What is Christianity?

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

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

I'm going to second Jar's recommendations.Christians -
Post your thoughts and beliefs WITHOUT knocking the beliefs of your fellow postersAtheists -
Let Jar do what he wants with this thread for the time being. I'm sure he'll let us know when he wants more feedback

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AdminAsgara
Queen of the Universe

http://asgarasworld.bravepages.com
http://perditionsgate.bravepages.com

I'm going to role in the mud here for a second.It would seem that the general consensus among the christians that I know is that a christian is someone that accepts Christ as his/her savior and christianity is the acceptance of Christ the savior.

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The Laminator
We are the bog. Resistance is voltage over current. For goodness's sake, please vote Democrat this November!

What's the guidelines for non-Christian non-atheists like me?

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

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

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.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

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.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Jar,I won't pursue this here but am checking if you would be interested in a thread that did examine the following proposition:In order for Christians to believe what you propose there is a basic assumption, an axiom if you will, that they must accept and that is that a person is something permanent or something that can be made permanent. Like questioning Euclid's axiom that parallel lines never cross this assumption of permanent person is naively widely accepted but in the eastern systems is challenged. If there is not a permanent person would there still be a Christianity? (based on Bernadette Roberts I think there could be but it would differ from the naive conception). In Mahayana Buddhism monks are required to take a vow to not enter nirvana until all sentient beings have been saved, a near impossible task. The fulfillment of the vow is the realization that from the begining not a single being has ever existed.Anyone else interested in such a thread?lfen

If you want, start a thread. It could be interesting.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

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.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Christianity use to be a renegade sect of Judiasm, eventually becoming organized into the universal church hence known as the Holy Roman Catholic church. The people who risked they're lives to worship Christ were Christians. Then I believe the tenets of "The Church" before the protestant reformation are what dictated what a Christian was. The definition of Christian it seems has changed into what ever the person in question was raised to believe. Unfortunatley God and Jesus have been replaced as the objects of worship and the Bible has taken they're place for many Christians. I believe a Christian is a follower of Christ. Someone who accepts the Nicean creed. Someone who endevours to be Christ like. But then again what do I know.

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"One is punished most for ones virtues" Fredrick Neitzche

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

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I am not sure what that is. A Catholic? lol. **edit to add.. Jar you know damn well what I mean by that statement. This message has been edited by 1.61803, 08-25-2004 08:45 PM

quote:

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Admins, it is requested that any posts of the type "You're not a real Christian" be sanctioned.

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Yes, keep the kiddies in line guys... Pfft, I have lost a great deal of respect for you jar sadly enough...

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"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."Ephesians 5:14