# Questions for Christians **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 7, 2026, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875 "2026-05-07T01:29:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/121 "2026-07-11T00:31:55Z")
Which poster are you referring to? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/122 "2026-07-11T00:46:44Z")
The one who said that the first Popes had nothing to do with Christianity, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/123 "2026-07-11T01:02:37Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Catholics and Christians are no where near the same group of people I am not even sure Catholics are Christians, don’t put them into the same pile because they do not belong together. I’m not even a practicing Catholic anymore and I find those remarks offensive. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/124 "2026-07-11T01:08:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > This is a most peculiar set of beliefs you hold. Offensive, but not terribly unusual, unfortunately. No small number of Protestants believe that Catholics are not actually Christians (as they define it), because of the veneration of Mary and the saints, the prominence of the Sacraments in Catholic worship, and, of course, the Pope and the Catholic Church hierarchy. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/125 "2026-07-11T01:23:00Z")
I guess I read a little _less_ into the statement. The two are not synonymous-while a Catholic is a Christian, not all Christians are Catholics. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/126 "2026-07-11T01:28:42Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The two are not synonymous-while a Catholic is a Christian, not all Christians are Catholics. He literally said: > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Catholics and Christians are no where near the same group of people I am not even sure Catholics are Christians, don’t put them into the same pile because they do not belong together. > > Separate Catholics from Christians and ask your questions again. I’m not sure how one can read that and not take away that he doubts that Catholics are actually Christians. But, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/127 "2026-07-11T01:38:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The two are not synonymous-while a Catholic is a Christian, not all Christians are Catholics. Catholics are a subset of Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/128 "2026-07-11T01:39:31Z")
I believe that is what I just said. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/129 "2026-07-11T01:44:46Z")
I guess one could also argue Jesus had nothing to do with early Christianity or any Christianity for that matter since Christianity wasn’t around until after he was. Sounds like my brother, a Southern Baptist. He claims they are the only true Christians and that Catholics can’t be because they “worship” the Virgin Mary. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/130 "2026-07-11T01:49:00Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > He claims they are the only true Christians and that Catholics can’t be because they “worship” the Virgin Mary. The trinity sounds a lot like polytheism. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/131 "2026-07-11T01:56:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, so now Peter had nothing to do with Christianity, either. Peter is regarded as the first Pope, but even Catholics recognize this as a retroactive designation. The early church was rather decentralized. Even if Peter founded the Roman church or later became the first bishop of Rome, it would be well after his death before the bishop of Rome was elevated to the status of leader of the Church. I’m also pretty sure the person you’re talking to doesn’t consider Peter the first pope. You don’t have to believe Catholics aren’t Christians to believe that. And we know Peter definitely wasn’t a warlord. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/132 "2026-07-11T02:01:54Z")
Moderating: > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Catholics and Christians are no where near the same group of people I am not even sure Catholics are Christians, don’t put them into the same pile because they do not belong together. > > Separate Catholics from Christians and ask your questions again. Catholics are part of an old para-military Roman ruling class ruled be the Pope, he is almost powerless now but it wan’t always that way, he was a strong ruler in the Roman Empire and it is still all about power to tell people what to do and not about God at all. Your statements are allowed within reason, as you are saying what your own beliefs are. This moderator’s note is not to tell you to stop having your discussion. However, religion is a very sensitive area, and I will require that you make your arguments in a respectful way. Making blanket statements about what others should do, how they should see things or believe is not respectful. If your statements continue to be made in a provocative way, you will not be permitted to continue your part in the discussion. Also, do not direct others to “separate Catholics from Christians and ask your questions again.” That is out of bounds. Their views are not the same as yours. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/133 "2026-07-11T02:25:53Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > we know Peter definitely wasn’t a warlord. Before the crucifixion, Peter saw himself as a loyal soldier. When Jesus accepted his fate without resistance, Peter did some serious soul searching as he realized and accepted that Jesus was a pacifist. At least that’s the way I see it. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/134 "2026-07-11T04:34:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Are you saying that Christianity didn’t come into existence until 1517? I certainly believe that Catholics are a type of Christian, but the Orthodox have as long a history as the Catholics, and they don’t accept the primacy of the Pope, either. Although i believe that the Orthodox and the Catholics are currently in communion with each other. Of course, you are right that Protestants are Johnny-come-lately to the Christian fold. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/135 "2026-07-11T10:49:54Z")
