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10 Main Differences Between Christianity And Catholicism


 

Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world’s largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.4 billion followers and represents one-third of the global population. Christians are estimated to make up a majority of the population in 157 countries and territories.

The Catholic Church is the largest Christian church with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2019. It is among the world’s oldest and largest international institutions and has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilization.

1. Christianity Has Four Branches

The four largest branches of Christianity are the Catholic Church with 1.3 billion, Protestantism with 800 million, the Eastern Orthodox Church with 220 million, and the Oriental Orthodox churches with 60 million. However, there are thousands of smaller church communities that exist despite efforts toward unity. 

As for the Catholic church, it consists of 24 sui iuris churches including the Latin Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches which comprise almost 3,500 dioceses and eparchies located around the world.

2. The Theological Disputes

The central base of Christianity is the belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah. Christians believe that Jesus was anointed by God as the savior of humanity and hold that Jesus’ coming was the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. The core Christian belief is that through belief in and acceptance of the death and resurrection of Jesus, sinful humans can be reconciled to God.

However, the core beliefs of Catholicism are found in the Nicene Creed. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission. Bishops are the successors of Christ’s apostles, and the pope is the successor to Saint Peter upon who primacy was conferred by Jesus Christ. 

Read more about Christianity here.

3. The Practices of both Denominations

Christian practices include baptism, the Eucharist, the Lord’s Prayer, confession, confirmation, burial rites, marriage rites, and the religious education of children. Christian rites, rituals, and ceremonies are not celebrated in one single sacred language. However, the three important languages in the early Christian era were Latin, Greek, and Syriac.

Catholics practice prayers at the table, do daily Eucharist, or attendance at Mass. Catholics mostly use aids in spiritual life such as the rosary, beads, holy images, and candles. Catholicism celebrated the seven sacraments Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Confession, and Anointing of the sick.

Read more about Christianity here.

4. Missionary Work In The Modern World

The Catholic Church operates thousands of Catholic schools, universities and colleges, hospitals, and orphanages around the world. Catholicism is the largest non-government provider of education and health care in the world. It also has other social services and numerous charitable and humanitarian organizations.

Christians use business missionaries to focus on the economical side of providing for the nations. Modern missionaries open a business in the nation, as a way of creating unity in the community and local job families who want to provide food on the table. They also go to medical missions where the go help increases health in a nation. This is a way for Christian missionaries to show the Lord’s love and help them with the critical conditions that they are in.

5. Contributing to Society

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Catholics have profoundly influenced Western philosophy, culture, art, music, and science. Catholic live all over the world through missions, diaspora, and conversions. 

Throughout history, Christians have been a major source of social services like schooling and medical care. They have also been influential in politics and religion. This makes Christianity the dominant religion in Africa and Asia, the world’s most populous continents. 

6. The Clergy

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Within Christianity, the term cleric refers to any individual who has been ordained including priests, bishops, ministers, monks, and nuns.

The Catholicism, there are 5,364 Bishops, 414, 336 Priests, and 48,238 Deacons. In Latin Catholicism, the tradition of cutting hair was a prerequisite for receiving any of the minor orders or major orders, and the subdiaconate was abolished following the Second Vatican Council. Minor Orders are still given in the Eastern Catholic Churches.

Read more about Christianity here.

7. The Polarity in Laws

The Canon law is the system of laws and legal principles made and enforced by the hierarchical authorities of the Catholic church to regulate its external organization and government and to order and direct the activities of Catholics toward the mission of the church. Scholars debate that Catholics, use the ten commandments, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church as laws that work side by side with the Canon law.

In Christianity, they are governed by the Ten Commandments and the three basic principles of Christian living do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.

8. The Path To Salvation

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Catholicism means salvation involves faith and penance, having a relationship with Jesus, good works, the Seven sacraments, and belief in Jesus as the sole savior of Humanity. 

However, Christians believe that through Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Most Pentecostals believe through being born again and choosing to follow Christ’s teachings, one can be saved from mortal sin. Christians also use missionary work as a way to grow their faith and spread God’s love.

9. Their Religious Goals

In Catholicism, their main goal is to give glory to God, share the gospel, and live an evangelistic life that ends in eternal life with God. Christians live their life to love God and obey his commandments. Most Christians create a relationship with Jesus Christ by spreading the Gospel and sharing Christ’s teaching so that others may also be saved.

10. Other Abrahamic Religions

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According to Judaism, Abrahamic religion is regarded as a True religion but incomplete but refers to Islam as a false religion. Christians don’t accept the Qur’an as the true word.

According to the Catholic doctrine, Catholicism is the original Christian church and Christianity is the true religion. This theory makes Catholicism the true Christianity.

Read more about Christianity here.

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Dz’-Բ travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 –

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack –
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage –
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle –

We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.