220 replies to this topic

[Shwa]

I don't think you can call it a religion. It's a philosophy upon which a set of religions is based.

I think it's possible to be Christian without being religious.

Nope. By all definitions, Christianity is a religion and there mere act of identifying oneself as Christian is a religious act.

[Shwa]

I believe that those who persist in pushing their religion on others are more followers of Paul the Roman who institutionalised the corporate church, than Jesus who simply drew people to him.

Amen.

[Michael Hardner]

Nope. By all definitions, Christianity is a religion and there mere act of identifying oneself as Christian is a religious act.

Christianity is a set of religions, based on the teachings of one man. So what do you call someone who believes in the philosophy behind the teachings, but rejects the supernatural trappings ?

I would call that person a Christian.

[Shwa]

Christianity is a set of religions, based on the teachings of one man. So what do you call someone who believes in the philosophy behind the teachings, but rejects the supernatural trappings ?

I would call that person a Christian.

Christianity is a religion with many sects or denominations, like every other religion on the planet.

Anyone that identifies themselves as a Christian is performing a religious act. Supernatural trappings are not required for this act.

[Michael Hardner]

Anyone that identifies themselves as a Christian is performing a religious act.

Says you !

Luckily, there's no overarching authority for people's self-definitions. There's even an arch conservative on here who thinks of himself as a radical liberal lawyer !

[M.Dancer]

A Christian not only believes in God....but he also obeys the gospel of God.

So does that mean they were no Betsy approved Christians prior to the 1870?

[Shwa]

Luckily, there's no overarching authority for people's self-definitions.

True. But there are definitions of the terms people choose to self-identify themselves as.

[M.Dancer]

Obviuosly one must accept consubstantiality or risk being burned at the stake

[betsy]

No, you can believe what is believable to you, and leave out the rest. Certainly the teachings and parables can stand alone as a philosophy, and are likely closer to the actual words and deeds of the man than many of the stories of miracles and so on.

Oh okay. So they just like the philosphy of Christ.

I thought you're saying that they can still be considered Christians.

[betsy]

Christianity is a set of religions, based on the teachings of one man. So what do you call someone who believes in the philosophy behind the teachings, but rejects the supernatural trappings ?

I would call that person a Christian.

If someone reads textbooks on law, but never actually took law or pass the bar....do you call him a lawyer?

[betsy]

Christianity is a religion with many sects or denominations, like every other religion on the planet.

Anyone that identifies themselves as a Christian is performing a religious act. Supernatural trappings are not required for this act.

Although I agree with you that Christianity is a religion, apparently not everyone who identifies themselves as christians are performing a religious act....at least, that's being argued by M Hardner.

I guess there are Christians.....and then, there are pseudo-christians.

Edited by betsy, 16 August 2011 - 02:24 PM.

[Michael Hardner]

If someone reads textbooks on law, but never actually took law or pass the bar....do you call him a lawyer?

No, you don't. But that's not analogous.

[CANADIEN]

Obviuosly one must accept consubstantiality or risk being burned at the stake

Dancer Dancer Dancer... This is the 21th century. We now attack them with giant fonts.

[betsy]

No, you don't. But that's not analogous.

Of course it is. There are certain requirements that must be met to be called a Christian....just like there are certain requirements that must be met to be called a lawyer.

Is Chess still the game of chess if one wants to play it but refuses to use a queen....or wants to change the l-shape movement of the horse?
Is baseball still the game of baseball when one refuses to use a bat, and instead uses his hand to strike the ball? There are rules.

Of course, one can insist on identifying themselves as "lawyers"....but that doesn't necessarily mean that they truly are.
Even "doctors" who carry their charade too far by actually seeing and diagnosing patients for real end up in hot water.

Edited by betsy, 16 August 2011 - 05:16 PM.

[betsy]

Since there is no widely agreed-upon definition of Christian, though, you almost have to allow people to define themselves as Christians or not.

Allow? Who can allow?

It is not for me to "allow" anyone to identify himself as a Christian.
I'm just stating a fact.
Based on the teachings of Christ through the Apostles....and based on logic.

Edited by betsy, 16 August 2011 - 05:11 PM.