What is a Christian?

[Just_me_Mike]

Someone who follows Jesus as Christ? Is that the only qualification?

Share your ideas.

 

[Caladan]

Im afraid that people might take too much offence of my opinion about this.

 

[Hevenly Heathen]

To my understanding, a Christian is one who accepts Christ as the Messiah.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Im afraid that people might take too much offence of my opinion about this.

When has that stopped you before

 

[Riverwolf]

IMO, a Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Jesus.

Unfortunately, there aren't really any teachings that are universal through all the Christian sects, so it's hard to define.

 

[Caladan]

When has that stopped you before

Fair enough.
There we go.
The gospels deal with an episode in Jewish history during the times in which the Romans administrated Judah. the gospels focus on a Jewish teacher, supposedly a rabbi who preached about the coming of the kingdom of God during the time of the Roman yoke. he preached in the Jewish synagogues, he gave sermons to Jewish crowds, and he traveled to the Jewish capital. he was executed by a Roman execution method, a testament that he was killed for being a threat to the Roman authorities, at his execution he was mocked by the Roman soldiers as being 'King of the Jews'. and that was supposedly it. however the gospels tell us about the apostles spreading the good news through out the Roman empire. in reality by an extraordinary accident and turn of events, the pagans through out the Roman empire adopted the faith of the Jewish messianists, and eventually Christianity was spawned. Christianity has became the state religion of the mightiest empire on earth from being previously the religion of the minority and the oppressed. through out history this system which was dressed on ethnic European pagan traditions in great part has been the banner of grand armies and empires in civilizing the entire world, it has eventually become the largest religion on earth, but its Jesus is not the semitic Jewish man from Galilee, but a white man, who's crucified body has been a symbol for the subjugation of countless cultures. there is an unbridged gap between the Jewish episode 2000 years ago, and the religion we now call Christianity.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

To my understanding, a Christian is one who accepts Christ as the Messiah.

Satan accepted Christ as the Messiah, so do you want to rephrase?

IMO, a Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Jesus.

To follow, you mean putting the teachings into some kind of daily practice? Is that right?

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Fair enough.
There we go.
The gospels deal with an episode in Jewish history during the times in which the Romans administrated Judah. the gospels focus on a Jewish teacher, supposedly a rabbi who preached about the coming of the kingdom of God during the time of the Roman yoke. he preached in the Jewish synagogues, he gave sermons to Jewish crowds, and he traveled to the Jewish capital. he was executed by a Roman execution method, a testament that he was killed for being a threat to the Roman authorities, at his execution he was mocked by the Roman soldiers as being 'King of the Jews'. and that was supposedly it. however the gospels tell us about the apostles spreading the good news through out the Roman empire. in reality by an extraordinary accident and turn of events, the pagans through out the Roman empire adopted the faith of the Jewish messianists, and eventually Christianity was spawned. Christianity has became the state religion of the mightiest empire on earth from being previously the religion of the minority and the oppressed. through out history this system which was dressed on ethnic European pagan traditions in great part has been the banner of grand armies and empires in civilizing the entire world, it has eventually become the largest religion on earth, but its Jesus is not the semitic Jewish man from Galilee, but a white man, who's crucified body has been a symbol for the subjugation of countless cultures. there is an unbridged gap between the Jewish episode 2000 years ago, and the religion we now call Christianity.

While I will take honesty in any form I can get it, this does not tell me what being a Christian means to you. It starts to hint at it, but is not complete.

I didn't ask what is Christianity, or what is white Christianity, we all know how that white Christianity throughout history has more closely resembled a clan of Satan if I can use that comparison (for the record, not all white people who claim to be Christian are as bad as you think, nor are all black people lovers of chicken)

So, just answer the OP for me

 

[Storm]

I accept any who claim the label as "Christian." However, I also deeply sympathize with the G.K. Chesterson quote about Christianity having been found difficult and left untried.

 

[Riverwolf]

To follow, you mean putting the teachings into some kind of daily practice? Is that right?

Yes, on the whole. Unfortunately, as I've said, it's not easy to define exactly what Jesus said verses what his followers said.

 

[Hevenly Heathen]

Nope. As I don't believe in Satan or God, and the general consensus I have received from Christians is that one needs to accept Christ as the Messiah and savior, my statement stands. Perhaps Satan is a Christian, at least a Christian concept, so why shouldn't he accept Jesus?

 

[Caladan]

While I will take honesty in any form I can get it, this does not tell me what being a Christian means to you. It starts to hint at it, but is not complete.

Do you think there is any other kind of Christianity today in the west than the one I talk about?

I didn't ask what is Christianity, or what is white Christianity, we all know how that white Christianity throughout history has more closely resembled a clan of Satan if I can use that comparison (for the record, not all white people who claim to be Christian are as bad as you think, nor are all black people lovers of chicken)

I do not think that white Christians are bad. I've had incredible times with white Christians. in Germany, in Scotland, and other places.

So, just answer the OP for me

Perhaps if you answer this question first, some of us could help you further develop this thread.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Do you think there is any other kind of Christianity today in the west than the one I talk about?

Well I didn't narrow my OP to the west, you did. So how is that relevant?

In review, a Christian to you is a disguised white pagan tyrant, that abuses the title for selfish gain and power.

I like it!

 

[Thesavorofpan]

To be Christian is to be christ like, so yes believing in Jesus is one the qualifications for that. by the way I love the bruce lee picture.

 

[Perfect Circle]

Someone who follows Jesus as Christ? Is that the only qualification?

Share your ideas.

As there is no definitive way to put this...

I think an ideal Christian is someone who acts as selflessly, non-violently, and compassionately as possible. As this is the core message of the acts of Christ, these characteristics should be encouraged above all others.

Sadly.. that's not the case in Pauline Christianity.

 

[Caladan]

Well I didn't narrow my OP to the west, you did. So how is that relevant?

You live in the west, do you know any other things? as it so happen I do because I live in Israel, and there are Christians here from ancient Christian communities who have lived in the middle east all this time. during the crusades the European Christians treated these communities as they did the local Muslims, I assume you know what that means.

In review, a Christian to you is a disguised white pagan tyrant, that abuses the title for selfish gain and power.

I like it!

Not really. remember im an atheist. I simply think that many Christians in the US are completely detached from ancient authentic 'Christianity'. but naturally that is to be expected. no religion when it becomes organized and big keeps its authenticity.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I pretty much take people at face value regarding whatever religion they claim. Considering all the different variations, sects, denominations, etc. of most religions, it would seem rather arbitrary to label some people as the "real" ones, and others as not.

Any religion is, most relevantly, a collection of the behaviors, beliefs, and practices of the group(s) of people who currently claim that religion.

 

[McBell]

What is a Christian?

Anyone whose religious beliefs include Jesus Christ that claims the label/title "Christian".