Hi,

May I know what are the differences between Catholicism and Christianity?

Both worship God and Jesus Christ right?

I'm a non believer initially but are having more interest now as I am starting to believe in..

Your question is akin to - What is the difference between an Apple and a Fruit. One is the subset of the other.

Catholicism is a subset of Christianity.

Christianity can be divided into 2 folds - East and West.

Western Christianity consist of the Catholic Church, the form of the latin-rite Church, founded in the first century, the Anglican Church who claims to be the CC (branch theory) and the Protestant sects who claims to be the successor of the corrupted CC. The Protestant Sect are made of thousands of denominations consisting of namely the Methodist, Lutherans, Charismatic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Calvinist, Adventist etc. Each has their own teachings and were founded over the last 4 centuries. (Read Martin Luther and the 5 Solas for more information)

Eastern Christianity consists of the Catholic Church, in the form of the 21 Eastern Catholic Churches, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. They have different philosophies and understanding of basic Christian teachings.

There also a number of different sects who doesn't adhere to the major doctrines - Mormons, JW etc

Whatever you choose, why not try both Protestant and Catholic church and see which one you like better.

Take it easy. Faith needs time to build, one step at a time. Get rid of the bigger sins first and repent, the smaller ones are most likely to be a daily struggle but try to remain faithful. I hope you will find God a living God in your life. Try to love God, literally too. May God give you the kind of peace that is overpowering(if not ask it) and give you His blessings.

When God gives you his overpowering peace, do not have any attachment to sins, otherwise the peace would be taken away again. God is a gentle and kind God He doesn't require you to be perfect to receive His blessings but you can't have any attachment to sins.

Many things I want to write but I hope you find the wisdom as you go along the way.

Greetings from Jakarta,

Renaldi

i'm still confused over east and west. i think i asked about this before

hmm if both western and eastern churches consist of the catholic church, why then is catholicism a subset of christianity?

I was going to write because God made it so but I realized it wasn't a smart answer LOL.

Anyone well versed in the history of the Roman based Catholic church and the church of the Byzantium which centered on Constantinople?

Anyway I don't belive that we are saved by joining a particular religion. But we are saved if we do what God commands us to do through Jesus and faith in Jesus.

Because I don't think God equates to any particular denomination.

Besides religion can and has been abused so many times in our history. Ya think those were God's will?

Just my 2 cents anyway.

Originally posted by tok_2_me:

hmm if both western and eastern churches consist of the catholic church, why then is catholicism a subset of christianity?

What do you mean? It is a subset (one of the elements) of Christianity simply because there also exist other elements like Protestantism, various cults and EO. Perhaps before 1054AD, it will be accurate to state Catholicism = Christianity since no other Church existed.

Originally posted by Miracles&Prophecies:

Whatever you choose, why not try both Protestant and Catholic church and see which one you like better.

Take it easy. Faith needs time to build, one step at a time. Get rid of the bigger sins first and repent, the smaller ones are most likely to be a daily struggle but try to remain faithful. I hope you will find God a living God in your life. Try to love God, literally too. May God give you the kind of peace that is overpowering(if not ask it) and give you His blessings.

When God gives you his overpowering peace, do not have any attachment to sins, otherwise the peace would be taken away again. God is a gentle and kind God He doesn't require you to be perfect to receive His blessings but you can't have any attachment to sins.

Many things I want to write but I hope you find the wisdom as you go along the way.

Greetings from Jakarta,

Renaldi

I suggest a reading of patristics or writings of the Church fathers to examine their thoughts on Christian issues. A few of them like St Ignatius below (who was ordained by Peter and a disciple of John) were students of the Apostles.

Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrneans, 8:2 (c. A.D. 110).

The history of christianity is very important to Christians and more so if you are Catholic since the faith of the fathers (which pays testimony to sacred Tradition) together with Scripture is the rule of faith.

Originally posted by grandmaster89:

What do you mean? It is a subset (one of the elements) of Christianity simply because there also exist other elements like Protestantism, various cults and EO. Perhaps before 1054AD, it will be accurate to state Catholicism = Christianity since no other Church existed.

You should revise your Sec 4 mathematics textbook regarding the definition of a subset.

For Catholicism to be a subset of Christianity, the definition of the term 'Christianity' itself must be certain.  Given that there are around 30,000 non-Catholic denominations in the world that claim to be 'Christian', it is painfully obvious that no one can agree on what 'Christianity' means.

By definition, something cannot be a subset of another thing which is not defined.

Christian = follower of Christ.

