? Accordingly, it follows, "But that ye be perfectly united together, in the same mind and in the same judgment." You see here, that an union in mind and judgment was the direct opposite to the Corinthian schism. This, consequently, was not a separation from the Church or Christian society at Corinth' but a separation in the Church; a disunion in mind and judgment, (perhaps also affection,) among those who, notwithstanding this, continued outwardly united as before.Of what nature this schism at Corinth was, is still more clearly determined (if anything can be more clear) by the words that immediately follow: "Now this I say," -- this is the schism of which I speak; you are divided into separate parties; some of you speaking in favor of one, some of another preacher, -- "Every one of you saith," (verse 12,) " I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas," or Peter. Who then does not see that the schism for which the Apostle here reproves the Corinthians is neither more nor less than the splitting into several parties, as they gave the preference to one or another preacher? And this species of schism there will be occasion to guard against in every religious community. Makes me believe that mankind is so far from the truth then thy ever been. but One thing is sure if we ever want to see a better place. we all must turn from our iniquity.
God will observe the same order which he hath done from the beginning of Christianity. "They shall all know me, saith the Lord;" not from the greatest to the least (this is that wisdom of the world which is foolishness with God but "from the least to the greatest;" that the praise may not be of men, but of God. Before the end. Jer 31:34,(&c)
" Never be weary of well-doing. In due time thou shalt reap if thou faint not.
Is Roman Catholicism a religion?
but "from the least to the greatest;" that the praise may not be of men, but of God. Before the end. Jer 31:34,(&c)
