Am I a Christian?

[TruePathFinder]

I don't believe in Noah and the Ark. I see adam and eve in the garden as symbolism. I have trouble believing that God gave moses tablets and the exodus out of egypt is suspect. I believe God came in the form of Jesus to suffer for our sins and to make us spiritually anew and we will one day be one with groom Christ in Holy union. The body of Christ. There is no Hell. Those that don't have the Holy Spirit living in them simply die. I believe the scritures are imperfect renditions by people that God uses to instruct us.
Am I a Christian?

 

[Sunstone]

Sounds like you've got the core message -- about Jesus being your savior. So that, in my book, means you're a Christian and therefore fully licensed to denounce all other Christians as not true Christians.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I don't believe in Noah and the Ark. I see adam and eve in the gaden as symbolism. I have trouble believing that God gave moses tablets an the exodus out of egypt is suspect. I believe God came in the form of Jesus to suffer for our sins and to make us spiritually anew and we will one day be one with groom Christ in Holy union. The body of Christ. There is no Hell. Those that don't have the Holy Spirit living in them simply die. I believe the scritures are imperfect renditions by people that God uses to instruct us.
Am I a Christian?

Isn’t the most important thing for one who faithfully believes in Christ is to follow His Teachings in accordance with our best understanding? To strive day by day to live the best we can? If you know in your heart you are a follower of Christ then be less concerned with the ill considered opinions and judgments of others who would bear the name Christian.

 

[Vouthon]

I don't believe in Noah and the Ark.

Neither do I, its a pretty little fable inspired by the tale of Utnapishtim in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. Most religious traditions or cultures have stories about some kind of flood myth.

I see adam and eve in the gaden as symbolism.

As do I, inasmuch as the first chapters of Genesis are a creation myth inspired by preceding Babylonian ones about the gods creating order from chaos. The Genesis author reworked this to serve Jewish monotheism or henotheism.

I have trouble believing that God gave moses tablets an the exodus out of egypt is suspect.

There is no archaeological evidence for an Israelite exodus from Egypt. Hyksos can't viably be made to fit. So, again, checkmate.

I believe God came in the form of Jesus to suffer for our sins and to make us spiritually anew and we will one day be one with groom Christ in Holy union.

As do I, the incarnation is a pillar of the Christian faith and your right that our ultimate endgame is the beatific vision in heaven, by which we become one with the Most Blessed Trinity.

The body of Christ.

Yep, the Church

There is no Hell.

My denomination believes in hell but as a state of being that one places oneself in by definitively excluding love, rather than a place to which we are posthumously assigned by a wrathful deity.

That said, scholars agree that Jesus's references to Gehenna (translated as hell in most bibles) were actually about a rubbish dump outside Jerusalem where the Kings of Judah once sacrificed children, rather than a literal afterlife state of fiery torment.

St. Paul in his epistles doesn't mention hell at all. He appeared to believe in annihilation of the souls of the unjust and at times perhaps even universal salvation.

So, your interpretation here is good to go. There are churches which reject hell.

Those that don't have the Holy Spirit living in them simply die.

I don't believe this but each to their own

I believe the scritures are imperfect renditions by people that God uses to instruct us.

You don't have to believe in biblical inerrancy.

Am I a Christian?

You are a Christian if you genuinely regard yourself as a Christian, and no one has any right to tell you otherwise my friend.

 

[Sunstone]

Isn’t the most important thing for one who faithfully believes in Christ is to follow His Teachings in accordance with our best understanding? To strive day by day to live the best we can? If you know in your heart you are a follower of Christ then be less concerned with the ill considered opinions and judgments of others who would bear the name Christian.

Of course, you're right. There's not much more that can be said now.

Party pooper.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Of course, you're right. There's not much more that can be said now.

Party pooper.

