Christian in the non-religious sense

[Rainbow Mage]

Do you think a person can be a Christian (follower of Christ) while not necessarily adhering to the religion of Christianity and its dogmas?

 

[Reptillian]

Do you think a person can be a Christian (follower of Christ) while not necessarily adhering to the religion of Christianity and its dogmas?

Yes, but I'd question whether to call such a person a Christian because of all implied dogma and historical baggage that goes along with the term.

I agree with Bertrand Russell when he defines a Christian as someone who, at the very least, believes that Christ was the best and wisest of men (if not divine). If a person doesn't believe at least that, I don't think he has a right to call himself a Christian.

 

[mycorrhiza]

Either you could be an independent follower of Jesus and believe in his message (this would still make you a Christian) or you could follow Jesus in a strictly moral sense (Jesuism). The former would still be religious, however, just not organised.

 

[arthra]

Do you think a person can be a Christian (follower of Christ) while not necessarily adhering to the religion of Christianity and its dogmas?

Well you could come up with a few examples..

Thiomas Jefferson composed a Gospel from the existing ones and left out all the miracles .... Was he a follower of Christ?

Leo Tolstoy did much the same thing.. He composed a Gospel in Brief from Greek and hardly touched on dogmas or miracles. He was excommunicated from the Russian Orthodox Church.

Kahlil Gibran wrote "Jesus Son of Man" and likewise left out miracles and dogmas and he was threatened with excommunication..

Nikos Kazantzakis...wrote "The Last Temptationof Christ" and he was excommunicated.

Baha'is recognize Jesus and we are not Christians either.

 

[Pegg]

Do you think a person can be a Christian (follower of Christ) while not necessarily adhering to the religion of Christianity and its dogmas?

if by 'the religion of christianity' you mean the mainstream churches that makeup Christendom, then yes.

You can use the bible to follow Christ and you wont find any of christendoms dogmas in there.

 

[ForeverFaithful]

if by 'the religion of christianity' you mean the mainstream churches that makeup Christendom, then yes.

You can use the bible to follow Christ and you wont find any of christendoms dogmas in there.

False,

Where did the Bible come from by the way?

 

[F0uad]

Just look at the definition of the word and under its historical context, the problem is solved.

Christian simply means an follower of Christ the enemies of Jesus(p) called hes followers that, Paul addresses hes disciples that way. There were early ''Christians'' who did not belief that Jesus(p) was divine and they were called Christians until they got prosecuted by the Roman Church off-course and latter labelled as heretics.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Do you think a person can be a Christian (follower of Christ) while not necessarily adhering to the religion of Christianity and its dogmas?

I am.

 

[javajo]

Do you think a person can be a Christian (follower of Christ) while not necessarily adhering to the religion of Christianity and its dogmas?

I would be interested in getting more background details behind your question. I believe anyone who has realized they are a sinner, the penalty is death, and trusted in Christ that his death paid their penalty, is freely, utterly and eternally saved. Now, after we have been freely saved, it is good to grow in grace and obey the Lord by getting baptized, joining a church where one can serve, worship, give, take communion and lead others to Christ, etc. It is not necessary for salvation but is good for growth and seeking God's Kingdom and storing our treasure in Heaven, etc. Does one have to believe the same way as other Christians on the issues of the day? No, just have to have placed their trust in Christ for salvation. Is there a church out there for almost everyone? I think so. Can one serve the Lord at home, at work, at play? Sure. Can one read the Bible, study books, listen to sermons on TV and radio, and learn and grow? Sure.

I need to go to church more often, myself, but I'm looking for one that accepts my daughter and the Episcopal Church is ok, but so formal, I've been going to a contemporary service at a Methodist Church some. So, working on that one myself. I can say, when I went and gave and served very regularly, God blessed my socks off in every area of my life! And, one must take care, for as one removes a burning ember from a fire, it begins to slowly cool, and this can happen with Christians, too. Christian fellowship is one thing God really wants us to have, to help us and to give us opportunities to help others and to serve him, which is one of his great goals for our lives after salvation, for we are freely saved to do good works which God has prepared for us. Ok, well, getting too long...

 

[nnmartin]

Do you think a person can be a Christian (follower of Christ) while not necessarily adhering to the religion of Christianity and its dogmas?

basically no, because that would just be a humanist.

it depends exactly on what you mean here, but just being a general good person, without believing in God, is not enough IMO.

