Christianity is a monotheistic (the belief there is only one God) religion based on the teachings of Jesus. One-third of the world’s population follows this religion. Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity (more than one-half of Christians are Catholics). Christians and Catholics believe there is only one God (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). Both posit that people face an eternity in heaven or hell after death. Some souls that desire purification may be sent to Purgatory.
Catholicism Vs. Christianity
Catholicism is a branch of Christianity. However, Christians believe that belief in Jesus will grant entry into Heaven, no matter what kind of sins a person commits in life. On the other hand, Catholics believe that one’s actions in life matter as much as one’s faith in God/Jesus. Christians opine that all humans are fundamentally flawed and sinful. Only belief in God helps them attain salvation. Catholics believe that humans retain some level of goodness and exercise free will. So, what a person does in his life determines whether he goes to heaven or hell.
Difference Between Catholicism And Christianity In Tabular Form
| Parameters Of Comparison | Catholicism | Christianity |
| View on humans | Catholicism believes humans have some goodness left in them. | Christianity posits that all humans are full of sin. |
| Free Will | According to Catholics, people have free will, and their actions determine whether they are worthy enough to enter heaven. | According to Christians, it does not matter how good a life a person leads. People won’t be able to enter heaven if they do not believe in God. |
| End of Days | Considers the end of days referred to in the book of revelations real. | Considers it a metaphor for potential disaster. |
| Virgin Mary | Catholics believe she was pure and her body went to heaven when she died. | Some Christians opine that she was not without sin, and similar to other humans, her body was buried on Earth and did not ascend to heaven. |
| Mass | Catholics may attend mass as many times as they want and do not attend them only on Sundays. They have to visit a church, chapel, cathedral, or basilica to worship. | Christians attend mass on Sundays and other special occasions. A Christian can worship at home or other places of worship. |
| Confessions | Catholics confess their sins to priests. | Christians confess their sins directly to God. |
| Authority of Pope | Catholics consider Popes infallible and supreme. | Christians reject these claims. |
What Is Catholicism?
Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity, and as such, about 60% of Christians are Catholics; all Catholics are Christians. They consider Bible the word of God (a theme adopted in Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol. It is revealed at the end that the final word the antagonist was searching for was the Bible.). According to Catholics, the church can interpret and decide whether an interpretation of the Scripture is false. They believe faith and good actions are required for a person to attain Heaven.
The Catholics are known as the First Christians, as Christ found the Catholic Church. The Pope heads the Catholic church’s hierarchy (bishops, priests, and deacons). Catholic canon law regulates the church life of Catholics and is the first and oldest modern western legal system; it is distinct from civil law. Catholics believe Jesus to be fully divine (as he is the Son of the Father) and fully human (as he is believed to possess a human soul).
Catholics believe that the soul of each person will be judged by God after death. The pure souls reach heaven and those who were persistently sinful are damned to hell. However, the church also states that no one is condemned to hell unless they reject God completely. Souls that are destined for heaven but are not entirely pure yet are sent to Purgatory for purification; the impure soul is purged by its sufferings there.
According to the church’s teachings, only married couples may be involved in sexual activities. Even those engaged to be married are advised to refrain from such activities to test the fidelity of each other. The marriage of unbaptized individuals may be dissolved with papal permission if they desire to marry a Catholic. However, the marriage between baptized individuals cannot be dissolved except when declared invalid. The church rejects the use of birth control (but allows natural family planning methods); however many western Catholics are in disagreement with this teaching.
Sacraments Of The Catholic Church
The Catholic Church has seven sacraments (religious ceremonies or rituals) that are classified into three groups.
Sacraments Of Initiation
Baptism (the first sacrament of initiation) is believed to wash away all sins. A newborn child in danger of death can be baptized by a doctor or parent. Confirmation is the second sacrament of initiation required to complete baptism. It involves anointing a person with a mixture of olive oil and balsam that was blessed by the bishop. Confirmation is given immediately after the baptism of adults; however, confirmation of children takes place only when they are old enough to understand what is going on.
Eucharist is the final sacrament of initiation that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus. Consecrated bread and wine (body and blood of Christ) are offered to the Catholics during this ceremony. The first time a Catholic receives Eucharist is known as the first communion.
Sacraments Of Healing
The Sacrament of Penance is used to convert those who sinned after baptism and thus were separated from Christ. The sinner must conscientiously analyze his sin, become determined not to sin again, confess to the priest, and do an act of reparation. The priest must determine what act of reparation the sinner must perform according to the severity of his sins. Mortal or serious sins must be confessed at least once a year. The priest would be severely penalized if he reveals the sins confessed to him.
Anointing of the sick is a sacrament that provides peace, comfort, and courage to a person fearing death/on their deathbed. If the sick person is unable to confess his sin, his sins are believed to be forgiven when the priest anoints him using oil.
Sacraments At The Service Of Communion
Holy Orders depute some Christians to serve as bishops, priests, or deacons. All bishops are celibate, and generally, only celibate men can attain priesthood. A man cannot marry after becoming a Catholic priest unless he withdraws from his status as a priest. A married Catholic man can become a deacon in a church.
