I experienced one of those “holy shit” moments the other day.
You know the type of experience you get from something you see, hear or read and you just have to say to yourself out of earshot of everybody something like: “holy shitoli!”
I had seen a young woman pass by as I was walking a few of my daily 10,000 steps when I asked her if she was going to work. She replied yes and I followed up with “Where do you work?”
The 20-something dark-haired lass said she worked at St. Matthew’s Day Care Center which was a block away from where we saw one another in Conshohocken, PA. The church provides services for people who need child care so that they can go to work.
“Are You Catholic?” I asked her out of curiosity.
“No, I’m Christian.” she replied.
That is when my jaw dropped and my world tilted a little bit.
The young lady seemed to say it with such anuthority and innocence that I was speechless for a moment. Then some arcane knowledge inside of my kicked in. It was the fact that Jesus was never a Christian. He was a Jew who was put to death by the Roman government which decided to place a written sign above the cross where he hung.
The sign displayed the Greek word “Christ.” or “Christos” which means “anointed one.” In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible called the Septuagint, Christos was used to translate the Hebrew word of Masiah or massiah, meaning “one who is annointed.”
Catholics are Christians. My first grade teacher – a nun – drilled that into me at the ripe old age of five. I don’t think any teacher in any school in our world ever taught that Catholics were not Christians.
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Then I had dark thoughts about Catholics being treated as “Others.” You know, people like the Irish, the Italians, the Poles – any group that was unlike the British. Catholics were lumped in with blacks and Jews and targeted by the Ku Klux Klan. Did the Klan believe that Catholics were not Christians? I really don’t know.
The young girl did not come up with her knowledge of what Christians were or were not. It saddens me to think that it was passed onto her by her family.
No matter what the denominations, everyone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ are Christians. I married a woman who was raised Episcopalian in a Presbyterian Church by a Methodist minister (who was my wife’s sister) and my older nrother – a Catholic – as best man.
There are no distinctions.
Now let me end this diatribe with a rousing “AMEN!”
Contoveros 
The truth of Christ is evidenced in the life of one who believe in His death and resurrection and looks for His soon return. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis does an excellent job of defining what is basic to all Christ-follower and why other religions, e.g., Buddhism, don’t cut it. Only Jesus claimed to be God, and since it is true that leaves all the others struggling to find God when He has revealed Himself to anyone who will seek. love and prayers, c.a.
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There is no “God-worshipping” in Buddhism that I am aware of . . . You can believe in many spiritual offerings along your path and carry them all within you as far as I have experienced in life. Or maybe that was in a previous life? Who knows. God loves us all!
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He certainly does love us all, and those who scream at others “”Get right with God or go to hell” miss the heart of the Father that Jesus taught about. He loves us all and wants everyone to be saved into eternal life, but He will not force it on anyone, nor allow those determined to harm to continue that harm into eternity.
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The distinction some make between Catholicism and Christianity sure ain’t new to me. It’s seems most common in evangelical Pentecostal sects, some of which teach that the Pope is the Antichrist.
IMHO, that’s an extreme manifestation of something that’s endemic across Abrahamic monotheism, the conviction there’s only one true path to salvation and that any deviation from it is some sort of demonic con job to tempt you into the arms of Satan. Catholicism has its own history of that sort of attitude – sometimes resulting in exorcism, torture and even execution to ‘drive the demons out’ – and though they’ve toned it down with regards to other mainstream Christian sects I still occasionally hear it applied to more marginal ones such as Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. And yeah, don’t they love to call me a demon worshiper because my personal Goddess (Mahadev) is Kali.
But since you’re a Catholic you might be interested in a post I made that touches on something we discussed on SaaniaSparkle’s blog. As with most of my posts on religion, spirituality and metaphysics it’s kinda tongue-in-cheek, but the thrust of the argument – that morality and virtue can be cultivated but not authentically practiced; they must arise spontaneously from within – is quite serious.
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I like what the Catholic Pope Francis and the Tibetan Dalai Lama are offering to the followers of their teachings. I see myself as a “Catho-Bhu,” someone who picks and chooses what he likes from both paths toward enlightenment.
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Can’t say I’ve ever felt a sense of agency or choice over my path. I can’t see what’s ahead of me. So I just keep plodding on, one foot after the other. You’ve gotta be careful doing that. You might trip over a Goddess.
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Great to finally read this! Check out my blog, I wrote it years ago. Good to walk with you today, glad I bumped into you.