I thought Id save everyone the trouble of posting another 20 responses on what it means to be a Christian. It frees our precious brain cells to consider more carefully the thesis on logic and metaphysics you just posted

 

[shunyadragon]

I don't believe in Noah and the Ark. I see adam and eve in the gaden as symbolism. I have trouble believing that God gave moses tablets an the exodus out of egypt is suspect. I believe God came in the form of Jesus to suffer for our sins and to make us spiritually anew and we will one day be one with groom Christ in Holy union. The body of Christ. There is no Hell. Those that don't have the Holy Spirit living in them simply die. I believe the scritures are imperfect renditions by people that God uses to instruct us.
Am I a Christian?

Why would you not be a Christian considering the diversity of beliefs of Christianity?

 

[Kirran]

Yo, @Vouthon, what do you reckon happens when you die?

 

[TruePathFinder]

Thank you very much for all your help. It makes me feel much better.

 

[stvdv]

I don't believe in Noah and the Ark

I can believe in Noah. I can believe in the Ark. I can not believe the whole earth was flooded. But I like much better the symbolism and lessons we can learn. Old scriptures are know for symbolism and lessons. People forget this nowadays. Understandable, that means you need to wake up your gray cells. I tend to be lazy "sometimes" also.

I see adam and eve in the gaden as symbolism

I believe there is heaps of symbolism. But woman seducing the man to eat from the forbidden fruit seems quite literal IMO. My Master said that 20.000 years ago "King Rama" in India was living, so the 6000 year ago starting human life story I can not believe. Seems that science also found evidence about this. Made it easier to see it as symbolism.

I have trouble believing that God gave moses tablets an the exodus out of egypt

Okay that one I do like. Never thought that were a "doubt case" also. But now I (first time) use my gray cells on this one, it is kind of a stretch. God never gave me something written in stone, so it's kind of hard to believe. He did give me instructions in voice. So I think Moses got the instructions from God (that I do not doubt for a second). Then God instructed Moses "You carve it in stone, and tell them that God did this". Sometimes it's good to tell the kids a little extra, otherwise they don't buy. But don't overdo it, they are not fools. Well considered this is not even a lie, when seen from Advaita "all are one, and God resides in everyone [so God spark in Moses did it".

I believe God came in the form of Jesus to suffer for our sins and to make us spiritually anew and we will one day be one with groom Christ in Holy union. The body of Christ.

I believe "God came in the form of Jesus to suffer by our sin "nailing him at the cross". The rest is to me a nice story to take guilt away from what they actually did or use the story to create the Church empire around it with all power/control games. But again as seen from "God being unconditional Love", then if you believe this "story" then it might be true for the ones who believe it. I do not belittle the story itself at all. I am convinced it works if you believe it.

There is no Hell

I believe there is Hell only for the ones who believe in hell, thereby creating it on the spot, meaning here on earth. I don't believe in Hell after death.

Those that don't have the Holy Spirit living in them simply die

I believe we all have the Divine spark in us. In some the spark is a bit dormant. What happens after death is pure speculation. I am not into that. I rather check it out first, only seems to be a thing you can only check out once, and not able to share afterwards. So I keep this one to check out when I know there is no way back anyway.

I believe the scritures are imperfect renditions by people that God uses to instruct us.

I believe also that humans messed up when writing down the scriptures. But we can still learn a lot from them. Unless we don't use common sense and brain power

Am I a Christian?

I know that Jesus loves me. I know that God loves me. I know that I am not in Love with the institute Church. I love it when God tells me "You are wrong", at least He talks to me [then I don't care whether it is positive or negative; just the personal attention is enough]. I love it not when Christians tell me "You are wrong". Why? Because they are not so convincing to say the least. I just not happen to trust them on their word. I do trust God on His word much better.

So I call myself a follower of God. Takes care of all the confusion of the different religions.

I wish you all the best in defining and finding your way "how to believe". I believe it is between God and me personally. Makes chosing for me much easier, if I don't need to worry what other believers believe or tell to me or do themselves.

 

[shunyadragon]

Yo, @Vouthon, what do you reckon happens when you die?

Nobody knows!

 

[shunyadragon]

Thank you very much for all your help. It makes me feel much better.