Matrimony is considered a social and spiritual bond and a valid marriage between baptized individuals cannot be ended except by death. For a marriage to be valid, freedom of consent is required. The declaration of a couple’s marriage as invalid leads to its annulment. A divorcee cannot remarry unless the church declares the previous marriage invalid.
What Is Christianity?
Christianity is a religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus. Christians consider Jesus, God’s incarnate, became fully human and suffered from pain and temptations like a mortal man but never sinned. It is believed that he will return from his place in heaven to establish the Kingdom of God. According to the Christians, God is a Holy Trinity. They believe in only one God, but God exists as a unity as well as a trinity. Nontrinitarians existed during early Christianity and rejected the concept of the Trinity. However, belief in the Trinity is still strong.
Christians believe there is only eternal life or damnation after death. Only Catholics believe in Purgatory. Christians assemble for worship on Sundays and listen to sermons (instructions based on the teachings of the testaments and gospels). The most popular symbol of Christians is the Cross. Some other popular symbols are the fish or Ichthys, the dove, and the olive branch. Christians traditionally recite prayers thrice daily (at 9 am, 12, and 3 pm). Prayers offered to benefit others are referred to as intercessory prayers. The Catholic branch of Christianity defines prayer as requesting good things from God.
Some Christians believe Bibles are incapable of being wrong as they were written by divine inspiration. Some hold that only the original manuscripts are inerrant, though none of those are available at present. Others believe that only a particular version of the Bible (King James Version) is completely right.
Christianity is criticized to date due to its belief in the Holy Trinity which is, according to Jews and Muslims, against the basic principle of monotheism. Severe criticisms were aimed at Christianity, calling it homophobic, transphobic, and prejudiced. Moreover, it is accused of abusing women’s rights. Catholicism is criticized due to pontification (the infamous papal supremacy) and its teachings against allowing women to become priests. The Catholic Church’s stand against contraception (artificial means of birth control) also drew attracted heavy criticism.
A few also argued that Christianity is using fear of punishment or hell to make people accept its authority. However, some believers of Christianity argue that people end up in hell due to their own free will. Their choice to reject God or not to be with God paves their way to hell. Counterarguments were made claiming that God would never give ignorant humans a choice to determine their destinies. Such arguments have no definite answers; therefore, Christianity is still a popular religion because modern-day people choose to follow the teachings they feel are right.
Different Interpretations Of Scriptures
Catholic Interpretations
The Catholics have two prominent types of interpretation. The Alexandrian interpretation reads the Scriptures allegorically (it is believed there is a hidden meaning in addition to the literal meaning). The Antiochene interpretation believes in the literal meaning.
Protestant Interpretations
Some protestants believe that the Scriptures have everything one needs to lead a Christian life and attain salvation. Other protestants believe that tradition, reason, and experience can add to the teachings of the Scriptures as long as they do not contradict the bible. According to Protestants, the meaning of the Bible is simple and clear; so, an ordinary person can understand its teachings.
Sacraments Or Ordinances Of Christianity
Baptism and Eucharist are the two sacraments commonly accepted by Christianity’s branches and sub-classifications. The majority of Christians accept five more sacraments; together they form the Seven Sacraments recognized by Catholics, Orthodox, many Anglicans, and some Lutherans. Anabaptists use the term ‘ordinance’ instead of the term sacrament. The Church of the East has the sacraments of Holy Leaven (a powder added to sacramental bread) and Sign of Cross (a ritual blessing made by tracing an upright cross while reciting the Trinitarian formula) instead of the sacraments of Matrimony and Anointing of the Sick.
Main Difference Between Catholicism And Christianity In Points
- All Catholics are Christians; however, not all Christians are Catholics (for example, they may be Protestants or Orthodox).
- Other Christians believe faith in God alone can help people reach Heaven, whereas Catholicism teaches that mere faith alone cannot help a person reach heaven. His or her actions should be good enough to be granted access to Heaven.
- Catholicism recognizes seven sacraments, whereas some other denominations of Christianity recognize only two.
- Other Christians opine that humans inherited sin from Adam and are sinful or fundamentally flawed. Catholics believe humans retained some level of goodness when they fell to Earth.
- Catholics consider the Pope to be infallible and supreme. Other Christians do not support this view. They only believe that the Bible (or at least versions of it) is inerrant.
- Protestants believe only God can absolve their sins, whereas Catholics confess to priests and perform an act of repentance to be absolved.
Conclusion
People, whether Catholics, protestants, or Orthodox are still Christians. They believe in the Holy Trinity and try to be good humans. Even if they slip and make a mistake or commit a sin, they confess to ease their guilt and receive absolution. According to Christians (including the Catholics), God is willing to forgive anyone who repents their past mistakes.
Many arguments have been made against miracles stating that no rational person will believe in them. Some people also questioned how Jesus’s birth in Jerusalem could help the millions of people in other parts of the world. Despite all this criticism, Christianity has stood strong for centuries. Most Christians have stopped following ethical inconsistencies in the Bible, which proves that religion can evolve for good.
References
- https://www.scripturecatholic.com/the-difference-between-catholic-and-christian/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#
- https://www.aboutcatholics.com/blog/five-differences-between-catholics-and-christians/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_of_the_cross
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Leaven
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Christianity#Ethics
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_Catholic_Church#