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:It's a matter of definitions. They are christian in the loosest sense - they worship Christ. But many protestants consider that this definition is too loose, the RCC cannot be considered 'true' christians because they do not follow some of the fundamental teachings contained in the bible (eg, salvation by faith alone) or because they introduce some major elements that are not present in the bible (eg, a succession of popes, infant babtism, a church heirachy). Conversely, the Catholic Church will not recognise any *other* church as Christian formally, except the Orthodox church, because they consider a church is not legitimate unless it can trace ancestry back to Peter. Personally, I think the Catholic church isn't Christian in the most important sense of all: It's members are not Saved, because they are placing their faith in the church organisation and their rituals rather than in the personal salvation of Jesus. For this reason, while I will admit they are Christian, I personally consider them misguided and unintentionally extremally dangerous, and an organisation I am obliged to oppose. [[User:NewCrusader|NewCrusader]] 07:36, 14 September 2008 (EDT)

:It's a matter of definitions. They are christian in the loosest sense - they worship Christ. But many protestants consider that this definition is too loose, the RCC cannot be considered 'true' christians because they do not follow some of the fundamental teachings contained in the bible (eg, salvation by faith alone) or because they introduce some major elements that are not present in the bible (eg, a succession of popes, infant babtism, a church heirachy). Conversely, the Catholic Church will not recognise any *other* church as Christian formally, except the Orthodox church, because they consider a church is not legitimate unless it can trace ancestry back to Peter. Personally, I think the Catholic church isn't Christian in the most important sense of all: It's members are not Saved, because they are placing their faith in the church organisation and their rituals rather than in the personal salvation of Jesus. For this reason, while I will admit they are Christian, I personally consider them misguided and unintentionally extremally dangerous, and an organisation I am obliged to oppose. [[User:NewCrusader|NewCrusader]] 07:36, 14 September 2008 (EDT)

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:: Much more. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez]], [[User talk:Joaquín Martínez|talk]] 18:56, 20 October 2008 (EDT)

:: Much more. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez]], [[User talk:Joaquín Martínez|talk]] 18:56, 20 October 2008 (EDT)

::: No, I'm saying that one must do more than just accept Christ: they must live him throughout their life and must do what is right. I think I made a mistake in my previous point. Also- I think the most amazing thing about the Catholic Church in recent years is how it became so much more accepting of evolution and other science.--[[User:Rockstone|Rockstone]] 22:39, 20 October 2008 (EDT)

:::: Hmmm, you seem to have as wrong an idea about Protestants as you think Protestants have about Catholics.  To first of all mention my "credentials", I was raised in an evangelical Protestant Christian home and have been involved with several different Christian denominations and groups essentially all my life (which, odds are, is longer than yours).  I have ''never'' understood, nor have most others that I'm aware of, that what gets you to heaven is baptism. Rather, you get to heaven if you have accepted Jesus' gift of forgiveness for your sins, even if those sins include murder.  (''Any'' sin against a perfect God is sufficient to separate us from God; so whether He forgives us for a "white lie" or murder is pretty much the same thing; in either case we are forgiven.)  And it is a gift, not something you earn from doing good works.  If you truly love God, you will want to help others, so good works are a natural consequence of being a Christian, but not a requirement.

:::: As for Protestants not existing if it weren't for Catholics, I would put it somewhat differently.  That is, the true church, which became known as the Catholic (universal) church, gradually became corrupt, and Protestantism was merely a return to the true church.  So in that sense, Protestants are the "original" Christians (which is not to say that they are perfect, of course, and some of ''them'' have become quite corrupt).

:::: The Catholic church hasn't become more accepting of science.  It was always a big supporter of science.  Rather, it has become more accepting of the anti-biblical ''philosophy'' of evolution.

:::: [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 06:04, 21 October 2008 (EDT)

== Roman Catholicism  ==

== Roman Catholicism  ==