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Q: I became a Christian two years ago, but I was baptized Catholic as an infant. I really get into the Christian faith more than the Catholic faith.

However I also heard that Catholic is very similar to Christian, except that Christian is more of a general faith than Catholic? I really don't know.. I mean I would hate to leave the Catholic faith. I am asking what is the difference between being Catholic and Christian? Would it matter if I was baptized Catholic and being more Christian? What am I supposed to do??

Thanks

It really doesn't matter. People make mountains out of molehills when it comes to this subject.

A long time ago the catholic church was the only one. The belief was that it was God's church, and there should be only one. Eventually, some people thought they should be able to question the church, take more personal responsibility for salvation, that sort of thing, and those people ended up splitting off and starting their own churches.

Baptism of infants is just a family's way of telling God, "here's our baby, we're going to do our best to raise it like you'd want us to." It doesn't mean anything about your personal decision to follow God, that has to come later.

Don't let people tell you that you're wrong or less Christian because you're not a baptist, or not a lutheran, or not a catholic, or whatever. They don't know what's in your heart. The important think is that you know, and you find a church that agrees with it. Visit different ones. Find one where the church leaders discuss issues that are important to you, where there are helpful classes, where you make friends. Read your Bible, read some other books, the decide what's right. Don't let people on this website tell you.

Rating: 5

thanks!

bio

I've been in the advice column over five years now so I think I've pretty much heard it all... the love, the hate, the random insanity. I don't take it too seriously, so I'm not always giving the best advice, but my column is fun to read!

I am a 23 year old electrical engineer, a feminist, a Christian. I don't know everything but I can sure pretend to.

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