[Moparbyfar]

There are about 38,000 demoninations CLAIMING to be christian throughout the world and yet look at all the disharmony. That's a pretty WIDE and SPACIOUS looking path if you ask me! ;)

[Fr_Chuck]

Most are very similar, and most of all the largest are very similar,
Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal are all very similar, and then the Lutheran and Methodist are close to them
It is mostly the newer denominations that are more spread. So in general the largest part of Christianity are very close in beleifs and practice in actual faiths.

And most all believe in salvation by faith, most believe Jesus was the Son of God and faith in him saves. Most follow and believe the Apostles Creed as developed by the early church, the Lords Prayer.

While going to the wide spread, percentage wide, the largest wide spread is not that large ( in percentages.)

[Donna Mae]

[QUOTE=Moparbyfar]It appears that you are taking certain scriptures to suit your own beliefs and are not comparing them to other scriptures which tell us what you don't want to believe. (Not taking away from God's Word - really?) I can't see from these scriptures where you have an excuse to worship idols.:confused:

WHAT IDOLS!?!!!!!!!
I have never worshiped anything in my life except God and Jesus, I do admit I liked Elvis a little more than I should have when I was a teenager (lots of pictures), but I have never worship anyone but my Lord and Savior.

Why does my statement that Jesus is the head of the church, lead you to believe that I do, or would ever worship idols?

[Fr_Chuck]

So you can Pray to the Father Directly. Why catholics Knell down the images of the saints. it against the christian doctrine. According to the bible Reveletion 19:10 "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy feloow servan, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy". Even the angel of the Lord stop St John to kneel down in him. Kneeling down is part of worship. Now the catholics thay knell down in the images.
You said catholics made the christian doctrines, well it wrong. you must not established your own creeds. The bible is complete. your faith must be based on the bible. You said catholics are not worships images. My question for knelling is part of worship or not? I know someone will get angry. Peace!

Actually you have catholics and Orthodox confused her, Orthodox knell by icons more than catholics, catholics knee in prayer to God, not to any idols, And to be honest the more you post the more it is very obvoius you know nothing about the real teachings of the catholic church,

Which anti catholic hate group have you been getting your incorrect matterial from.

Not reading those "chick" publications are you.

[Mom of 2]

How did we get to where we are now worshipping idols? Have we some how been transported to a third world country in the middle of the Pacific? In same ways, I wish!!

[Fr_Chuck]

Mom of 2,

I guess you don't read some of that hate group things published about Catholics, some ( what I considered just hate groups) teach that Catholics and the Pope are really the anti christ, they teach that communion is killing Christ over and over again and wrong
That catholics worship mary and idols, that they don't teach salvation

Most of these same groups attack Mormoms and JW also. Most of it is so sad, they take a little bit of truth, but the bigger the lies they do, more some people want to believe it. Not a lot different than some of the KKK teachings of hate against Catholics in years past.

If you honestly have not read some of the hate teachings of these groups, goggle some, you will be shooked at the lies and hate some groups teach.

[addaddadd]

There are about 38,000 demoninations CLAIMING to be christian throughout the world and yet look at all the disharmony. That's a pretty WIDE and SPACIOUS looking path if you ask me! ;)

That's WHY GOD SAITH "Thus sauth the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the goo way, walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. " Jeremiah 6:16

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether thye are of God: because many false prophet are gone out into the world." I John 4:1

There are many False prophets, false religion in this time. Try them if they are true.

[Mom of 2]

I believe that the original post was asking about the differences between Catholic and Christian. This has turned into a hate forum for the Catholic faith.

Again, believe what you want to believe. It seems that you are more intent on forcing people to be against Catholics than in answering the original question. I feel that you have a total separate agenda going on here. I don't think that I have in any way tried to convince anyone to hate any religious affiliation/denomination. If you feel that I have, that was not my intent. People will believe what they want to believe. It's not very Christian of someone to want to spread hatred among people.

[Fr_Chuck]

Yes, I had to make a choice either to delte all the anti catholic hate speech from a coupld of posters or have it moved to a non christian forum, the religious discussion area.

Since it is obvoius that those posting the anti catholic hate are not christians most liekly merely those pushing their hate filled agenda.

