NON-CHRISTIANS ONLY: What is a Christian to you?

[Poisonshady313]

MidnightBlue... my definition of a Christian has less to do with how a person actually acts, and more to do with what distinguishes them from a non-Christian.

It works, in a way, to unify them (from one perspective. Another might be "lumping them together"... but I prefer to remain positive)... Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Mormon.... whatever it is... so long as they believe that Jesus is more impressive than a prophet, they're a Christian (regardless of what particular doctrine they follow, if they follow anything at all, or how successful they are at what their own particular brand of Christianity considers being "saved).

That's my $0.02

 

[Smoke]

MidnightBlue... my definition of a Christian has less to do with how a person actually acts, and more to do with what distinguishes them from a non-Christian.

Well, Katz's poll allows us to take both in to consideration.

Practically speaking, and in real life (as opposed to online), if somebody tells me he is "a Christian" and not something more specific like a Catholic, or even if I see one of those fish emblems on somebody's car -- you have to bear in mind that I live in South Carolina, now -- I tend to assume the following:

• He is an Evangelical or Pentecostal
• He believes Jesus is his "personal savior" -- a belief I disliked even when I was a Christian, BTW
• He's a Republican
• He's anti-gay

I realize that none of those things is universally true of people who self-identify as Christians, even in South Carolina, but they are so likely to be true (in South Carolina) that the assumptions are about as justified as assuming that anybody with sunglasses and a white cane is blind.

 

[lilithu]

I think it's presumptuous, especially for a non-Christian, to distinguish between "true" Christians and --- what? false Christians?

I don't try to distinguish between "true Christians" and "false Christians." I don't presume anything about the word Christian; look at my vote and my other posts.

In that post I was trying to answer what I at that time thought the question was.

I can also count on my fingers the number of Christians I know personally who come close to that definition, even if we assume it's possible to have an ongoing relationship with a dead man.

Jesus of Nazareth is a dead man. The Christ is a living deity (for those who are Christian).

 

[Smoke]

Jesus of Nazareth is a dead man. The Christ is a living deity (for those who are Christian).

For Christians, Jesus of Nazareth and the Christ are one and the same. Some Christians, like Jehovah's Witnesses, don't consider him a deity, either.

 

[lilithu]

For Christians, Jesus of Nazareth and the Christ are one and the same. Some Christians, like Jehovah's Witnesses, don't consider him a deity, either.

Jesus of Nazareth was born and then crucified. Christ was resurrected, conquering death and lives with us now. They are the same, and yet they are not.

 

[Smoke]

Jesus of Nazareth was born and then crucified. Christ was resurrected, conquering death and lives with us now. They are the same, and yet they are not.

There may be some Christians who agree with that, but I think they'd be a distinct minority.

 

[Tau]

No other comments to make really other than my poll choice..That Christians are people whom call themselves Christians.

A name is just a name and Christians (in name) vary from saint to sociopath.

There was (for me) only ever one real Christian, and that was Jesus or Emmanuel the Nazarene as I prefer as it doesn't smack of assumed divinity.

 

[fantome profane]

No other comments to make really other than my poll choice..That Christians are people whom call themselves Christians.

A name is just a name and Christians (in name) vary from saint to sociopath.

There was (for me) only ever one real Christian, and that was Jesus or Emmanuel the Nazarene as I prefer as it doesn't smack of assumed divinity.

I thought that guy was Jewish.

 

[Smoke]

I thought that guy was Jewish.

He was.

So where does that leave us, if the only real Christian wasn't a Christian at all?

The "real" Christians are the ones you see around you, even if they're not the Christians you think they should be.

 

[Tau]

I thought that guy was Jewish.

Christianity is a Jewish religion

 

[Poisonshady313]

Christianity is a Jewish religion

:no:

Christianity does rely on the Jewish scriptures, yet it relies on a gross mistranslation/misinterpretation of them. It is a radical departure from Judaism.

To say that Christianity is a "Jewish religion" is an insult to Judaism.