I'm sure some of the dogma can be done away with, but if you don't follow the main tenets of the religion then what is the point?

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I'm sure some of the dogma can be done away with, but if you don't follow the main tenets of the religion then what is the point?

But remember, I am talking about being a follower of Christ (Christian) without subscribing to the religion of Christianity or its dogmas

As for what I mean by this, to help clarify, I mean a person like Jefferson. A person who believes the teachings are good and strives to follow, without regard to Jesus being God or not, or dying for sin or not.

What does believing such things have to do with following what the man taught? Such beliefs often find their origins in Christology and scholars.

The idea of anyone dying for anyone else's misdeeds is hard to swallow. It sort of seems a way of trying to dodge personal responsibility

 

[ForeverFaithful]

Just look at the definition of the word and under its historical context, the problem is solved.

Christian simply means an follower of Christ the enemies of Jesus(p) called hes followers that, Paul addresses hes disciples that way. There were early ''Christians'' who did not belief that Jesus(p) was divine and they were called Christians until they got prosecuted by the Roman Church off-course and latter labelled as heretics.

False, until Aryius taught people that heresey no one believed that
The real followers of Christ always taught He was God those who didn't were not real Christians as they followed a fake Christ

 

[dawny0826]

Do you think a person can be a Christian (follower of Christ) while not necessarily adhering to the religion of Christianity and its dogmas?

I can only speak for myself. I am a Christian. I do not attend church and my beliefs have evolved to where I do not approach the bible as literally.

 

[javajo]

I mean a person like Jefferson. A person who believes the teachings are good and strives to follow, without regard to Jesus being God or not, or dying for sin or not. What does believing such things have to do with following what the man taught? The idea of anyone dying for anyone else's misdeeds is hard to swallow. It sort of seems a way of trying to dodge personal responsibility

Jesus taught a lot of good things like love and forgive your enemies, etc. but he also taught that to fulfill scriptures he came to die and rise again for remission of sins. He said he would be lifted up (like on the cross) and all who looked to him would be saved. He said anyone who believed in him has eternal life. He told the disciples a few times before he was crucified that he had to go to Jerusalem, be beaten and mocked and crucified and rise again on the third day, but they did not get it. After he was resurrected, he took great pains to explain to his disciples from the Old Testament scriptures concerning him that he was to suffer, die and rise again to fulfill all that was written of him. He told them on the road to Emmaeus and in the Upper Room. So, its important to follow the most important of his teachings. You can love your enemy and still wind up in Hell. Jesus taught we must believe in, that is trust in, rely on, HIM to be saved. We are to trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross to be saved. See, we all sinned, the penalty is death, so he died. If we trust him that his death paid for our sins we are saved. It does not mean that we get away with sin, now or later. Eternity is not the same for every believer (or non-believer). Some will rule and reign and have great reward or treasure in Heaven, and many will not, but they will be saved. That's my belief.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

You are approaching the gospels like eyewitness accounts

 

[nnmartin]

But remember, I am talking about being a follower of Christ (Christian) without subscribing to the religion of Christianity or its dogmas

As for what I mean by this, to help clarify, I mean a person like Jefferson. A person who believes the teachings are good and strives to follow, without regard to Jesus being God or not, or dying for sin or not.

so in this case , we are just talking philosophy.

A spiritual philosophy similar to Buddhism.

Now of course, that is fine, but if you don't believe in God ,Jesus or Simon ,then I can't see how you could call yourself a Christian.

unless we just want to play semantics

 

[Rainbow Mage]

But doesn't Christian in the most literal sense just mean a follower of Christ?

 

[nnmartin]

Only if you believe in Him though.

otherwise it would have to be called philosophy, IMO.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Only if you believe in Him though.

otherwise it would have to be called philosophy, IMO.

Now have Christians ever really agreed on exactly what believing in Christ means? Its my experience that individual Christians all have differences in belief, even if only minor differences

 

[Shermana]

But doesn't Christian in the most literal sense just mean a follower of Christ?

As I've said before, there are two definitions of "Christian".

The Non-scriptural definition is anyone who says they are a "Christian" with some degree or another of claiming to believe in Jesus and his teachings as something or another, basically anyone as long as they claim to follow Jesus, whatever those words may mean to them.

The Scriptural definition is that Christians were first called such as the Disciples under Peter's authority in Antioch. Those would be Torah obedient Messianic Jews. Not Paul's specific brand necessarily, but Peter's.