But yes, most of those hate groups have no actual doctrine of their own or even purpose except to attack the faith of certain groups, I feel so sorry since they don't know the love that Jesus has for all of us.

[Moparbyfar]

To Donna I apologise for assuming you to be a "christian" who wears or reveres the cross or Jesus statues (idols/images). My statements were simply from the bible itself showing that TRUE First Century Christian stayed well away from the reverence of such things.

I also apologise for assuming this discussion was referring to the difference between Catholics and TRUE Christians. So in answer to the subject question, it seems there is not much difference at all. :o

[Mom of 2]

No, there is not much difference between Catholocism and OTHER Christian religions. One Christian religion is not any better than another. It is more a matter of what an individual feels comfortable with. Being Catholic means that you are a Chrisitan. Being Lutheran means that you are Chrisitan. Being Methodist means that you are Christian. Being Baptist means that you are Christian, etc. etc. etc. Believing that Jesus Christ is our savior means that you are Christian, regardless what denomination that you follow. As there are numerous ways to love and lead your life, there are numerous ways to honor and worship The Lord. No way is more right than the other. The Bible has been interpreted over and over and one should take from it what they can from it to better their life, not to form hatred against anyone. It is all what you believe and what you feel comfortable with. God does not love one religion more than another. The fact that someone believes in a higher power and is committed to following a life of love, respect, forgiveness, compassion, authenticity, and virtue is what will make this world a better place. Hatred for anything is what ruins the world and makes this world a less desirable place to be.

[Guest]

It is noted that not all "Christian" faiths believe in veneration of objects, Trinity, Hell, that all go to heaven, not "walking in the name of the True God" (Mic 4:5) or even being involved in politics, as Jesus did not and even said that his followers were "no part of the world just as he was no part of the world." (John 17:16)
I don't see ths as how THEY view worship of God but how HE views worship. Not many religions seem to take notice of what God REALLY wants which is such a shame since He loves every one of us and yet many appear to think that ALL christians will be saved no matter what they do and believe, as long as it suits their own circumstances.
Psa 97:10 says that lovers of God are to HATE what is bad.
From what I have read on these posts I do not see any malicious, hateful comments, just reminders of what Jesus and his disciples practiced and taught in their day.
John 17:20,21 Jesus prayed to his father concerning his follwers that "they may all be one."
2 Cor 13:11 Paul encourages the Christians to "be in agreement with one another and live peaceably."
I don't thnk the christians back then were being encouraged to accept whatever an individual believed even if it differed from what they had ben taught.

Just an opinion :)

Pss - Approx 1/3 of the worlds population refer to themselves as christian. This is a large amount yes?

[Donna Mae]

[QUOTE=Moparbyfar]To Donna I apologise for assuming you to be a "christian" who wears or reveres the cross or Jesus statues (idols/images). My statements were simply from the bible itself showing that TRUE First Century Christian stayed well away from the reverence of such things.

I wish you would read my posts #5 & #6, my beliefs come straight from the Bible. God's word is what I try to live my life by, not denominational religions.

[ItzZee]

Every Catholic is a Christian but not all Christians are Catholic

[Mom of 2]

Itzzee - Bingo.

[buzzman]

I was raised Catholic and became Protestant in my early 20's. I believe that you are and can still be Christian as a Catholic, because they acknowledge Jesus as God in the Flesh and this is biblical. BUT, we must also be born again so that our spirit is renewed to be able to be in a state to commune with God. The part I have problems with in the Catholic faith is the root of its leadership. It must be understood that Jesus is the head of the Church today, and NOT the pope. The Pope has to be forgiven, just like the rest of the population. "All fall short of the Glory of God". One interesting titbit of information I am reading about is How the Mighty Roman Empire might have survived all these years through the Roman Catholic Church. Think about it, How else could a political movement live on through the years. It would and could by hiding behind a religious movement. Could you imagine if this was in any way true? I think this would make sense as the world is setting up the stage for "end times". But understand, ultimately man's hearts are judged based on what they do with what they know. Ignorance is overlooked as long as we are not making a conscious effort refusing to grow in the direction God's will is leading us. Sin ultimately MUST be forgiven to be in God's presence. This can only be done through the forgiveness of sins given over to Jesus Christ. For it is by Grace that we are saved, not by works, so that no one can boast.