 

[Poisonshady313]

There was (for me) only ever one real Christian, and that was Jesus or Emmanuel the Nazarene as I prefer as it doesn't smack of assumed divinity.

Y'know it's funny... but in the bible, nobody called Jesus "Emmanuel".

Nobody.

In Matthew 1:23 there was a reference to a child that would be born to a virgin and that someone would call Emmanuel (a faulty/sloppy reference to Isaiah 7:14 which was fulfilled 700 years earlier)... but the text very clearly says that Joseph named the child Jesus.

This is the ONLY time the word Emmanuel appears throughout the entire "New Testament."

 

[Katzpur]

To say that Christianity is a "Jewish religion" is an insult to Judaism.

How about saying that Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all Abrahamic religions? You don't have a problem with that designation, do you? As a Christian, I can understand why it would be offensive to you to say that Christianity is a Jewish religion, but I think it would be accurate to say that Jesus Christ, who was Jewish, founded the Church that would later come to be called Christianity.

 

[Poisonshady313]

How about saying that Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all Abrahamic religions? You don't have a problem with that designation, do you? As a Christian, I can understand why it would be offensive to you to say that Christianity is a Jewish religion, but I think it would be accurate to say that Jesus Christ, who was Jewish, founded the Church that would later come to be called Christianity.

No, I don't have a problem with that designation.

 

[Tau]

To say that Christianity is a "Jewish religion" is an insult to Judaism.

I couldn't care less.

I don't concern myself with your sensitivities...

Christianity is a judaic religion, if you find that insulting...you should see me when I really try..

Jews, Christians, Muslims you are all monotheists, with abrahamic traditions... seemingly identical to me, fundamentally.

 

[Poisonshady313]

I couldn't care less.

I don't concern myself with your sensitivities...

And I don't concern myself with what you couldn't care less about. My response was not so much for you as it was for people reading the thread in general.

Christianity is a judaic religion, if you find that insulting...you should see me when I really try..

I can imagine. Your indignation at this trivial little matter indicates you have the potential to become a particularly salty character.

This should be fun.

Jews, Christians, Muslims you are all monotheists, with abrahamic traditions... seemingly identical to me, fundamentally.

I have a problem (not that you care) with the notion that Christians are considered monotheists. The concept of the trinity has two too many to call itself one. You can go ahead and tell me I just don't understand the trinity... I've heard it all before.

Unless there are the brands of Christianity that don't buy the trinity... they simply prefer to believe that Jesus is God incarnate. That might allow it to be monotheist, but clearly not from any Abrahamic tradition, considering Abraham put an end to idolatry.

Just because the Christians lean on the "Old Testament" to prop up their "new testament" does not make Christianity Jewish, Judaic, Judeo, Hebraic, or anything similar.

Jews who know scripture and have seen what Christians have done to it know what I'm talking about.

Heck...non-Jews who know scripture have seen what Christians have done to it and know what I'm talking about.

Christianity might be a wonderful religion, with its own sense of fellowship and community and charity etc... but it is its own religion.

But to tie it to Judaism and pretend those ties haven't been severely severed 2000 years ago is just wrong... and not just because I say so.

 

[Tau]

Your indignation at this trivial little matter indicates you have the potential to become a particularly salty character.

Sorry its just my chaotic nature plus I have almost no patience what so ever (with ppl online).

 

[Poisonshady313]

Sorry its just my chaotic nature plus I have almost no patience what so ever (with ppl online).

If that's the case, are you sure an internet debate forum is the place for you?

Having been here for nearly 500 posts... having almost no patience whatsoever with people online... makes me wonder what it does to your attitude when you step away from the computer...

 

[Tau]

If that's the case, are you sure an internet debate forum is the place for you?

Having been here for nearly 500 posts... having almost no patience whatsoever with people online... makes me wonder what it does to your attitude when you step away from the computer...

Oh..
Did I give the impression I wanted to have a discussion with you, about this?

MY BAD!

 

[Smoke]

Sorry its just my chaotic nature plus I have almost no patience what so ever (with ppl online).

Neither one is a very good excuse for sloppy thinking.