Question:
I've been studying Catholicism.
While I'm not Catholic, I have questions: why do Catholics introduce themselves as
Catholics and not Christians? I haven't met a Catholic yet who has said that he/she is a
Christian, only Catholic. Isn't Jesus Christ at the center of Catholicism? Shouldn't
Catholics also consider themselves Christians?
Don't get me wrong, I am very impressed with the Catholics I meet. Most of them are very
nice and have a sense of peace within themselves. I'd like to learn more about them.
Answer:
Speaking for myself -
In my experience, if you introduce yourself as "A Christian", folks
immediately assume you are either a Protestant "Born Again Christian"
Fundamentalist, or Protestant Evangelical, or you are some other type of Protestant.
That's what most folks have come to think it means. It really does seem that in modern day
America, "I’m a Christian = I’m a Protestant" And since that's not me,
I don't say that. It has nothing at all to do with whether or not I feel that I am a Christian,
but everything to do with what the label has come to mean in our society.
Seriously, if told you I was "A Christian" - what would your very first
assumption be? That I was a Protestant, right? And that would be incorrect. I feel it's
confusing, and misleading, so I don't say it.
When folks tell me that THEY are Christian, I usually find, upon further questioning, that
either they are "non-denominational" Protestant, or of some Fundamentalist
persuasion. Oddly enough, I find many these folks are constantly
"church-hopping", and call it looking for their "church home".
However, others, I’ve found, with a firm devotion to their particular denomination,
(who aren’t looking for a "church home" - will name that first. They will
say, "I am Methodist, I am Lutheran, etc". So, I say, "I am Catholic"
- cuts down on confusion, doesn't lead anyone to believe I am Protestant, and is clear,
succinct, and self-explanatory.
To me, just saying "I'm a Christian" is too vague. It gives very little
information. (Beyond the obvious) I usually end up asking, "OK, great, what
kind?"
Asking someone what religion they are shouldn't be a game of 20 questions, in my book...
If someone is a "whatever", it's easier if they just say so...
Anyway, that's where I, for one, am coming from. Why don't you ask your Catholic friends
the same question? See what they have to say?
In His Love,
Lisa Alekna
31 August, 1999
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