Why do most non USA muslims only think of Catholicism when they think of Christianity?

Question

USA has thousands of Christian denominations that believe different things.

Answer 1

Catholicism makes up over half of all Christians on the planet at 1.2 billion.  Another half billion is the Eastern orthodox church, which is extremely similar to Catholicism.  So really, it's a logical thing to do.

Answer 2

You're right, and I also know many people in general who had no idea that Catholicism was apart of Christianity.

Answer 3

Perhaps that is mostly what they encounter outside the US.

Answer 4

prob cause the most dominate type of Christianity in the rest of the world is Catholicism  

Answer 5

Islam is not a religion, it's a political system.  They don't think the same as others do.

Answer 6

well, it's what they were raised on, and its they're religion that they picked (maybe?)

but to me, i want a world where there is no religion. all it is is h**l. just look at wars. most of them were started because of religion.

Answer 7

don't know... good Q!

Answer 8

Thousands of denominations that ultimately believe in the exact same (worthless) thing.*

Answer 9

because they know from their elders that the Roman Catholics (arguably the original Christians) were the ones who fought their Muslim ancestors

Answer 10

Wow!!

I was content with them not knowing about the rest of us.

Thanks for letting them know pal.

:]

Answer 11

In fact, I find that many non-Christians have a very limited knowledge of Christianity.

It's like saying a Christian thinks they're knowledgeable about Islam, or Judaism yet their knowledge is so elementary about what Islam or Judaism teaches that they fail to appreciate there is diversity within the major theistic religions.

I also find it offensive when someone asks me what my religion is, then tries to cover up their lack of knowledge of Christianity with making a generalized statement about all Christians.

It's like telling a person that you're from a small country and they have no clue where that's on the map. They wonder if you even have your own language. Then, if you try to be helpful they tell you, "Well it's all the same difference because I can't understand any of those languages anyway."

Some people just lack the common courtesy to admit their lack of knowlege and be willing to learn that not all the world speaks one language, in the same way neither does all the Christian world have the same practice of faith and the same beliefs.

This does not mean that there is no absolute truth, but for the sake of the conversation a stranger to one's religion may not have the knowledge to discern which beliefs are true and which are false. Nor should they try to convince you that you're just the same as another group of Christians.

If they are interested in carrying on a conversation with you, they should at least agree with you that there is diversity within Christianity.

Answer 12

Because Roman Catholicism has been, and remains, the largest and most well known Christian denomination in the world.

It also pre-existed any Protestant denomination by about 1600 years.

Answer 13

Because Catholics are Christians. And they have the strictest beliefs as far as i know.

Answer 14

Catholics are trying to take over, of course.

Answer 15

because those are the only Christians that are in the area... there are a few orthodox.... but Catholics are the original Christians...

There are NO protestant sects in the Middle East...

Answer 16

Because the overwhelming majority of Christians are, in fact, Catholics.

God bless!

Fred

Answer 17

did you take a poll?

Answer 18

Hmmm, come to think of it, it is funny that they do so, isn't it?

ST

Answer 19

Because, quite simply, Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christian in the world.