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Author Topic:   What is Christianity?
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 136 of 451 (760518)
06-22-2015 6:45 PM
Reply to: Message 132 by Rocky.C
06-22-2015 6:26 PM


Re: still trying to define what Christianity is.
Rocky writes:
Okay, let's do it your way!
Take my last two posts and show that they are not correct.
Prove to me that Jesus was not the God of the OT, or that God does not want a family.
Let's see what you do know about the Bible. Being that you claim to be a Christian, you should have extensive knowledge.
I don't think that you can discredit my posts at all. No, not you!
Again, you simply don't seem to understand the question.
The topic is "What is a Christian".
I don't doubt for a second that you believe what you posted just as I find what you posted is just silly.
So other than membership in a Chapter of Club Christian, what defines a Christian?
What is a Christian expected to do that would differentiate a Christian from an atheist or Muslim or animist?
Edited by jar, : double post replacement.

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 132 by Rocky.C, posted 06-22-2015 6:26 PM Rocky.C has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 137 by Rocky.C, posted 06-22-2015 7:31 PM jar has replied

  
Rocky.C
Member (Idle past 3008 days)
Posts: 32
Joined: 06-17-2015


(1)
Message 137 of 451 (760522)
06-22-2015 7:31 PM
Reply to: Message 136 by jar
06-22-2015 6:45 PM


Re: still trying to define what Christianity is.
And, I'm telling you that I'm answering the question. But, to understand what defines a Christian, one must first define who is Christ. And, they must also define His purpose in creating us.
I don't believe that you have the slightest idea about who Christ is. I really don't. You know far too little about Him to be a follower.
Again, with the help of your club, I challenge you to disprove my "silly" assertions about Christ. Please!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 136 by jar, posted 06-22-2015 6:45 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 138 by jar, posted 06-22-2015 7:41 PM Rocky.C has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 138 of 451 (760525)
06-22-2015 7:41 PM
Reply to: Message 137 by Rocky.C
06-22-2015 7:31 PM


Re: still trying to define what Christianity is.
Rocky writes:
And, I'm telling you that I'm answering the question. But, to understand what defines a Christian, one must first define who is Christ. And, they must also define His purpose in creating us.
I don't believe that you have the slightest idea about who Christ is. I really don't. You know far too little about Him to be a follower.
Again, with the help of your club, I challenge you to disprove my "silly" assertions about Christ. Please!
Again, the purpose of this thread is not to prove or disprove anyone's beliefs. I freely admit that you likely believe what you post to be true just as I believe it to be just nonsense.
The topic is "What is Christianity?"

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 137 by Rocky.C, posted 06-22-2015 7:31 PM Rocky.C has not replied

  
Minnemooseus
Member
Posts: 3941
From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior)
Joined: 11-11-2001
Member Rating: 10.0


(2)
Message 139 of 451 (760529)
06-22-2015 8:19 PM
Reply to: Message 102 by Adminnemooseus
06-21-2015 7:42 PM


Re: Maybe stick to things Christ?
OK, my last message was a bit of a mix of Minnemooseus and Admiminemooseus. So is this one.
Adminnemooseus writes:
I don't think that Christ was concerned about the Earth's age, the nature of geology, and the general state of the Earth's physical makeup.
It seems to me, that all messages should have some obvious connection to considerations of Christ.
This was a reaction to the messages of Rocky.C up to that point in the topic, and also the replies to those messages. Rocky.C's messages were essentially, if not entirely, going into the realm of "creation science", and thus belonged elsewhere.
Minnemooseus writes:
Dare I opine that a Christian is one who follows the teachings and actions of Christ?
"Christian" pretty much means "follower of Christ". As such, I think the core of Christianity is in the Gospels, which contain the input of Christ. To be "Christian" is to strive to be "Christ like", and if you fail at that, anything else of whatever variety of Judeo-Christian Bible is pretty irreverent.
Jar has asked "What differentiates a Christian from an atheist"? I say (and I think that Jar would agree) that there are atheists that are much more "Christ like" than professed Christians. One can follow a "Christian" philosophy without having any belief in any god/God.
Moose

This message is a reply to:
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 Message 140 by jar, posted 06-22-2015 8:29 PM Minnemooseus has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 140 of 451 (760530)
06-22-2015 8:29 PM
Reply to: Message 139 by Minnemooseus
06-22-2015 8:19 PM


Re: Maybe stick to things Christ?
So are you saying that Christianity does not even require someone to believe in God or be a member of a Chapter of Club Christian?
Does that make it even harder to decide what is Christianity?

