What defines a Christian?

The Ugly Truth said:
So as long as you don't hate them, everything is kosher?
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Not sure where you are going here but hate is definitely not an option for feelings toward people. There are obviously other things/attitudes besides full blown hate that would make things un-kosher in our dealings with others.
 
Outsiders are bound to ask whether the majority of the sort of religious people who support Trump and his like can possibly be using the term in the usual sense, looking, for instance, at his latest antics. They seem interested only in taking thought for the morrow and piling up the cash. I seem to recollect that is the worship of Mammon.
 
iolo said:
Since Jesus believed in Hell, there had to be people to go there, namely the rich. Read the parable of Dives and Lazarus, what Jesus said to the rich young man, what they did about property in the early Church, etc, etc, etc. I'd say Jesus thought you'd be better to find the evil of the day sufficient, without building up hugely more, like Trump and the rest of you Mammon-worshippers. When you can spare time from robbing one another, read the New Testament.
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Jesus was a Jew.. They don't believe in hell.
 
Christians claim to worship God as an omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibenevolent being, they make him out to be incompetent bumbler. Or worse. Simple forgiveness is beyond his capacities. God must "sacrifice himself to himself to change a rule he made himself!"

This is not only an absurdity, it is an essential absurdity. It is present in almost all forms of Christianity, and one can scarcely remove it and remain a Christian in anything but name. By definition, all Christians worship Christ - in some form - and most worship him as a saviour.

But what, exactly, is he saving us from? Though it varies from church to church, no matter what they call it, it's God himself. A hell created by God, a world fallen as a result of God's negligence, a separation from God imposed... by God.

Christianity certainly isn't the first religion to promote appeasement of its gods, and if it were merely another supernatural protection racket, it would be bad enough. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. Christians elevate appeasement to the realm of "personal relationship", transforming their religion into a true monstrosity.
 
guno said:
But what, exactly, is he saving us from? Though it varies from church to church, no matter what they call it, it's God himself. A hell created by God, a world fallen as a result of God's negligence, a separation from God imposed... by God.
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Many Christians will tell you it's all Eve's fault, of course. That's right -- blame the woman. Says so right there in the Book.

I can't think of anything more heinous than to teach your children that they were born flawed, sinful, possibly bordering on evil. So they had better go to church and accept Jesus or they are hell-bound.
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
Many Christians will tell you it's all Eve's fault, of course. That's right -- blame the woman. Says so right there in the Book.

I can't think of anything more heinous than to teach your children that they were born flawed, sinful, possibly bordering on evil. So they had better go to church and accept Jesus or they are hell-bound.
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Yes it's child abuse
 
guno said:
Quote Originally Posted by ThatOwlWoman View Post
Many Christians will tell you it's all Eve's fault, of course. That's right -- blame the woman. Says so right there in the Book.

I can't think of anything more heinous than to teach your children that they were born flawed, sinful, possibly bordering on evil. So they had better go to church and accept Jesus or they are hell-bound.
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much better to let them grow up as unbelievers and go to hell.......
 
guno said:
Christians claim to worship God as an omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibenevolent being, they make him out to be incompetent bumbler. Or worse. Simple forgiveness is beyond his capacities. God must "sacrifice himself to himself to change a rule he made himself!"

This is not only an absurdity, it is an essential absurdity. It is present in almost all forms of Christianity, and one can scarcely remove it and remain a Christian in anything but name. By definition, all Christians worship Christ - in some form - and most worship him as a saviour.

But what, exactly, is he saving us from? Though it varies from church to church, no matter what they call it, it's God himself. A hell created by God, a world fallen as a result of God's negligence, a separation from God imposed... by God.

Christianity certainly isn't the first religion to promote appeasement of its gods, and if it were merely another supernatural protection racket, it would be bad enough. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. Christians elevate appeasement to the realm of "personal relationship", transforming their religion into a true monstrosity.
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nasty atheists......
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
Many Christians will tell you it's all Eve's fault, of course. That's right -- blame the woman. Says so right there in the Book.

I can't think of anything more heinous than to teach your children that they were born flawed, sinful, possibly bordering on evil. So they had better go to church and accept Jesus or they are hell-bound.
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Then don’t teach them that. Teach the the truth:

I wasn’t born a sinner or guilty of sin. Each accountable person is responsible for his own sin. (Ezekiel 18:20) So when I am old enough to know right from wrong (an age that varies from person to person) and I sin ... and I will (Romans 3:23), I incur a debt that I cannot pay. I deserve [eternal] death (Romans 6:23a) but because of the grace of God I have this gift that makes [eternal] life possible (Romans 6:23b). There aren’t but two roads or destinations to choose from...and it is our choice (Matthew 7:13-14).

