Perhaps we ought to begin with some definitions:
Catholicism: In short, Catholicism is a Pagan mystery religion which combines biblical theology proper with non-, un- and even anti-biblical systematic theology. Theology proper is used here to refer to their actual beliefs solely about God whilst systematic theology is used here to refer to the rest of their beliefs.
Due to this combination, it comes across as being biblical and employs biblical terms in order to hide their Paganism. Also, this church came about by a long series of steps which went from there being various bishops sharing equal authority, to the bishop of Rome declaring himself the supreme pontiff and one and only representative of Christ on Earth. This resulted in the Pope as being said to possess absolute power and hidden (gnostic) teachings that the apostles passed on in oral form outside of the Bible’s text.
You can learn more about Catholicism in general here and about their history here.
Christian: There are various ways to define Christianity and Christian but let us simply focus on the fact that, as the apostle Paul put it, “Watch your life and doctrine” (1Timothy 4:16). Thus, one can know the Bible backwards and forwards but if one’s life does not match biblical principles then one is lacking. Conversely, one can live a very moral life but if one’s doctrine is erroneous then one is lacking just as much.
The basics of Christianity is that the Bible is the word of YHVH, YHVH is the one true living triune God, Jesus is a member of the Trinity and incarnated, died on the cross to pay for our sins, resurrected and now sits at the Father’s right hand making unique intercession. Those who believe and live this are called Christians.
You can learn more about Christianity here and theology, including Trinitarian doctrine here.
Universalism: Generally speaking, the view (which comes in various forms) that claims that all will be “saved” regardless; sometime and somehow we all end up in “heaven.”
Some actually claim that there is such a thing as Christian universalism but that is tantamount of claiming that there is such a thing as a vegan carnivore.
Some examples of this view can be found in the following articles:
Unitarian Universalism and the illogical sham of pluralism
The Godless Church of Unitarian Universalism, part 1 of 2
Unitarian Universalist – Condolences and Critiques, part 1 of 6
Spiritual Evolution and Godless Unitarian Universalist “Church”
Perhaps it would be going too far to claim that Catholicism is a universalist religion since, as Catholic apologist Tim Staples put it, ex-Catholics are the only ones who will go to hell (stated during a broadcast of The Bible Answer Man radio program during an on the air debate with James White).
Yet, shy of ex-Catholics; all other people seem to make it as they each—according to Catholicism—have a different gospel.
Catholicism has concocted many gospels, which are no gospels at all. It has promulgated gospels for the salvation of non-, un- and even anti-Biblical religions. It has a gospel for Protestants, another for Muslims, another for Atheists, etc. It has even changed the gospel for Catholics—repeatedly.
The Vatican’s New American Bible states the following at 2 Corinthians 11:3-4,
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere (and pure) commitment to Christ.
For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough. [emphasis added]
Their level of deception is such that they simply put up, well enough, with such satanic corruptions of the gospel.
Galatians 1:6-9, from the same Bible, elucidates further:
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by (the) grace (of Christ) for a different gospel (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the gospel of Christ.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed! [emphasis added]
At this point, note the specific reference to the relation between preaching another Jesus as it results in another gospel which results in being accursed.
According to Islam; Jesus was a virgin born prophet but is not God in the flesh and did not die on the cross for our sins. Islam preaches another Jesus and thus, another gospel which is no gospel at all as there is not another.
Thus, biblically speaking; they are accursed.
But what saith the Vatican? The Catechism of the Catholic Church # 841 states,
The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.”
So biblically, another Jesus equals accursedness but Catholically another Jesus equals salvation. And note that even on the issue of who is the God of Abraham they are inaccurate as this God, YHVH who is the God of Christians, has a Son but Allah, the god of Muslims / Islam, cannot have a Son. In fact, the very worst sin in Islam, known as shirk, is associating any one or thing with Allah.
Thus, the Vatican / Catholicism is in direct conflict with the Bible. This is no ethereal nor technical theological minutia; this is very simple and straight forward.
In times past, Catholicism referred to Protestants as being eternally condemned (same word as we saw above for accursed; the Greek anathema). The Vatican burnt Protestants alive, to their death. They would execute Protestants for the sin of translating the Bible and getting it into the common persons’ hands. There have been no greater persecutors of Christians than Catholicism. Yet, one day Catholicism decided that Protestants are not anathema but are “separated brethren” who are not to be murdered by the hundreds of thousands but are to be invited to join Catholicism.
Thus, once the gospel condemned Protestants and now the gospel (another-other gospel) accepts them.
Lastly, let us consider the other gospel of Catholicism itself. Note that within Catholicism there is doctrine and dogma. Doctrine is an important teaching, indeed, however dogma is a teaching that is required to be accepted by the faithful (Catholics) as a requirement for salvation. In other words, Catholics have their very own gospel and even their own gospel changes. How so? Well, because every time that a dogma is proclaimed there is a new salvific requirement upon Catholics.
For example, before 1950 AD Catholics may have believed in Mary’s assumption into heaven or not. However, after 1950 AD they could not be saved unless they accepted it. Thus, the gospel consisted or certain things before 1950 AD and was added to after 1950 AD.
What about the Catholic church’s relationship with the Atheists? Does the plan of salvation also includes those who do not acknowledge the Creator, in the first (and only) place amongst whom are the Atheists; these reject the faith of Abraham, and in opposition to us they either ignore, rebel again and/or are simply apathetic about the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.
Note that with regards to Islam, the only issue is that they “acknowledge the Creator.” By the way, the Bible notes that demons also “acknowledge the Creator” and tremble (James 2:19).
As we recently reported in the article New World Pope Francis’s gospel of atheism; while he may not have been speaking ex cathedra, that is dogmatically/officially, the Pope, the Pontiff, the personified representative on Christ on Earth had a Q&A session with himself as he simulated being asked questions so as to make a point. His overall point was about who can be saved:
“Father, the atheists?” Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all!
While we are all created in God’s image, the blood of Christ redeems those who accept the redemption that He offers. There are various sects of Atheism (about which you can read here Definition of “Atheism” and Variations of Atheism) but one thing they have in common is that they do not believe in God. Hebrews 11:6 states:
But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Atheists do not even meet this very, very basic requirement which is the acknowledgment of God’s existence in the first place. Moreover, we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) and this text noted that “without faith it is impossible to please him.”
Even with these few examples it is clear that Catholicism has found non-, un-, and anti-biblical ways to offer a pseudo salvation via false gospels to everyone; even those who are specifically excluded from salvation by their own free will choice of not accepting the one true real and history Jesus.
Thus, Catholicism is a Pagan mystery universalist religion with merely a Christian/biblical veneer.