As always, there’s a little more nuance than that. The Orthodox do actually recognize the primacy of the Pope, but not the supremacy of the Pope. In the Orthodox view, there are a number of Patriarchs, each of whom has supreme authority over their own jurisdiction, and the Pope is one of those Patriarchs. Further, he’s the “First Among Equals” of the Patriarchs, which is a status of primacy, but which doesn’t carry any greater direct authority with it. This also means that there are multiple Orthodox churches, as many as there are patriarchs, who disagree with each other on many points (in particular, relations are quite strained between the Patriarch of Moscow and most of the others). And there’s also more nuance to “being in communion with each other”. From the Catholic point of view, anyone who shares certain key beliefs about the Eucharist (most notably, transubstantiation) is in communion with the Catholic Church, and so far as I know, all of the Orthodox churches believe in transubstantiation. However, other churches might have their own criteria for communion, and some but not all of the Orthodox churches consider Catholics to be in full communion with them. To make things even more complicated, some Eastern groups do recognize the supremacy of the Pope: These are called the Eastern Catholic churches. They’re not just in communion with Catholics; they are Catholics (though of a slightly different sort than Roman Catholics). But culturally, they descend from the Orthodox tradition, and their practices and services superficially resemble those of the Orthodox. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/136 "2026-07-11T10:52:56Z")
To the OP’s questions, i’ll start with I’m a Christian, in the Methodist Church. I’m not a theological expert. Others have answered your 6 questions. I’ll mention two of them and I’ll bring up another argument I often hear within Christianity: 1. > [@IridiumIodineSulfur](#): > > 1. This is also probably over asked, but if God loves everyone, why is there suffering and pain? > 2. I often hear the argument that there is sin because we have free will and can choose to sin. I’m curious: We have free will and can’t run 200 miles an hour. Why can’t we have free will and be unable to sin? My answer to #5 is that God gives us “free will” on Earth. He doesn’t guarantee outcomes, and as we’re imperfect creatures, bad things happen. He set up the sandbox, and he’s letting us play in the sandbox. On #6, it’s just part of human nature. We’re imperfect, and we sin. We can’t “not sin”. As part of our walk with God, we’re supposed to do good works. The old saying is that Faith without Works is dead (book of James, I think). But the good works isn’t enough by itself, because we’re still sinful creatures. There is an argument within Christianity against Free Will by Calvinists. Calvinism is growing in the Southern Baptist Convention’s seminaries, and you will see more and more preachers saying that this stuff is pre-determined. I call Calvinists the “Jesus came to save just some of us” wing of Christianity. Calvinism vs Arminianism has been debated for hundreds of years. John Wesley, who began the Methodist Church, was a free-will guy, and that’s where I land. But we’re seeing a surge in Calvinism in recent decades in some of our larger churches. I guess I’ve digressed some, but the concept of free will was mentioned by the OP, and I thought I’d mention that many Christians don’t buy into free will… ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/137 "2026-07-11T11:31:23Z")
RE: #3 Eve following God’s dictates. Read carefully. Eve was created _after_ God issues the command not to eat the fruit of a particular tree, variously described. It’s little wonder she garbles the information when she tries to repeat it to the serpent. She probably got it from Adam, whose name signals that he wasn’t so bright. Cain’s wife A rather elegant solution to the question of where Cain’s wife came from was that she was part of a separate creation, and it just happens not to be documented. There was a list of reasons for recording only the creation of Adom & Chava, among them being that they were the first, and the people created during the first week of creation; that it was their agency that brought knowledge of good & evil into he world; and that they are the only people with descendants to this day. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/138 "2026-07-11T11:53:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I sometimes wonder why questions like these, about the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible are “questions for Christians” rather than “questions for Jews.” Or Muslims. While the creation story in the Quran is a little different, it has the same cast of characters and issues. Most Christians and Jews are not literalists as implied in the OP. I suppose the same is true of Muslims but I do not really know. Re the first OP question, “where did Cain’s wife come from,” is this just an attempt to get any fundamentalists here to admit the obvious (incest)? They generally do, although I see from RivkahChaya’s post there are alternatives. From Wikipedia: [While the book of Genesis does not explicitly mention any sisters of Cain nor Abel, the sisters appear in other texts of Abrahamic religions, explaining where Cain acquired a wife . . .](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_sisters_of_Cain_and_Abel) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/139 "2026-07-11T11:56:44Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > and that they are the only people with descendants to this day. Or rather, everyone is descended from them. If their children all married separately-created humans, then those other humans also have descendants (the same descendants as Adam and Eve’s children). ---
**Author:** ![IridiumIodineSulfur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@IridiumIodineSulfur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IridiumIodineSulfur)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875/140 "2026-07-31T19:26:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Right. We know that Hitler (and Stalin and a few others) would not truly repent so this is a meaningless question. I didn’t mean this literally, I just meant it as a hypothetical. If the answer is yes, it raises another question. Say there was a non-Christian. They followed all Christian rules, (no murder, no theft, they loved, etc. Also, I know they couldn’t follow rules that say you have to accept Christ and things like that.) they live through their life doing everything like the ideal Christian. They just don’t believe in the Christian God. Would Hitler confessing on his deathbed be more likely to go to Heaven than a “perfect” non Christian? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-christians/1029875.md?page=8)