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Author
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Topic: What is Christianity?
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 1 of 451 (136688)
08-25-2004 1:20 AM
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Note to Admins: Probably the best fit is Faith and Belief. It's pretty obvious that many of the posters here are Christians, yet seem to hold vastly different ideas of what Christianity means. Perhaps it would be good if those who called themselves Christian defined their personal concept of Christianity. This is not meant as much as a debate as a question and answer session. Admins, it is requested that any posts of the type "You're not a real Christian" be sanctioned. If someone does not accept another's beliefs, fine. But this is not the thread to attack them, rather present your case for your own beliefs. Let the readers make their own decisions. Posters should accept questions related to their belief and give reasoning for their particular position, but hopefully this will not descend to quote mining the Bible or other sources since there are quotes to support any and all positions. Rather it is hoped this will be a logical discussion of positions held. edited to add requisite spelling errors. This message has been edited by jar, 08-25-2004 07:57 PM
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Well,I'm hoping that the various Christians will post on their personal belief systems. I don't see any reason the we cannot add another thread on religions in general. edited to fix spelling. This message has been edited by jar, 08-26-2004 12:19 AM
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 7 of 451 (136752)
08-25-2004 10:41 AM
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Reply to: Message 1 by jar
08-25-2004 1:20 AM
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As I see Christianity
Christianity is one of the world's great Religions. For me a short summary would be: In the beginning, billions and billions of years ago, GOD created this universe. Most likely, the primordal singularity was a thought of GOD. This may not be the only universe and if there are other universes, they are within GOD and He is within them. GOD is. The God of the Hebrew, the GOD of the Muslims, infact all of the various GODs out there are GOD. Two thousand years ago Jesus lived and died for ALL mankind. The promise given, the gift of salvation, was not just for Christians but for ALL. It includes, Jews and Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, Atheists and Agnostics. The only conditions are twofold (with the second commandment being a two part one), Love GOD; Love others and love yourself. You may not succeed, but to be saved you have to try to live up to those commandments. IMHO, Christianity is really simple. There's nothing mysterious about it, nothing that the average person cannot understand, nothing beyond normal capabilities.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 1 by jar, posted 08-25-2004 1:20 AM | | jar has not replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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I would agree that to be a Christian by definition you must accept Jesus Christ. But I also believe that Christianity is more than just Christians. As I said in other posts, IMHO, Christ's Death and Resurection is a promise to ALL people, even Atheists and Agnoistics. It was the gift of salvations and a promise of life everlasting, freely given, from GOD to all mankind.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 4 by coffee_addict, posted 08-25-2004 3:19 AM | | coffee_addict has not replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 9 by lfen, posted 08-25-2004 2:00 PM | | jar has replied | | | Message 42 by Phat, posted 10-23-2004 7:07 PM | | jar has not replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 10 of 451 (136847)
08-25-2004 7:15 PM
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Reply to: Message 9 by lfen
08-25-2004 2:00 PM
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If you want, start a thread. It could be interesting.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 9 by lfen, posted 08-25-2004 2:00 PM | | lfen has not replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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I have no problem with Agnostics, Atheists and any other faith or belief system asking questions related to clarification of a point or idea but as I said, I hope this will not devolve into a debate.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 3 by AdminAsgara, posted 08-25-2004 1:27 AM | | AdminAsgara has not replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 22 by ramoss, posted 08-26-2004 3:23 PM | | jar has replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 13 of 451 (136872)
08-25-2004 9:41 PM
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Reply to: Message 12 by 1.61803
08-25-2004 9:37 PM
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Thank you sir. So can you expand on what differentiates a Creedal Christian? Edited to add: Also, what do you mean "Unfortunatley God and Jesus have been replaced as the objects of worship and the Bible has taken they're place for many Christians"? This message has been edited by jar, 08-25-2004 08:42 PM
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 12 by 1.61803, posted 08-25-2004 9:37 PM | | 1.61803 has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 14 by 1.61803, posted 08-25-2004 9:44 PM | | jar has replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 17 of 451 (136904)
08-25-2004 11:45 PM
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Reply to: Message 14 by 1.61803
08-25-2004 9:44 PM
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I believe I do but there are many non-Creedal Christians here as well as those from a host of other moral systems and I was hoping you'd expand on that for their benefit. It's one of those internal terms not often used outside the fold.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 14 by 1.61803, posted 08-25-2004 9:44 PM | | 1.61803 has not replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 18 of 451 (136905)
08-25-2004 11:47 PM
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Reply to: Message 15 by joshua221
08-25-2004 11:34 PM
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prophex, if you wish to describe how you see Christianity, please do so. As I said, I hope this will become a discussion, not a debate.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 15 by joshua221, posted 08-25-2004 11:34 PM | | joshua221 has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 20 by joshua221, posted 08-26-2004 1:49 PM | | jar has not replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 19 of 451 (136992)
08-26-2004 10:02 AM
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Where are the Christians?????
