Is "American Christian" an Oxymoron?

[Hockeycowboy]

i just found this article, about a survey that was given to Americans who identified as Christian. It is sort of funny.

"The responses....were....headache-inducing."

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/10/survey-finds-american-christians-actually-heretics/



Any comments?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

i just found this article, about a survey that was given to Americans who identified as Christian. It is sort of funny.

"The responses....were....headache-inducing."

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/10/survey-finds-american-christians-actually-heretics/



Any comments?

So now you’re in favour of Trinitarianism? I just saw you argue against it in another thread.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

i just found this article, about a survey that was given to Americans who identified as Christian. It is sort of funny.

"The responses....were....headache-inducing."

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/10/survey-finds-american-christians-actually-heretics/



Any comments?

I know some oxymoronic American Christians.

Oxymoron does mean, "dumb as an ox," right?

 

[Grandliseur]

i just found this article, about a survey that was given to Americans who identified as Christian. It is sort of funny.

"The responses....were....headache-inducing."

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/10/survey-finds-american-christians-actually-heretics/



Any comments?

The general news, including this ought to demonstrate how far into the end times we are. Still, we have no idea how long it shall continue.

As for America being Christian, I think that is a thing of the past, though many still hold on to the faith, such as it is.

 

[Polymath257]

I find it funny that an evangelical who otherwise despises Catholicism will adopt the Nicene Creed, which was dictated by Catholicism.

Yes, Arians were/are Christian. There are many different interpretations of the Bible and NONE of them is consistent because the Bible itself isn't consistent.

Maybe people are beginning to realize the Bible isn't the source of morality many claim it to be.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Any comments?

Its probably a good thing! Its hard to tell if the article is preaching orthodoxy or fundamentalism. It wants everyone to conform to an IEEE standard.

 

[metis]

A recent survey found that 40% of Americans still support Trump, so I guess that in itself indicates that so many Americans don't seem to take Jesus and what the Bible teaches very seriously.

 

[kjw47]

i just found this article, about a survey that was given to Americans who identified as Christian. It is sort of funny.

"The responses....were....headache-inducing."

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/10/survey-finds-american-christians-actually-heretics/



Any comments?

Trinitarian religions fit here--Mark 3:24-26--they 100% fail to accomplish this true mark-1Cor 1:10--- yet they falsely reason that because a few points of dogma are the same in those religions they are doing 1Cor 1:10---reality shows they are not. They falsely reason many things.

 

[kjw47]

A recent survey found that 40% of Americans still support Trump, so I guess that in itself indicates that so many Americans don't seem to take Jesus and what the Bible teaches very seriously.

They aren't taught what Jesus actually taught. Those teachers go to the schools of men and are paid to teach that brands dogma, They are not paid to teach what Jesus actually taught.

 

[metis]

They aren't taught what Jesus actually taught. Those teachers go to the schools of men and are paid to teach that brands dogma, They are not paid to teach what Jesus actually taught.

And, of course, the "they" is everyone outside your JW's, right?

 

[Quintessence]

To offer a critique of the survey from someone studied in survey methodology, let's take a look at who did this survey and how their methods were.

Who did this anyway? Lifeway says this here - http://lifewayresearch.com/about/ - is what they are about. It's hard to make a good assessment about this organization from this alone, but what we can say is that they are not an academically-oriented outlet. The survey (full PDF report here - http://lifewayresearch.com/wp-conte...can-Theology-Study-2016-White-Paper-Final.pdf - was also sponsored by some group called Ligonier Ministries. Looking at their presentation of the data - The State of Theology - it's pretty clear to me they had an agenda (go read the conclusions).

How was their methodology anyway? On the whole good, but it's not flawless and there are some unanswered questions about them. In terms of administration, there are some details in terms of how they went about quotas and weighting that are not (and should have been) spelled out. In terms of questions, there are a few double-barreled questions that should have been split into two questions.

How is their data presentation of the results? Awful. Okay, okay, that's overstating things. I come from academia, so I expect data presentations that conform to academic expectations. They don't. I like seeing actual number values along with my percentages. I also like box plots.

On the whole, if you look at the actual report (and overlook some of the methods/presentation issues) it's pretty interesting and runs parallel to results from similar surveys done by groups with a well-established reputation (like PEW Research). I'd encourage folks to take a gander at it - http://lifewayresearch.com/wp-conte...can-Theology-Study-2016-White-Paper-Final.pdf - because by itself it doesn't contain the biased slant that the OP implies.

 

[kjw47]

And, of course, the "they" is everyone outside your JW's, right?

As I tell everyone--The teachings of Jesus prove who is who.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

To offer a critique of the survey from someone studied in survey methodology, let's take a look at who did this survey and how their methods were.

Who did this anyway? Lifeway says this here - http://lifewayresearch.com/about/ - is what they are about. It's hard to make a good assessment about this organization from this alone, but what we can say is that they are not an academically-oriented outlet. The survey (full PDF report here - http://lifewayresearch.com/wp-conte...can-Theology-Study-2016-White-Paper-Final.pdf - was also sponsored by some group called Ligonier Ministries. Looking at their presentation of the data - The State of Theology - it's pretty clear to me they had an agenda (go read the conclusions).

How was their methodology anyway? On the whole good, but it's not flawless and there are some unanswered questions about them. In terms of administration, there are some details in terms of how they went about quotas and weighting that are not (and should have been) spelled out. In terms of questions, there are a few double-barreled questions that should have been split into two questions.

