Why don't catholics call themselves christians if they are?

No, you don't hear them say protestant, but you do usually hear them say "we're Lutheran" or "we're baptist", etc. Just about every Christian does this.

Jesus Christ's followers are called Christians and the name does not imply a religion. Saint/Apostle Peter formed a Group of Christians and called themselves Catholic (religion name). So Peter was the first pope (the practice of praying to the saints and Mary did not start until a hundred years later after Peter's death). It had always been "Catholic" when people referred to "Christians" until Martin Luther came along in Europe and created Protestants (because he protested some of the bad politics inside the influential Church). Then Methodists were created in the U.S. in the 70s, so were Babtists and Pantecostals. So then, to make things simple they called themselves "Christians."

In the US/Europe, Catholics called themselves Christians. In other countries, with their limited knowledge, misunderstood the whole idea and created the distinction between them.

When I say "I'm Catholic," it's understood -- at least to me and to most other people -- that I am a Christian. No big need to state the obvious.

Not all Protestants say they're "Christians" without identifying the denomination.

As for the ones who just say they're "Christian" -- they either belong to a fundamentalist church or they are the type of Christian who believes that they don't have to go to church.

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Because while the plethora of Christian denominations are all Christian, they are not all the same. Catholic beliefs are significantly different to Protestant beliefs, and so both parties like to make the distinction to avoid potential confusion. I am sure both parties would call themselves Christian if you asked 'Are you a Christian'.

There's many divisions yes. At some point somebody decided they disagree with a few points and split from the church. There's many that exist now, and who can say for the ones that failed and were never heard from again. There's always slight differences. Some believe in the trinity, some don't. That would be the biggest difference.

Errr excuse me?

I once remember putting "christian" down for religoin in a jopb application & the Boss arbiatry changed it to the sect I was baptised (& the last time I was probably in that church).

Yet to see a social situation where "Chrisian" was considered enough. Even "Multi-spritual" services are just multi-Xian sects.

& as for the other part - ALL the European Xian sects are splinters of the Holy Roman Church. So insulting Catholics is paramount to insulting your grandparents.

So I'm trying to work out where you're coming from here.

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Because the first doctrine was Catholisism...not the so called Christian that even dared to change the bible to accomodate how they wanted to run things. I'm Puertorrican or Boricua...not American and even when we were a colony of Spain we weren't Spaniards...we kept our identity. Why? Well, for once we have always since the start been either Borikuas (as of from Boriken) or Puertorricans (from Puerto Rico), no one can expect me to change who I am because you have to go with time, because we are a colony of the states, or because is hip. What about if we end up with France next?

In essence, if since the beginning that is your name, your identity...you just don't change it to please others. They are Catholics for millenia. Is their name, their identity.

Catholics don't call them selves Christians because there is another religion called "Born-Again Christians". They are the ones who call themselves Christians. And also, there is a big difference between the two religions. Born-Again Christians don't believe in saints, sign of the cross, etc. while Roman Catholics do.

- I hope this helps.

- I also hope that you select this as the best answer, [need points] thanks!

Actually, when asked what a person is, I more often hear "baptist" or "protestant" or "Catholic" than I hear simply "Christian". I myself do answer simply "Christian" fairly often. I find it prudent to not admit to being Catholic in every situation(though if directly asked, I will admit every time).

Maybe the Catholics in your area are just more proud to be Catholic than the baptists are to be baptist (etc)

obviously you are not from Ireland

There are some differences between these religions but they all come under the Christian heading