Well, so far it looks like there are few Christians here. I had thought, based on some other posts that there were more than two Christians on this board, but perhaps I was wrong. Christians, if you are out there, how about stepping up and explaining what your view of Christianity is?
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 23 of 451 (137120)
08-26-2004 3:41 PM
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Reply to: Message 22 by ramoss
08-26-2004 3:23 PM
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Since athiests do not believe in god, and many Buddists are also atheists, how does that fit into your condition 'love god'. IMHO, absodamnlutely.
Or is there another criteria for 'loving god'.. for example, by your works? I think the passage from Matthew 25 sums it up nicely.
quote:
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
It is not so much a matter of "Doing Works" for the merit of them as in recognizing the inner oneness of all beings. Christianity is not about dying, not about the second coming, not about heaven, it's about living. It's about recognizing that all men are part of life, all things are a part of life. The guy that stops his car and helps a turtle across the road loves GOD. When you reach up and get down the package on the top shelf of the grocery store for someone who can't reach it, or sit on the floor to read to kids, you are loving GOD.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 22 by ramoss, posted 08-26-2004 3:23 PM | | ramoss has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 24 by ramoss, posted 08-26-2004 4:09 PM | | jar has replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 25 of 451 (137137)
08-26-2004 4:30 PM
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Reply to: Message 24 by ramoss
08-26-2004 4:09 PM
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In other words, motivation for the works count. Pretty much. But if it were done to be a good work, to gain credit, for the doer not the recipient, then it would not be loving God.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 24 by ramoss, posted 08-26-2004 4:09 PM | | ramoss has not replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 27 of 451 (137600)
08-28-2004 10:29 AM
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Reply to: Message 26 by Phat
08-28-2004 2:04 AM
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Re: What is what? Why ask why? WHO?
I can't really tell you how to describe your beliefs, except to say that they should be yours. Just give it a go and if one of the readers doesn't understand I'm sure they will ask for clarification.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 26 by Phat, posted 08-28-2004 2:04 AM | | Phat has seen this message but not replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 32 of 451 (137750)
08-28-2004 10:05 PM
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Reply to: Message 28 by bob_gray
08-28-2004 1:43 PM
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On prayer and intercession
Of course they also pray to Mary and the saints but I think that god forgives these "sins". Do they pray to Mary and the other Saints, or do they ask Mary and the other Saints to interceed for them? TTBOMK, they do not ask either Mary or a Saint to forgive sins, but rather simply to Pray for them.
"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death, amen." IIRC, that is based on the quotes from Luke 1:28 and 42.
28 ..."Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." 42 ..."Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 28 by bob_gray, posted 08-28-2004 1:43 PM | | bob_gray has replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 413 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 44 of 451 (152526)
10-24-2004 11:24 AM
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Kudos to all
So far this is turning out to be all that I could have wished, maybe even more. Please keep the posts coming. For those Christians on the board who have not yet posted, what is your definition of a Christian?
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
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