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 139 by Minnemooseus, posted 06-22-2015 8:19 PM Minnemooseus has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 141 by nwr, posted 06-22-2015 8:54 PM jar has seen this message but not replied
 Message 142 by Minnemooseus, posted 06-22-2015 9:37 PM jar has replied
 Message 144 by NoNukes, posted 06-23-2015 4:06 AM jar has seen this message but not replied

  
nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 141 of 451 (760531)
06-22-2015 8:54 PM
Reply to: Message 140 by jar
06-22-2015 8:29 PM


Re: Maybe stick to things Christ?
Does that make it even harder to decide what is Christianity?
Christianity: A religion that is supposed to bring people together;
"Christianity": a word that is used to divide people, to tear people apart.

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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Minnemooseus
Member
Posts: 3941
From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior)
Joined: 11-11-2001
Member Rating: 10.0


Message 142 of 451 (760533)
06-22-2015 9:37 PM
Reply to: Message 140 by jar
06-22-2015 8:29 PM


Athiest morality Christianity vs. religious Christianity
So are you saying that Christianity does not even require someone to believe in God or be a member of a Chapter of Club Christian?
I'm saying an atheist can follow a lot of the moral guidelines that are also Christian moral guidelines. Thus the atheist might well be "Christ like" without being "Christian".
For whatever it's worth (all from Jar messages):
Will an atheist go to heaven if he does good works?
Yup.
But I imagine he could get a by if he asked.
Message 64
My basic reasoning is based on my readings here and contact with CHRISTIANs. I believe that very few CHRISTIANs have a clue what christianity is all about. That is why I'm quite sure that the average atheist has a far higher likelyhood of ever going to heaven than any CHRISTIAN.
Message 32
As you have said before, many atheists will be in heaven before many so-called Christians, but an atheist rejects Jesus' divinity and resurrection.
Yup, and because they do so they can never be a Christian. They can't belong to the Club or learn the secret handshake.
Message 273
Many more similar available by searching messages for (atheist heaven), author (Jar)
Moose

This message is a reply to:
 Message 140 by jar, posted 06-22-2015 8:29 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 143 by jar, posted 06-22-2015 9:43 PM Minnemooseus has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 143 of 451 (760534)
06-22-2015 9:43 PM
Reply to: Message 142 by Minnemooseus
06-22-2015 9:37 PM


Re: Athiest morality Christianity vs. religious Christianity
Moose writes:
I'm saying an atheist can follow a lot of the moral guidelines that are also Christian moral guidelines. Thus the atheist might well be "Christ like" without being "Christian".
Okay. So related to the topic which is "What is Christianity?", do you have something that might help?

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 142 by Minnemooseus, posted 06-22-2015 9:37 PM Minnemooseus has not replied

  
NoNukes
Inactive Member


(1)
Message 144 of 451 (760539)
06-23-2015 4:06 AM
Reply to: Message 140 by jar
06-22-2015 8:29 PM


Re: Maybe stick to things Christ?
or be a member of a Chapter of Club Christian?
Surely a person can discover the Bible on his own and follow Jesus without being a member of any Chapter. That is at least a technical possibility. Besides that, I can remember periods in my life when I flitted about from church to church without regard for denominations.
I actually think that makes it easier to define, albeit a little harder to identify Christians.
On the other hand, there is enough of Jesus message that is about obedience to his Father that I have more difficulty accepting that an atheist can be a Chrisitian. Atheism would seem to deny a good deal of what Christ taught.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also in prison. Thoreau: Civil Disobedience (1846)
History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. Martin Luther King
If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions? Scott Adams

This message is a reply to:
 Message 140 by jar, posted 06-22-2015 8:29 PM jar has seen this message but not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 147 by Phat, posted 06-23-2015 8:02 AM NoNukes has seen this message but not replied

  
Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 145 of 451 (760543)
06-23-2015 5:40 AM
Reply to: Message 133 by NoNukes
06-22-2015 6:35 PM


