Atheist Christian?

[Jeremiahcp]

Is there such thing as an Atheist Christian? Can a person be both an atheist and a Christian?

 

[Sunstone]

Back in the 1970s there was a relatively small group of people who characterized themselves as "atheist Christians". I don't know what became of them, but they were active for awhile.

 

[Deathbydefault]

Christian atheism - Wikipedia ?

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Back in the 1970s there was a relatively small group of people who characterized themselves as "atheist Christians". I don't know what became of them, but they were active for awhile.

And would you consider it a valid branch of Christianity?

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Christian atheism - Wikipedia ?

Same question: Would you consider it a valid branch of Christianity?

 

[Deathbydefault]

Same question: Would you consider it a valid branch of Christianity?

I have no idea.
It seems more like a thing atheists follow due to tradition, not because of belief in the religion itself.
Whether it belongs to one or the other, I don't know. I would assume you would have to believe in all the god and Jesus stuff to actually be Christian though. The usage of "atheist" would then be meaningless.

 

[Sunstone]

And would you consider it a valid branch of Christianity?

Of course. Except in the sense that they never set up any distinct denominations of their own.

The question of whether some group calling themselves "Christian" is or isn't Christian nearly always involves either a degree of metaphysical speculation (e.g. "What would Jesus say"), or representing oneself as The Voice of Truth in the matter. Both are distasteful to me.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Is there such thing as an Atheist Christian? Can a person be both an atheist and a Christian?

It would depend on definitions.

One of the leading theologians in my country sees much of the bible metaphorically including the concept of God but would see himself as a Christian.

He was a Presbyterian minister in his younger days but was unsuccessfully charged with 'doctrinal error' (heresy) in a very public trial in the 1960s. The trial was very damaging to the reputation of the church.

Lloyd Geering - Wikipedia

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Do you think, that by not regarding the Bible as the holy word of God, an individual might be more able to follow the teachings of Christ more ethically?

 

[Muffled]

Is there such thing as an Atheist Christian? Can a person be both an atheist and a Christian?

I believe a person can be an atheist and a cultural Christian. My son claims to be an atheist but he was raised in a Christian Church so he is acculturated in Christianity.

 

[Muffled]

And would you consider it a valid branch of Christianity?

I believe I would not consider many things that are called Christian as Christian. However we are stuck with the fact that a semblance of the real thing goes by the same name.

 

[Muffled]

Of course. Except in the sense that they never set up any distinct denominations of their own.

The question of whether some group calling themselves "Christian" is or isn't Christian nearly always involves either a degree of metaphysical speculation (e.g. "What would Jesus say"), or representing oneself as The Voice of Truth in the matter. Both are distasteful to me.

I believe I resemble that. I suppose if I were more worldly I would go for the exotic dancing girls myself. At least EDG would never be considered Christian unless they were dancing to Christian music of course.