How is their data presentation of the results? Awful. Okay, okay, that's overstating things. I come from academia, so I expect data presentations that conform to academic expectations. They don't. I like seeing actual number values along with my percentages. I also like box plots.

On the whole, if you look at the actual report (and overlook some of the methods/presentation issues) it's pretty interesting and runs parallel to results from similar surveys done by groups with a well-established reputation (like PEW Research). I'd encourage folks to take a gander at it - http://lifewayresearch.com/wp-conte...can-Theology-Study-2016-White-Paper-Final.pdf - because by itself it doesn't contain the biased slant that the OP implies.

Wow!
Thanks for your in-depth review.
You certainly have an analytical mind!
That’s awesome, IMO.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

There are many different interpretations of the Bible and NONE of them is consistent because the Bible itself isn't consistent.

As someone who calls himself a Christian, I disagree (of course). Isaac Newton (who ‘studied the Bible daily’), and many other deep thinkers like Robert Doyle, John Milton, Johannes Kepler, etc., would, too.

It’s a big book (or should I say, a library of books), so obviously it’s going to be misunderstood. Look at how many different religions, ie., beliefs, are based on it!

But there’s one aspect of understanding the Bible that many overlook....its Jesus’ words at Luke 10:21. It’s Jesus’ Father, the God of the Hebrews / Jews, who reveals it, no one else. It’s his book.

Yet, how many professed Christians are taught to worship him, only? The very first of the Ten Commandments tells us that’s a requirement. — Exodus 20:1-4.

Have a good day.

 

[Shad]

i just found this article, about a survey that was given to Americans who identified as Christian. It is sort of funny.

"The responses....were....headache-inducing."

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/10/survey-finds-american-christians-actually-heretics/



Any comments?

The survey could reflect a major flaw(s) in teaching methods for "preachers" and the lay at an organizational level. It is hard to pinpoint specific issues without knowledge of an individuals involvement with the church organization, what their specific church teaches, how it is taught, etc, etc. A parallel could be public education. Despite uniform curriculum and funding there are people that have problems.

 

[JustWondering]

i just found this article, about a survey that was given to Americans who identified as Christian. It is sort of funny.

"The responses....were....headache-inducing."

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/10/survey-finds-american-christians-actually-heretics/



Any comments?

Once worked with a guy who was studying to be a minister for his church who thought Jews were Christians. When I told him that Jews don't accept the new testament or Jesus Christ as the messiah he thought I was messing with him. That's when I realized how ignorant the average American is on a lot of issues. So the survey doesn't surprise me any.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

I am not sure Christ would have approved of nationalism myself, but maybe- since he seems to have had some pride in being Jewish. He makes strong statements here and there like 'we Jews know what we worship', 'it is not fitting to give the children's food to dogs', and so on.

I tend to think though that since he eventually had his teachings go out to the entire world in the great commission- he either meant something non-literal with the above passages, or lost his nationalism somewhere. It can happen as people grow, and I don't assume the Nazarene was any more all-knowing than the average good man.

 

[dfnj]

i just found this article, about a survey that was given to Americans who identified as Christian. It is sort of funny.
"The responses....were....headache-inducing."
http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/10/survey-finds-american-christians-actually-heretics/
Any comments?

RE: "Over half said it’s fair for God to exercise his wrath against sin, but seemed to waffle about which sins deserved wrath (not theirs!). Seventy-four percent said the “smallest sins” don’t warrant eternal damnation"

LOL!!! I've been saying this for years.

And omnipotent God of unconditional love forgives ALL sins without any conditions! Sin is human construct and justice only comes from enforcing secular laws. Everyone thinks their own sins are forgiven no matter what because no one knows what it's like to walk in other people's shoes!!!

 

[Brickjectivity]

To offer a critique of the survey from someone studied in survey methodology, let's take a look at who did this survey and how their methods were.

Who did this anyway? Lifeway says this here - http://lifewayresearch.com/about/ - is what they are about. It's hard to make a good assessment about this organization from this alone, but what we can say is that they are not an academically-oriented outlet. The survey (full PDF report here - http://lifewayresearch.com/wp-conte...can-Theology-Study-2016-White-Paper-Final.pdf - was also sponsored by some group called Ligonier Ministries. Looking at their presentation of the data - The State of Theology - it's pretty clear to me they had an agenda (go read the conclusions).

How was their methodology anyway? On the whole good, but it's not flawless and there are some unanswered questions about them. In terms of administration, there are some details in terms of how they went about quotas and weighting that are not (and should have been) spelled out. In terms of questions, there are a few double-barreled questions that should have been split into two questions.

How is their data presentation of the results? Awful. Okay, okay, that's overstating things. I come from academia, so I expect data presentations that conform to academic expectations. They don't. I like seeing actual number values along with my percentages. I also like box plots.

On the whole, if you look at the actual report (and overlook some of the methods/presentation issues) it's pretty interesting and runs parallel to results from similar surveys done by groups with a well-established reputation (like PEW Research). I'd encourage folks to take a gander at it - http://lifewayresearch.com/wp-conte...can-Theology-Study-2016-White-Paper-Final.pdf - because by itself it doesn't contain the biased slant that the OP implies.

I was going to say all of those things, but Q beat me to it.

 

[columbus]

As I tell everyone--The teachings of Jesus prove who is who.

And as I often point out, nobody knows what Jesus taught. All we know about is what later folks included in their version of the stories.
Tom