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I felt we were “walking Tall” as we made our way up Fayette Street in our jaunt through Conshohocken. It was a pleasure to share the outdoors with you.
I read a few of your blog postings and am amazed at how learned you became about non-Abrahamic religions. I read the Gita twice and might have understood about 1 percent of it, but loved the guidance offered Arjuna by his charioteer Krishna. You explained so much about a way of life and offerings few Americans have been exposed to . . .
Thank you for sharing them with the world.
But, girl, I got one question.
When are you going to get back to writing again?
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The following comments were shared on Facebook:
Nancy Stinson —
I’ve heard that distinction myself over the years and always wondered about it, but never followed up. Good job, Michael.
Michael J Contos —
It’s crazy and I am so glad those of us studying Buddhism don’t have such a discrepancy.
Nadja Dalantinow Cross —
Michael glad to hear that I’ve been Buddhist all my life.
Michael J Contos —
You’re lucky Badja. But, we got to remember that the followers of such enlightened and venerable people created the names for their holy ones.
Christ was never a Christian, Buddha was never a Buddhist, and Mohammad was never a Muslim. They’re just names applied to help people find the path toward Love and Wisdom.
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Bruce Saul —
Interesting story Mike. I think there is a general lack of knowledge on the subject of Christian denominations. In the Apostles Creed Protestants state that “we believe in the holy catholic church. This confuses some people as they do not understand what catholic means in lower case. It means a universal church which is different from the Catholic (RC) Church headquartered in Vatican City. But in the end, both RC and Protestants are indeed Christians.
Michael J Contos —
Bruce, I want to thank you, my gracious neighbor. All followers of the teachings of Jesus are indeed Christians. I forgot the meaning of the lower case “catholic” and am reminded how we can all learn from each other if we but open our hearts and minds to His teachings.
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Andrea Hornett —
The only truly Christian person I have ever known was an Orthodox Jewess.
Michael J Contos —
God bless her.
And God bless you Andrea Hornett while we’re at it!
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Lisa Baxter Horwitz —
I want to give her the benefit of believing she just hasn’t had much religious exposure, but she literally works for a Catholic Church- how is this possible? Or does she just not really have a denomination she belongs to? That could be it, she may have been raised to call herself a Christian but didn’t ever go to church.
Michael J Contos —
I believe you are correct on both counts Lisa.
She is a young person who may not have exposure to the rich history of different religions.
She may also have had little contact with any church she may have been taken to as a child by her family.
It is still unbelievable in today’s world that people exist with such little or no understanding about the organization they are employed in.
Lisa Baxter Horwitz —
This is why we need to rule the world!
Michael J Contos —
You go, girl!
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Michael, nice try to “try” to make sense of this subject. Carmen’s post indicates another strong position, which resonates “shame” over Catholicism. It’s a tragedy that this issue continues to be so confusing and often volatile. Indeed, Jesus would weep over all the anger, hate, and division, in “His” name sake. And the Buddhists are still smiling! God Bless your tender inquisitive soul! 🙏. Old friend, Rebecca 💖
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Yes, there is a smidgeon of shame involved but I am still glad to have been raised by the nuns and guided by the old parish priest. I served as an altar boy and had my first Buddhist “satori” while on a kneeler in the church sacristy. I meditated while praying and felt this unconditional love envelope me. It was divine and deeply enlightening!
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I have never and do NOT admit to BEING a Catholic. If anything, I always say, I was “raised” Catholic. Sometimes, depending on the environment, I might say, I’m a “recovering Catholic” – but even that is rare. It has less to do with the facts you present and more to do with the embarrassment of what the Catholic Church has become (or always been). I do not associate myself with the Roman Catholic Church for so many reasons and for over 20 years. Yes, Catholics are Christians. But not all Christians want anything to do with being Catholic.
(And for the record, I really don’t associate with Christianity or religion in general. But I do still retain my faith).
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I personally like being called a “Lapsed Catholic” who has not renewed his membership or complete his Easter duty.
I like what Pope Francis is trying to do and see how conservatives are trying to halt his progressive progress. But I feel more comfortable with the study of Buddhism with a sprinkling of Christianity thrown in. (That would include the Catholic Christians, by the way!)
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Then you’d love the writings of Thomas Merton (as do I).
I’ve heard claims he was close to leaving the Church – or being excommunicated – when he died. I bet there’s conspiracy theorists out there who insist he was killed by a Vatican hit squad rather than dodgy Bangkok wiring, but as someone who has spent more than a night in el cheapo Khaosan crashpads the latter explanation sounds all too likely to me.
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