| Sep 5 @ 12:56 PM |
Mostly Christian?
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Loreli
Posts: 20,161
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Ok, I know that sounds odd.
But here's my take.
I grew up in the Lutheran church. Church, Sunday school, choir, communion and confirmation classes. My Mom had been Catholic, until she married my Dad-who was a divorcee.
All 4 of us quit attending except special occasions, and I raised my children to keep an open mind, asked them to attend and didn't force.
I look passages up on the Net, own a Bible but glance at it only occasionally. I try to accept others for their Faith or belief system. Darnit-I just try to do good when I can!
So, here's the thing....where do we "draw a line in the sand" as to whether someone IS-or ISN'T?
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| Sep 5 @ 1:03 PM |
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Aeromuse
Posts: 2,573
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I don't think it's our place to do so Lor. I can't see into another's heart or soul. I think for anyone to presume that they can is arrogant in the extreme.
If you tell me you're Christian(or anything else for that matter) than that's pretty much good enough for me. It's not my call anyway.
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| Sep 5 @ 1:37 PM |
Mostly Christian?
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SaintBacon
Posts: 1,579
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I've know people who represented themselves as Christians...and they left me scratching my head wondering why. If you believe and adhere to the Christian belief...you are a Christian. How often you go to church...any church is irrelevant in my opinion.
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| Sep 5 @ 1:43 PM |
Mostly Christian? |
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16knots
Posts: 3,627
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Aero 
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| Sep 5 @ 1:46 PM |
Mostly Christian?
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Loreli
Posts: 20,161
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Thanks MrB.....
I've always felt that faith is in your heart not a building...
I agree with you Aero....judging another really gets us nowhere!
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| Sep 5 @ 1:52 PM |
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SaintBacon
Posts: 1,579
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Wow....four whole responses with everyone basically agreeing. Is this a record or something? 
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| Sep 5 @ 2:00 PM |
Mostly Christian?
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Aeromuse
Posts: 2,573
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I dunno know 'bout you Bacon but I'm lovin' it while it lasts!
Even JC said such things as "judge not lest you be judged" and "he who is without sin may cast the first stone." Seems pretty cut and dried to me!
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| Sep 5 @ 2:04 PM |
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beckyiv42000
Posts: 12,035
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Whatever a person chooses to believe is no ones business but theirs.. and NO ONE has a right to condemn them for believing otherwise...PERIOD .. there are no DEGREES of Christianity either you believe and FOLLOW Christs teachings or not...heck even a person who does not believe Christ is the son of God yet follows his teachings of how to interact with their fellow human beings is a follower of Christ ...emulating his kindness and forgiveness and helping others is following Christs teachings .. but then again it is also following the teachings of other masters ...so if you live in a harm none existence you kinda cover all the bases right??
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| Sep 5 @ 2:04 PM |
Mostly Christian?
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SunBabe
Posts: 12,243
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I'll admit that I will never again be comfortable checking off that little box labelled "Christian" anymore -- for the rest of my life -- through what I've observed and been told right here in these forums and all over the media in the last few years. The fact that the name "Christian" has been hijacked by the fundementalist/legalistic element of the religion to be used by them exclusivly has taught me that I don't want to be identified by that label. (I definitely don't have what it takes to start a movement take back the name  )
BUT that doesn't mean I can't live my life with Christian principles. 
(Heck, even the Sunnis, the Shiites, and the Whabbis have the courtesy to define different Islamic beliefs by individual named sect...but they still recognize each other as Muslims, even if they don't agree on the "details")
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| Sep 5 @ 2:07 PM |
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sail_dancer
Posts: 8,495
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This is one of the major problems with christianity. It is really a collage of 3,000+ different beliefs that continued to call themselves "christian".
When a person tells me that they are christian, they really haven't told me a thing about their beliefs or what they stand for. That is why I would never call myself a christian, the label is too abstract and with christianity's historic reputation I would rather not adopt that name.
Why would people that do not believe in the dogma of a religion, break off from that religion and still call itself by the same name?
There are christian denominations that consider Jesus to be god; others see him as a prophet or great teacher. There are denominations that believe in the holy trinity; others do not believe in the trinity but "one true god". Some denominations believe in "selective" salvation; others believe that "all" will be saved. Some denominations believe in "eternal damnation"; others believe in the "second death"; and still others believe that all will be reunited with the creator.
There are many more examples of contradicting christian beliefs. The point is when you say "Mostly Christian" it is only in the mind of the beholder that this determination can be made. The breaking of christianity into 3,000+ denominations caused this problem. It is now impossible to define a christian.
Peace
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| Sep 5 @ 2:09 PM |
Mostly Christian?
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Loreli
Posts: 20,161
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Everyone here is so smart!
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| Sep 5 @ 2:14 PM |
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Aeromuse
Posts: 2,573
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The point is when you say "Mostly Christian" it is only in the mind of the beholder that this determination can be made. The breaking of christianity into 3,000+ denominations caused this problem. It is now impossible to define a christian.
Exactly. I'm from a Catholic family and thery're NOTHING like Fundies. My dad is a Congregationalist and is nothing like a Baptist. Yet - all Christian.
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| Sep 5 @ 2:16 PM |
Mostly Christian?
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LanceVarden7
Posts: 830
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For me, it all about love and how you treat other people. I see someone claiming to be Christian, and they treat people well, I think "OK, I can believe it"
I see someone treating people badly, and at the same time doing some bible thumping, it makes me skeptical.
It's all about the "Do unto others..." thing
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| Sep 5 @ 2:32 PM |
Mostly Christian? |
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beckyiv42000
Posts: 12,035
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For me, it all about love and how you treat other people. I see someone claiming to be Christian, and they treat people well, I think "OK, I can believe it"
I see someone treating people badly, and at the same time doing some bible thumping, it makes me skeptical.
It's all about the "Do unto others..." thing
Yeppers Lance But also if they claim to be say Buddhist and follow the path and also treat others well then I say they are a good person not just a good Christian... good can come from ANYONE as can Evil come from supposed religious people
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| Sep 5 @ 2:36 PM |
Mostly Christian?
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SaintBacon
Posts: 1,579
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By golly, I believe we have some REAL Christians here...even if they don't claim to be...
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| Sep 5 @ 2:39 PM |
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Aeromuse
Posts: 2,573
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I agree Bacon. I oftentimes see more Christ-like behavior from heretics and heathens than True Believers 
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| Sep 5 @ 2:41 PM |
Mostly Christian?
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beckyiv42000
Posts: 12,035
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ST B
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| Sep 5 @ 2:45 PM |
Mostly Christian? |
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pamdemonium
Posts: 14,507
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The fact that the name "Christian" has been hijacked by the fundementalist/legalistic element of the religion to be used by them exclusivly has taught me that I don't want to be identified by that label.
BUT that doesn't mean I can't live my life with Christian principles
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