A story came out yesterday that the Vatican has announced that Islam has overtaken Catholicism as the "biggest single denomination" in the world.
This story was number one on Drudge, and it was at the top on most news pages.
But, it is a ridiculous story and here's why:
1) Catholicism is just a sect of Christianity, no matter what the bloated ego of the Papal artistocracy might want to think of themselves.
2) Islam is an entire religion. And, there are sects of Islam, the major ones being Shi'ism, Sunnism, and Sufism. There are also smaller sects.
Comparing one sect of Christianity to the entire religion of Islam is comparing apples to oranges, so it is a non-story.
Why do you think this story was released? It's hard for me to believe the people at the Vatican are so stupid that they don't realize it was a false comparison.
Note from Always On Watch: When the ummah hear that Islam has overtaken Catholicism, the ummah will be hearing that Islam has overtaken all of Christianity. Furthermore, the ummah will interpret the Vatican's statement as proof of the will of Allah, and the Vatican's statement will further embolden the jihadists. Indeed, the ranks of jihadists may grow in numbers.
14 comments:
Outrageos! How could the Pope release statistics concerning the number of Catholics before asking Pastorious (an Always on Watch) permision?
They are dhimmis of course.
AMDG,
The Pope did ask my permission. I told him, "No," and then he went ahead and did it anyway.
Of course, that wasn't the point of my post, so I didn't mention it.
Reading comprehension, my friend.
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Anonymous,
Ask a Catholic if they are a Christian. They will say they are.
The book of Acts talks about people being called Christians.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=51&chapter=11&verse=26&version=31&context=verse
I believe that was before the Catholic Church was established, right?
The first extant reference to the “Catholic Church” occurs in a letter written by St. Ignatius of Antioch. In his Letter to the Smyrnaeans written in 107 AD we find the following statement: “Wherever the bishop is, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” This statement is interesting for several reasons. One reason is that the name “Catholic” used to designate Jesus’ Church was apparently not something new. St. Ignatius felt no need to explain or defend the name. This points to an earlier year for the beginning of the name Catholic. It is not a stretch to posit the beginning of the name “Catholic” to the first century. Another reason that this statement is interesting is that the man that first wrote that the Church was called “Catholic” was from Antioch. It was also in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians” (see Acts 11:26). One other reason that this statement from St. Ignatius is interesting is that Jesus and the Catholic Church are united as one. “Wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” In other words, Jesus is always found with the Catholic Church. This fulfills the words of our Lord, “Behold, I am with you always even until the end of the world!”
So then, what are you angry with me about?
From Catholic.com:
The Greek roots of the term "Catholic" mean "according to (kata-) the whole (holos)," or more colloquially, "universal." At the beginning of the second century, we find in the letters of Ignatius the first surviving use of the term "Catholic" in reference to the Church. At that time, or shortly thereafter, it was used to refer to a single, visible communion, separate from others.
The term "Catholic" is in the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds, and many Protestants, claiming the term for themselves, give it a meaning that is unsupported historically, ignoring the term’s use at the time the creeds were written.
Early Church historian J. N. D. Kelly, a Protestant, writes: "As regards ‘Catholic,’ its original meaning was 'universal' or 'general.' . . . in the latter half of the second century at latest, we find it conveying the suggestion that the Catholic is the true Church as distinct from heretical congregations (cf., e.g., Muratorian Canon). . . . What these early Fathers were envisaging was almost always the empirical, visible society; they had little or no inkling of the distinction which was later to become important between a visible and an invisible Church" (Early Christian Doctrines, 190–1).
http://www.catholic.com/library/what_catholic_means.asp
I think Protestant Christians and Catholic Christians are all followers of Christ, and therefore all have the right to call themselves Christians.
Do you disagree?
By the way, I am a Protestant Christian who is a lover of Benedict. I have almost all of his books and read them with delight. I am also a subscriber to First Things magazine. So, you might be reading my comments in a way in which I do not intend them.
What I'm saying is, "How do you know that the term was coined 'Christian' before it was called 'Catholic' thanks to the letter of St. Ignatius?"
I do not, however, question your faith in any way. I'm just concerning how it is whether or not you could say that it's just a sect of Christianity when for all you know Christianity is just a sect of Catholicism.
The chicken or the egg?
I too know Catholic people that will say they are Christian...however, I also know tons of Christians that say Catholicism is the wrong religion due to the praising of the Mother Mary.
Anonymous,
1) Catholics are Christians. The word "Catholic" did not at first mean the same thing it came to mean, in my opinion. The word Catholic meant universal. Christian means follower of Christ. So, to have used the phrase Catholic Church meant Universal Church of folowers of Christ. Later, it came to mean an organized administration.
I could be wrong, but I believe that is something different.
Whether it is or not, Christians are Christians before they are Catholic or Protestant. I don't think Christ cares whether we are Catholic or Protestant. I think he cares if we follow him, and that is shown by how we take care of "the least of these."
2) I know lots of Baptists who think everyone who is not Baptist is going to hell. All that proves is I know ignorant people.
Who cares.
That was not my point. My point is only that we are followers of Christ. In that sense, both Protestantism and Catholicism are sects of Christianity.
That's my opinion.
I meant no insult to the Catholic Church.
I see exactly what you're saying. But did you think that maybe Catholicism might be, like its meaning, changed-so it's more like a different religion in itself rather than just a sect of what already was?
I mean, hell, women speak in the front of the church and people pray together instead of alone on their time, with their faith. Alot has changed as far as what's acceptable and what's right and wrong, there's alot of mixed feelings when you say, "I'm Christian," as opposed to, "I'm Catholic."
When challenged with Catholicism you're almost instantaneously obligated by majority rule to have a rosary somewhere around your neck or in your pocket. When you tell people that you're Christian, they think that they know that you're an ignorant-brainwashed tyrant that thinks everyone's going to hell. People thinkn that they know your religion when you're Christian, but think you're somewhat of an alien when you're Catholic.
Ever see what I'm talking about?
Maybe majority rule has changed what the differences are between Christianity and Catholicism as opposed to what they were in 170 A.D. Or even in the 1800's. Maybe Catholicism has, in its own right, migrated itself from being a sect of Christianity and has established itself as being its own religion.
After all, there aren't many people in most countries that can tell you that they're pretty much the same thing rather than, "All I know is that they both worship God." I think the world has challenged this.
I didn't know that. Thanks.
Sufism sure doesn't SEEM to have much in common with Sunnism, but then I understand the division between Sunnism and Shia Islam is merely one of the succession after Mohammed.
Ok first of all I would like to say that MUSLIMS ARE NOT TERRORISTS!!!!!
HITLER was christian and im not going to judge any Christian on him whether they be Catholic or Prostatant.
Also KKK were also Christians with burning crosses but I'm not going to jugde anyone on that either!
Secondly the whole world amdits that Catholic is a whole nother religioun and ask the Catholics that!!! If you ask Sunni,Shia, or Salfi what they are you will get the reply MUSLIM! Unlike Catholics you will get Catholic.
I have no hate for anyone but just cuz some people give muslim's a bad name dosent mean you shud jugde them.
If you have any comment or question I will take it at Spartanthe3@hotmail.com
I hope we can all find a common ground and live in PEACE.
Salam(which means peace in Arabic :) ).
U ARE ALL IDIOTS!! ISLAM IS BEST AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN. SO QUIT UR WHINING IDIOTS
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