4 ms·

I often experience this. I saw that a co worker had written something about God in their Twitter bio. "Are you a Christian?" "I'm a Catholic" they replied. Any

I often experience this. I saw that a co worker had written something about God in their Twitter bio. "Are you a Christian?" "I'm a Catholic" they replied. Any other denomination would say "yes I'm a Christian" (there are no denominations in heaven, nor was there in the early church). To understand this behaviour, it should be known that Catholics have introduced man made rules that they have additionally decided are not up for discussion (infallible) even if the Bible appears to say otherwise. Catholics teach that there is no salvation outside the church. By definition, this makes sense - the church is by definition a body of people who belong to Christ. However what the catholics actually mean is "the Roman Catholic church". Whether your average Catholic realises this or not it's debatable, but the common clarification "I'm a Catholic" is because they have absorbed a corrupt teaching that only catholics can be saved. Read this and the linked article at the bottom https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/is-there-really-no-salvation-outside-the-catholic-church https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/is-there-re...

tptacek 8mo ago
I was never taught anything like this and am "Catholic" rather than "Episcopalian" the same way a Baptist isn't "Episcopalian". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANNX_XiuA78 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANNX_XiuA78
- dctoedt 8mo ago
  Here in (South-adjacent) Texas, if someone asks if I'm Christian, I'm likely to respond, "Well, I'm Episcopalian, if that counts" — because to some folks in this neck of the woods, Episcopalians aren't really Christians.
  - tptacek 8mo ago
    Like, I believe this is a thing, but it's a not a thing in Chicagoland. :) It would sound weird if I described myself as "Christian" here. I think I'd get asked "uh, what kind?"
f30e3dfed1c9 8mo ago
"I often experience this. I saw that a co worker had written something about God in their Twitter bio. 'Are you a Christian?' 'I'm a Catholic' they replied. Any other denomination would say 'yes I'm a Christian'" I'm going to suggest that if you would find it surprising to have your question answered with "Yes, Greek Orthodox," or "Yes, Southern Baptist," or "Yes, United Methodist," or some similar variation, your personal experience may not be as broad or definitive as you seem to think it is.
- siliconpotato 8mo ago
  Well it's a common question I've asked of people during my life, and only catholics ever make that distinction, almost a correction. And there's a reason why - because they think it's the one true church. I'm not in the USA btw.
  - f30e3dfed1c9 8mo ago
    OK. I'm curious, roughly where are you? And if non-denominational, sort of generic "Christians" are common there now, what was the situation historically?
    - siliconpotato 8mo ago
      I'm in the UK. Normal conversation: what did you do on Sunday? I was in church. "Oh are you a Christian" "yes". Now, if the first person is not a Christian , that's often the end of the conversation. If first person is also a Christian they would say "oh me too! What sort of church do you go to". They might then answer, oh I got to st Luke's, have you heard of it. Or I go to so and so in the town. The baptist church? Yeah that one" It's very unusual for a non Catholic to go straight to denominations in answer to the "are you a Christian", because that's not the question, and due to the appeal to unity, because of the belief that we're all part of god's family, rather than go straight for dividing lines. And never would anyone identify as "I'm a protestant", that would be odd.
      - 8mo ago

tptacek 8mo ago

I was never taught anything like this and am "Catholic" rather than "Episcopalian" the same way a Baptist isn't "Episcopalian". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANNX_XiuA78 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANNX_XiuA78

dctoedt 8mo ago
Here in (South-adjacent) Texas, if someone asks if I'm Christian, I'm likely to respond, "Well, I'm Episcopalian, if that counts" — because to some folks in this neck of the woods, Episcopalians aren't really Christians.
- tptacek 8mo ago
  Like, I believe this is a thing, but it's a not a thing in Chicagoland. :) It would sound weird if I described myself as "Christian" here. I think I'd get asked "uh, what kind?"

f30e3dfed1c9 8mo ago

"I often experience this. I saw that a co worker had written something about God in their Twitter bio. 'Are you a Christian?' 'I'm a Catholic' they replied. Any other denomination would say 'yes I'm a Christian'" I'm going to suggest that if you would find it surprising to have your question answered with "Yes, Greek Orthodox," or "Yes, Southern Baptist," or "Yes, United Methodist," or some similar variation, your personal experience may not be as broad or definitive as you seem to think it is.

siliconpotato 8mo ago
Well it's a common question I've asked of people during my life, and only catholics ever make that distinction, almost a correction. And there's a reason why - because they think it's the one true church. I'm not in the USA btw.
- f30e3dfed1c9 8mo ago
  OK. I'm curious, roughly where are you? And if non-denominational, sort of generic "Christians" are common there now, what was the situation historically?
  - siliconpotato 8mo ago
    I'm in the UK. Normal conversation: what did you do on Sunday? I was in church. "Oh are you a Christian" "yes". Now, if the first person is not a Christian , that's often the end of the conversation. If first person is also a Christian they would say "oh me too! What sort of church do you go to". They might then answer, oh I got to st Luke's, have you heard of it. Or I go to so and so in the town. The baptist church? Yeah that one" It's very unusual for a non Catholic to go straight to denominations in answer to the "are you a Christian", because that's not the question, and due to the appeal to unity, because of the belief that we're all part of god's family, rather than go straight for dividing lines. And never would anyone identify as "I'm a protestant", that would be odd.
    - 8mo ago