Catholic vs Christianity? Now Catholics also call themseves Christians, and yet Christianity seems different? Is it that Works and Grace thing? You either have to work for salvation, or you just accept it as a free gift?

Comments

• Actually Orthodox was around before Catholics.

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  by glamorgirli on February 22nd, 2007

• Neither were the first Christians.

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  by Metaphiz on February 22nd, 2007

• The Catholic and Orthodox Churches were the same Church until about 1000 AD, when they split

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  by rosebudmelissa on December 4th, 2007

• Let's not forget. Christianity is MUCH older than ANY of the organized religions that proclaim it. The idea that Catholicism, Orthodoxy, or any other sect of Christianity is born out of the elitist belief that "our" doctrine is the only "true" doctrine, and therefore practiced and taught by the first Christians. Thus, "they must have been 'Catholics'. However, this is a historically inaccurate assumption. There was not, for example, a pope. There were none of these rituals and the like, and not only did they not consider Latin to be the "holy language", many of them couldn't even speak it. The first Christians didn't even have a Bible. They relied upon the handed-down teachings of Christ, and the written word of the prophets that are still taught in Jewish Synagogues today. True Christianity is that of the heart, the Kingdom of Heaven, love, and not rituals, and, certainly, not prayers to the dead.

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  by Metaphiz on January 4th, 2008

• Actually Patrick, by the year 120 AD the Church was already called Catholic, as referenced by a letter of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans. Only a decad later in his work Against Heresies, Ireaneus defined what it meant to be Catholic. It meant being in line with the true teachings of Christ. When he was asked, 'how could one know if they were in line with true teaching?' Irenaeus gave a stunning response. "Look to the greatest and most holy Church in Rome, founded by the most glorious apostles Peter and Paul." If you are in line with this Church, then you are in line with the true teachings. This is the Catholic Church. If you would like to talk about the subsequent formation of the papacy we can.

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  by Catholic31 on February 5th, 2008

• Absolutely! Catholics were first! It's just how initially Christianity was called in the Roman Empire. I might be mistaken, though. Even though I was myself baptized as an Orthodox, I certainly appreciate Catholicism. Moreover I don't see much difference between them, except politics!
  But how can we stand all the load of American uneducatedness. They are mostly bred believing that only their Mormonic sects are Christians. I try hard to tolerate them all, but sometimes my feelings are hurt by some idiots like the author. And i can't help myself being rude with the way I posted here. Pardon me!

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  by Olga_K4652 on April 10th, 2012

• Absolutely! Catholics were first! It's just how initially Christianity was called in the Roman Empire. I might be mistaken, though. Even though I was myself baptized as an Orthodox, I certainly appreciate Catholicism. Moreover I don't see much difference between them, except politics!
  But how can we stand all the load of American uneducatedness. They are mostly bred believing that only their Mormonic sects are Christians. I try hard to tolerate them all, but sometimes my feelings are hurt by some idiots like the author. And i can't help myself being rude with the way I posted here. Pardon me!

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  by Olga_K4652 on April 10th, 2012