What have other"christians" told you or what have you read on here? By the way, I'm not trying to convert you, I really am just curious...I know I will be getting many harsh answers but I'm okay with that so have at it.
2007-06-03 16:36:36 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and answer honestly.
It's not for me to say what being a Christian is. I can't say what "true" Christianity is, that is not my place. If you ask me what an agnostic is I'll bore you for half an hour with details. But if someone says they are a Christian then I accept that. I recognize, however, that some forms of Christianity are very far from the mainstream (for instance, those who believe Jesus was a wise man but not in any way a god.)
I've known all sorts of Christians- from those who condemn anyone who doesn't worship the same way they do to very tolerant, accepting sorts who see in Christianity only a message of love.
Because Christianity encompasses a wide variety of beliefs and practices, I don't have a particular view of what a Christian is like. I know that the more judgmental they are, the more they believe in a literal hell and the more pleasure they feel at foreseeing the suffering there of all non-believers, the less I like the Christianity. The more it focuses on charity, acceptance, and leading a good life the more I like it.
2007-06-03 16:47:46 · answer #1 · answered by thatguyjoe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I used to believe that being christian meant accepting Jesus as your savior.
Then I came here and imagine my surprise when I found out there were "true Christians", "born again Christan's", and apparently Christians who are "confused"(not my words).
In my experience the "confused" ones are the most liberal and compassionate. Most like the ideals that their savior displayed.
The "true and born again" are very judgemental with each other and with non-Christians and helped to discourage my own Christianity.
None of this was meant to be harsh, just an honest assessment of what I have experienced here and to a lesser degree in my own church.
2007-06-04 00:02:47 · answer #2 · answered by Aria 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
forewarned, any heat in my answer is from my experience and not from what I have heard about the religion. I was a Christian for 30 years afterall.
Sometimes, the Christians on this forum make me cringe. "That was me", I think. I'm careful with you because that knowing makes me aware of your humanity that is disguised beneath all the belief that has been piled upon you. Most of you are wonderful people that have bought into the flawed design theory to the point that it hurts to look at you.
I know now that life is more finely orchestrated when I am whole than when I am in pieces looking for someone to save me, and unless you step into yourself alittle bit, your entire life is left to question. Because whether you lived it perfectly enough to be rewarded with eternal life, no one knows for sure.
People inside of this fear, are being hurt.
The separation between those who believe and those who don't is getting wider. You may get what you want. Isolation from the world, because you have been taught that you are not of it, but when I hear someone say "Oh, look at that Atheist doing what they want and just enjoying their life, they'll see".
What I see is what a travesty it is, that an entire group of people think humanity is so inantely horrible that left to their own devices the godless are all about debauchary and lack integrity.
I appreciate every moment in my skin. Every developement of self that I achieve. Every sense of control of my world that I harness. Yes, I'm godless. Yet, Iive with a immense sense of my surrounding, and how I tie into it. How can those who are religious deny us others ways to seek fulfillment here?
While the world still cares,... step back into yourself.
2007-06-04 00:01:57 · answer #3 · answered by shakalahar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be a good Christian, means understanding and implementing, truly Christian values (i.e, being humanitarian, forgiving, loving, caring, generous and realizing our Sovereign Lord). Also, spreading the good word of God, and counting each one of His blessings.
PLEASE NOTE THAT :-
Actually, in principle, ALL MAJOR RELIGIONS, of the world are intended to make humans follow the "few" humanitarian values, that this answerer, has mentioned above (which, by no means, is exhaustive) and even much more than those "few" mentioned, for various limitations of space and human capacity. Also, the phrase Sovereign Lord may not be used in many other religions, but the basic intrinsic intention of every religion, is to draw the attention of the human being towards God (known by different names in different religions) and also towards conception and implementation of good humanitarian thoughts and acts.
2007-06-04 05:31:53 · answer #4 · answered by Sam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believing in the Jewish god of the Torah / OT.
Plus
That Jesus Christ was the messiah and lived on Earth. That he died for our sins.
There are a whole lot of different Christian sects out there that add certain things to that, but I believe that the above is the basic requirement.
2007-06-03 23:44:34 · answer #5 · answered by Simon T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think everybody should just have their own relationship with God. Believing in The Bible(a book), which is based off organized religion(which is man-made and there are so many of), is pretty much guessing at what the word of God is. Nobody can say who's religion is right or wrong. If God gave his word to the people of the past, then he can certainly give you yourself his word as well.
2007-06-03 23:47:40 · answer #6 · answered by Terry 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, this is a deep question, and very hard to answer completely but I will give you some of my belief. Jesus is the son of God, sent to make the ultimate sacrifice, of his life, for humankind. We have only to accept the gift, to believe in him, in order to be saved...now you know I'm a fundamentalist! Accepting Jesus as Savior is the only thing I think one needs to 'qualify' as a Christian.
2007-06-03 23:56:38 · answer #7 · answered by Lisa D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Too me, anyone who self-identifies as a Christian is a Christian: Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, Baptist, Mormon, JW, Unitarian Universalist, Evangelical, Pentecostal, UCC, Methodist, Presbertryan, Epsicopal, etc...
Ask a Christian what it means and it's a differnt story on who gets to be a "real Christian".
2007-06-03 23:43:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was a Christian and it meant that I believed in God as the creator of all things....and that Jesus Christ is His son who came to Earth to save us from our sins.
No harsh answers here.
2007-06-03 23:40:11 · answer #9 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A Christian derives a false sense of peace and security in the belief that obeying their god will grant them special reward when their mortal life ends. I say false because no Christian has ever returned from death to verify this belief.
Christians, if I am wrong in this assumption, please direct me to any resurrected person. I'd love to interview them
2007-06-03 23:44:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