Catholicism, widely known as Roman Catholicism is a world wide religion based on the precept that it is the universal church (catholic translates to universal or respect for the whole).
Catholicism deviates from Biblical Christianity in that puts the Pope, the churches spiritual head or as they put it ‘Holy Father’ as the authority, even over scripture itself.
In regards to doctrines on grace, salvation and authority, the Catholic church gets a lot of big things wrong and is a strong basis for the protestant reformation movement and Protestantism.
Some questionable unbiblical doctrine, practices and beliefs include.
- Infant baptism
- Authority of the Pope (has the authority of Christ)
- Existence of Purgatory
- Belief that the book of Genesis as allegory
- Celibacy of Clergy (Priests, Nuns etc)
- Treasury of Merit
- Prayer to Mary mother of Jesus
- Transubstantiation (the communion wafer literally becomes the body of Christ).
- No meat on good Friday
- Assumption Mary’s body was taken up to heaven
- Being catholic is necessary for Salvation