By your arguments, can't I also state that is impossible to define Protestantism since the 8 thousand odd denomination contradict each other?

mayb u should jus read the bible first??get to know what is the word of God before you get corrupted by words of men...that is the first and most important step in building a relationship with God.

in the end, no matter wat "church" u choose.always check what is being taught to you with the bible and see if it contradicts or harmonize.

How can you read the Bible ( a collection of book deemed to be Scripture by the Catholic Church in the first 3 centuries)  while refusing to trust the words of men? This is simply a major contradiction.

It is akin to stating - I only trust Webster's Dictionary definition of apple but I will never trust Webster nor the team who compiled the dictionary definition of apple.

Originally posted by grandmaster89:

How can you read the Bible ( a collection of book deemed to be Scripture by the Catholic Church in the first 3 centuries)  while refusing to trust the words of men? This is simply a major contradiction.

It is akin to stating - I only trust Webster's Dictionary definition of apple but I will never trust Webster nor the team who compiled the dictionary definition of apple.

the bible is not a collection of books deemed as such. it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is the inspiration of a book that renders it authoritative, not human acceptance or recognition of the book. If God has spoken, what He says is divine in itself, regardless of human response to it. It does not "become divine" through human agreement with it.

if a diamond cutter shapes a diamond out from the gemstone, did he create the stone or was the stone itself already there in the first place?

When we understand this, we can see how erroneous it is to suppose that the corporate church, at some council of its leaders, voted on certain documents and constituted them the canon. The church cannot subsequently attribute authority to certain writings. It can simply receive them as God's revealed word which, as such, always has been the church's canon. Authority is inherent in those writings from the outset, and the church simply confesses this to be the case.

Originally posted by 24/7:

the bible is not a collection of books deemed as such. it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is the inspiration of a book that renders it authoritative, not human acceptance or recognition of the book. If God has spoken, what He says is divine in itself, regardless of human response to it. It does not "become divine" through human agreement with it.

if a diamond cutter shapes a diamond out from the gemstone, did he create the stone or was the stone itself already there in the first place?

No one here is arguing that the 27 NT Canon are inspired because the CC proclaims it to be. But rather, we are stating a historical notion (which Protestants agree) that YOU know the 27 NT Canon is inspired because the CC proclaimed it to be so in the middle of the 4th century. Even Martin Luther conceded this point -

"We concede -- as we must -- that so much of what the Papist say is true: that the papacy has God's word and the office of the apostles, and that we have received Holy Scriptures, Baptism, the Sacrament, and the pulpit from them. What would we know of these if it were not for them?"
Sermon on the gospel of St. John, chaps. 14 - 16 (1537), in vol. 24 of LUTHER'S WORKS,

Hence, my question is why do you believe in the CC NT Canon as opposed to the JW Canon or the Montanist Canon or the Marcionite Canon? And naturally, what did the early Church used as her rule of faith prior the formation of the 27 NT Canon?

Originally posted by grandmaster89:

How can you read the Bible ( a collection of book deemed to be Scripture by the Catholic Church in the first 3 centuries)  while refusing to trust the words of men? This is simply a major contradiction.

It is akin to stating - I only trust Webster's Dictionary definition of apple but I will never trust Webster nor the team who compiled the dictionary definition of apple.

compilers are merely people who collect the stuff and place them together.God inspired writers are people who write based on what God wants them to write..see the diff?here comes the 3rd class of people. some religious leaders will make use of scriptures to serve their own needs.tink rabbis during JC time,osama bin laden during our time.

Originally posted by 24/7:

When we understand this, we can see how erroneous it is to suppose that the corporate church, at some council of its leaders, voted on certain documents and constituted them the canon. The church cannot subsequently attribute authority to certain writings. It can simply receive them as God's revealed word which, as such, always has been the church's canon. Authority is inherent in those writings from the outset, and the church simply confesses this to be the case.

agreed.

Originally posted by grandmaster89:

No one here is arguing that the 27 NT Canon are inspired because the CC proclaims it to be. But rather, we are stating a historical notion (which Protestants agree) that YOU know the 27 NT Canon is inspired because the CC proclaimed it to be so in the middle of the 4th century. Even Martin Luther conceded this point -

 

Hence, my question is why do you believe in the CC NT Canon as opposed to the JW Canon or the Montanist Canon or the Marcionite Canon? And naturally, what did the early Church used as her rule of faith prior the formation of the 27 NT Canon?

be it catholics,protestants,Jehovah Witnesses,the so called NT or the greek scriptures is the same.it is not empowered by man to deem it divine.early true christians based their faith in jesus words and also his disciples.until the council of Nicaea and subsequent councils compile the bible.