Are catholics christians???

ok... a debate has sort of started in the Debates forum stating that Catholics are NOT Christians?

i am really finding this hard to get my head round... can anyone here help me understand?

Originally posted by SALADIN
ok... a debate has sort of started in the Debates forum stating that Catholics are NOT Christians?

i am really finding this hard to get my head round... can anyone here help me understand?

Some Catholics are, some are not. Some self-professing Christians are, some are not. Some unprofessing people are, some are not.

Any other questions?

Originally posted by SALADIN
ok... a debate has sort of started in the Debates forum stating that Catholics are NOT Christians?

i am really finding this hard to get my head round... can anyone here help me understand?

It's understandable that you don't understand since it's not understandable.

Originally posted by SALADIN
ok... a debate has sort of started in the Debates forum stating that Catholics are NOT Christians?

i am really finding this hard to get my head round... can anyone here help me understand?

Originally posted by SALADIN
[b]ok... a debate has sort of started in the Debates forum stating that Catholics are NOT Christians?

I believe the question that will lead to the answer is the following one: How does one define a christian? What is a christian? If you've got the question to that answer, then it's easy to say wether Catholics are / can be christians or not.

So, try to give a definition. I'll take it further from there on.

Originally posted by louisXIV
Originally posted by SALADIN
[b]ok... a debate has sort of started in the Debates forum stating that Catholics are NOT Christians?

I believe the question that will lead to the answer is the following one: How does one define a christian? What is a christian? If you've got the question to that answer, then it's easy to say wether Catholics are / c ...[text shortened]... e christians or not.

So, try to give a definition. I'll take it further from there on.[/b]

It's easier the other way around. Which Catholics would not be Christian?

Simple answer: none.

Originally posted by SALADIN
ok... a debate has sort of started in the Debates forum stating that Catholics are NOT Christians?

i am really finding this hard to get my head round... can anyone here help me understand?

Of course, they are.

So give me your definition of a christian if you affirm that.

Originally posted by SALADIN
ok... a debate has sort of started in the Debates forum stating that Catholics are NOT Christians?

i am really finding this hard to get my head round... can anyone here help me understand?

What the?
Having grown up as an Anglican and worked as a teacher in a Catholic school for the past 13 years, I reckon I'm pretty safe in saying Catholics are Christians.
What else could they be - Muslims?

Originally posted by louisXIV
So give me your definition of a christian if you affirm that.

Try a dictionary or an encyclopedia.

Originally posted by ivanhoe
Of course, they are.

In fact, according to you, they are the only accurately-professing
Christians.

Originally posted by Nemesio
In fact, according to you, they are the only accurately-professing
Christians.

This has got to be the stupidest question ever.
If someone calls themselves a Christian then they're a Christian.

Originally posted by amannion
This has got to be the stupidest question ever.
If someone calls themselves a Christian then they're a Christian.

If someone calls themselves a Christian then they're a Christian.[/b]

I'm sorry, but you couldn't be more wrong. What's the basis, the foundation of the christian faith, the point of reference?

Originally posted by louisXIV
If someone calls themselves a Christian then they're a Christian.

I'm sorry, but you couldn't be more wrong. What's the basis, the foundation of the christian faith, the point of reference?[/b]

Yeah alright a bit simplistic.
Obviously a Christian is going to be someone who believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ.
But given that starting point, if someone believes that (or something like it) and professes to be a Christian, then they're a Christian. If others don't agree with that - so what?
It's only a label anyway.

Sorry, to believe in the divinity of Christ is a point, but not the starting point. I see how important it is to ask this question, because noone knows what a christian is. So here my question again:

How do you define a christian? Upon what is his faith based?

Originally posted by louisXIV
Sorry, to believe in the divinity of Christ is a point, but not the starting point. I see how important it is to ask this question, because noone knows what a christian is. So here my question again:

How do you define a christian? Upon what is his faith based?

Faith that Jesus Christ is the Saviour.
Faith that he died for us.
Faith that he will come again.
Faith that he's a part of a trinity of supernatural beings.

What else?