Once I hear the story of this matchless Grace (The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ - I Corinthians 15:1-3) I must choose to accept this gift on God’s terms, Believing in Him and that Jesus is His son (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24), Repenting Of my Sins (Acts 17:30), choosing to follow His rules for my life to the best of my ability, Confessing before men with my mouth that I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37), and allowing myself to be baptized (buried/immersed in water) for the remission (washing away) Of Sins in the blood of the Lamb/Jesus (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Revelation 7:14). Then I must remain faithful, following His rules for my life to the best of my ability as long as I live on this earth (Revelation 2:10). There are things for me to abstain from ... ways for me to be and not to be (I Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-25; Hebrews 10:25-26). I will fail and fall short so I continually rely on the blood of Christ for forgiveness (I John 1:7; James 5:16). I realize that the things of this world are temporary and I have a living hope for something much better (James 4:4; I John 2:15-16; Hebrews 11:13-16). Teach them this truth.
 
leaningright said:
Then don’t teach them that. Teach the the truth:

I wasn’t born a sinner or guilty of sin. Each accountable person is responsible for his own sin. (Ezekiel 18:20) So when I am old enough to know right from wrong (an age that varies from person to person) and I sin ... and I will (Romans 3:23), I incur a debt that I cannot pay. I deserve [eternal] death (Romans 6:23a) but because of the grace of God I have this gift that makes [eternal] life possible (Romans 6:23b). There aren’t but two roads or destinations to choose from...and it is our choice (Matthew 7:13-14).

Once I hear the story of this matchless Grace (The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ - I Corinthians 15:1-3) I must choose to accept this gift on God’s terms, Believing in Him and that Jesus is His son (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24), Repenting Of my Sins (Acts 17:30), choosing to follow His rules for my life to the best of my ability, Confessing before men with my mouth that I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37), and allowing myself to be baptized (buried/immersed in water) for the remission (washing away) Of Sins in the blood of the Lamb/Jesus (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Revelation 7:14). Then I must remain faithful, following His rules for my life to the best of my ability as long as I live on this earth (Revelation 2:10). There are things for me to abstain from ... ways for me to be and not to be (I Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-25; Hebrews 10:25-26). I will fail and fall short so I continually rely on the blood of Christ for forgiveness (I John 1:7; James 5:16). I realize that the things of this world are temporary and I have a living hope for something much better (James 4:4; I John 2:15-16; Hebrews 11:13-16). Teach them this truth.
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Well, thanks, but no thanks. I taught my kids empathy by asking them when they hit someone else, or snatched their toy away, or pulled the dog's ear "How would you feel if someone did that to you?" I raised them to know that they are amazing and valued and cherished beings, born right the first time, in no need of "salvation" from a deity. I took them to the woods and the land and the lakes and taught them to listen to the breath of the wind in the trees, the songs of birds and insects, and to love the sky and storms and sun -- because these things are life itself. We are part of this life, not above or separate from it.

We watched CNN and other news channels and sorrowed with those affected by wars and disasters. When Hurricane Andrew wiped out parts of Florida, they had a garage sale and sold some of their stuffed animal toys and other stuff, and gave me the proceeds to donate to the Red Cross. I did drag them to Mass and PSR because their dad insisted on it, but I gave them what matters most -- the knowledge that "I am a worthy person, capable of great things and of helping others." They have lived up to that.

BTW, I am pagan and have been for decades.
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
Well, thanks, but no thanks. I taught my kids empathy by asking them when they hit someone else, or snatched their toy away, or pulled the dog's ear "How would you feel if someone did that to you?" I raised them to know that they are amazing and valued and cherished beings, born right the first time, in no need of "salvation" from a deity. I took them to the woods and the land and the lakes and taught them to listen to the breath of the wind in the trees, the songs of birds and insects, and to love the sky and storms and sun -- because these things are life itself. We are part of this life, not above or separate from it.

We watched CNN and other news channels and sorrowed with those affected by wars and disasters. When Hurricane Andrew wiped out parts of Florida, they had a garage sale and sold some of their stuffed animal toys and other stuff, and gave me the proceeds to donate to the Red Cross. I did drag them to Mass and PSR because their dad insisted on it, but I gave them what matters most -- the knowledge that "I am a worthy person, capable of great things and of helping others." They have lived up to that.

BTW, I am pagan and have been for decades.
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Respectfully, I have gathered what you have written from following your posts since you arrived here, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to write that post.

Edit: I do appreciate you taking the time to respond.
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
Well, thanks, but no thanks. I taught my kids empathy by asking them when they hit someone else, or snatched their toy away, or pulled the dog's ear "How would you feel if someone did that to you?" I raised them to know that they are amazing and valued and cherished beings, born right the first time, in no need of "salvation" from a deity. I took them to the woods and the land and the lakes and taught them to listen to the breath of the wind in the trees, the songs of birds and insects, and to love the sky and storms and sun -- because these things are life itself. We are part of this life, not above or separate from it.

We watched CNN and other news channels and sorrowed with those affected by wars and disasters. When Hurricane Andrew wiped out parts of Florida, they had a garage sale and sold some of their stuffed animal toys and other stuff, and gave me the proceeds to donate to the Red Cross. I did drag them to Mass and PSR because their dad insisted on it, but I gave them what matters most -- the knowledge that "I am a worthy person, capable of great things and of helping others." They have lived up to that.

BTW, I am pagan and have been for decades.
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Did you know that the origin of the masons were the pagans. It was one of the writings of Tom Paine, "the origin of the masons". The writings of tom paine should be mandatory reading from grade 1 to 12. They might cause some rwnuts heads to explode though.
 
How?

You don't define them. They define themselves by their actions. To me, a person who abides by "the sermon on the mount" and the 10 commandents would be a good christian. Anyone who follows the teachings of people like pat robertson, jerry fallwell, etc will wind up in hell, if there is one. I sure hope there's a hell.
 
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