Re: And yet another definition of what a makes a Christian
I've been having problems with you twisting my words for weeks at least, on many threads. But I'm just making myself sick complaining about it. So forgive me for all of it, I don't want to get caught up in this stuff any more, I'm leaving.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 133 by NoNukes, posted 06-22-2015 6:35 PM NoNukes has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 146 of 451 (760555)
06-23-2015 7:53 AM
Reply to: Message 141 by nwr
06-22-2015 8:54 PM


Re: Maybe stick to things Christ?
nwr writes:
Christianity: A religion that is supposed to bring people together;
"Christianity": a word that is used to divide people, to tear people apart.
Rocky, I really empathize with your efforts thus far. You stepped into an online forum that has scores of old arguments and discussions. I respect your questions and assertions and I beg you to be patient with all of us.
We here at EvC seek to bring people together rather than tear them apart.
Hang in there!

God created war so that Americans would learn geography. —Mark Twain
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain

This message is a reply to:
 Message 141 by nwr, posted 06-22-2015 8:54 PM nwr has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 147 of 451 (760557)
06-23-2015 8:02 AM
Reply to: Message 144 by NoNukes
06-23-2015 4:06 AM


Re: Maybe stick to things Christ?
nonukes writes:
Surely a person can discover the Bible on his own and follow Jesus without being a member of any Chapter. That is at least a technical possibility. Besides that, I can remember periods in my life when I flitted about from church to church without regard for denominations.
I actually think that makes it easier to define, albeit a little harder to identify Christians.
On the other hand, there is enough of Jesus message that is about obedience to his Father that I have more difficulty accepting that an atheist can be a Chrisitian. Atheism would seem to deny a good deal of what Christ taught.
Critical thinking also challenges a lot of what many churches and denominations are taught. some would ask how it is even possible to be obedient to the Creator of all seen and unseen or how we ants on this dust speck of a planet would even be able to talk with GOD or whether it was important. Others base their entire life around a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and/or The Holy Spirit in order to even be able to function on a daily basis.
For me, Jesus is alive today! I don't have to be a Christian in order to do good works, but I believe that without a personal relationship with Jesus it would be irrelevant whether I was a Christian or not. Thus for me, (and in my Club) GOD cares whether or not I seek to have a relationship.
Only through Christ is this possible.

God created war so that Americans would learn geography. —Mark Twain
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain

This message is a reply to:
 Message 144 by NoNukes, posted 06-23-2015 4:06 AM NoNukes has seen this message but not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 148 by jar, posted 06-23-2015 8:39 AM Phat has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 148 of 451 (760559)
06-23-2015 8:39 AM
Reply to: Message 147 by Phat
06-23-2015 8:02 AM


Re: Maybe stick to things Christ?
Phat writes:
For me, Jesus is alive today!
But what does that even mean?
Phat writes:
I don't have to be a Christian in order to do good works, but I believe that without a personal relationship with Jesus it would be irrelevant whether I was a Christian or not.
What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus? How do people tell you have such a relationship?
Edited by jar, : left out "to have"

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 147 by Phat, posted 06-23-2015 8:02 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 149 by Phat, posted 06-23-2015 9:02 AM jar has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 149 of 451 (760562)
06-23-2015 9:02 AM
Reply to: Message 148 by jar
06-23-2015 8:39 AM


Re: Maybe stick to things Christ?
jar writes:
What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus? How do people tell you have such a relationship?
I'll have to give this one some thought.
And by people do you mean people whom I know and who know me or people--strangers walking down a street, perhaps..?

God created war so that Americans would learn geography. —Mark Twain
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain

This message is a reply to:
 Message 148 by jar, posted 06-23-2015 8:39 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 150 by jar, posted 06-23-2015 9:24 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 150 of 451 (760565)
06-23-2015 9:24 AM
Reply to: Message 149 by Phat
06-23-2015 9:02 AM


Re: Maybe stick to things Christ?
Phat writes:
And by people do you mean people whom I know and who know me or people--strangers walking down a street, perhaps..?
If you say you have a relationship with Percy anyone reading EvC can see that the two of you have corresponded and that he made yo one of the Admins at EvC. They can establish based on evidence that some form of relationship and communion exists between you and Percy.
What comparable evidence exists to show a relationship or communion between you and Jesus?
And you still have not explained what "Jesus is alive today!" even means or why doing good works would be irrelevant if you did not have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 149 by Phat, posted 06-23-2015 9:02 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
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