Careful, this is self-serving motivation. If you hang around I will try and make you uncomfortable.

 

[David T]

Sounds like you've got the core message -- about Jesus being your savior. So that, in my book, means you're a Christian and therefore fully licensed to denounce all other Christians as not true Christians.

I hate haters!!!!!

 

[HonestJoe]

Am I a Christian?

Does it matter? You'll believe and do exactly the same things regardless of whether you give yourself (or others give you) the label "Christian" or not.

 

[Jumi]

Yes. And this by the way sounds like a lot of Christians in Europe to me.

 

[Phantasman]

I don't believe in Noah and the Ark. I see adam and eve in the garden as symbolism. I have trouble believing that God gave moses tablets and the exodus out of egypt is suspect. I believe God came in the form of Jesus to suffer for our sins and to make us spiritually anew and we will one day be one with groom Christ in Holy union. The body of Christ. There is no Hell. Those that don't have the Holy Spirit living in them simply die. I believe the scritures are imperfect renditions by people that God uses to instruct us.
Am I a Christian?

Works for me. Secret John (Apocyphon of John) says almost word for word what you are seeing. The only difference is that the Father is so far above our understanding, Jesus Christ is as close as we are able to understand.

John 14:
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

I don't believe in Noah and the Ark. I see adam and eve in the garden as symbolism. I have trouble believing that God gave moses tablets and the exodus out of egypt is suspect. I believe God came in the form of Jesus to suffer for our sins and to make us spiritually anew and we will one day be one with groom Christ in Holy union. The body of Christ. There is no Hell. Those that don't have the Holy Spirit living in them simply die. I believe the scritures are imperfect renditions by people that God uses to instruct us.
Am I a Christian?

By most definitions, yes.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

St Augustine said that anyone who took the Genesis narrative literally (creation in 6 twenty-four hour sessions, etc) was being childish. St Isaac of Syria said that you only go to hell if you want to: a devil would be admitted to heaven if he asked nicely. Since they got canonised, you can't be too far off topic. I can't guarantee canonisation, though!

 

[Patrick Miron]

I don't believe in Noah and the Ark. I see adam and eve in the garden as symbolism. I have trouble believing that God gave moses tablets and the exodus out of egypt is suspect. I believe God came in the form of Jesus to suffer for our sins and to make us spiritually anew and we will one day be one with groom Christ in Holy union. The body of Christ. There is no Hell. Those that don't have the Holy Spirit living in them simply die. I believe the scritures are imperfect renditions by people that God uses to instruct us.
Am I a Christian?

My friend, I hope your following my replies to the 10 points you raised in your OP. SPACE required that they be broken up in segments.

Please let me know if you have any further questions,
Patrick

 

[Jim]

I don't believe in Noah and the Ark. I see adam and eve in the garden as symbolism. I have trouble believing that God gave moses tablets and the exodus out of egypt is suspect. I believe God came in the form of Jesus to suffer for our sins and to make us spiritually anew and we will one day be one with groom Christ in Holy union. The body of Christ. There is no Hell. Those that don't have the Holy Spirit living in them simply die. I believe the scritures are imperfect renditions by people that God uses to instruct us.
Am I a Christian?

I'm sure you already know that some Christians would say that you are, and others would say that you aren't, so I'm wondering what your question really is, and who you're really asking. Do you want to know if you're really saved? Do you want to know if Jesus really counts you as one of His followers? Do you want to know if your faith is true? I decided a long time ago to stop worrying about whether or not my faith is truly the faith that Jesus saw in Peter, or that Paul says is a gift from God. I decided that the question that matters to me is, if my faith is true, what do I want to do with it? I want my faith to be true, but maybe I'll never know for sure. I can always find some way to make myself doubt anything, if I try. Maybe my faith is true. Maybe it isn't. What matters to me now is, if my faith is true, what do I want to do with it? For now, what I want to do with it is to continually work on improving my personality, my character, and the way I live my life, in ways that will help improve the lives of all people everywhere, and to help with the growth and spread of healthier, happier, more loving communities, all around the world.