Do most Christians label themselves Christians before or after they research Christianity? TELL THE TRUTH?

Question

Most Atheists do research before labeling ourselves Atheists.

If you Christians label yourselves' Christians before researching Christianity, your research will probably be bias

about me
http://www.charliecheckm.com

Answer 1

I researched.

I was born Catholic, received a undergrad minor from a secular state school in Religions Studies (World Religions), I was Atheist for awhile. I practiced other nonChristian religions and then came back to Catholicism because it had the deepest most logical answers (for me) to the questions man faced of all the religions/non religious philosophical movements I tried.

Nope I my study was not biased (towards Catholicism or Christianity, I did not want to be Catholic when I started the study ( I actually preferred Toaism)

Only now in the end do I label myself Christian.

That is the Truth.

By the way are you trying to say an Atheists study of Christianity (or relgion in general) would not be biased? The Truth?

Answer 2

most Christians I think, probably call themselves Christians for different reasons

1. they attend a christian church therefore think that makes them Christian

2. their parents called themselves christians, so therefore, that makes them christian too(as if they can inherit their faith)

or 3. They have read the word of God and the Holy Spirit opened the word so that they were born again, accepting Jesus Christ as their savior and being changed from the inside out, once the Holy Spirit was poured into them... which is truly what a Christian is. it isnt the 'faith of your parents' or the 'church you attend' but the true change within once repenting and accepting Jesus.

is there a difference? you bet... I was both 1 and 2... until i realized there was more... and became 3. Born again!

So, I would guess I would have to say, I thought i was a Christian.... then I researched and made the heartchanging decision... and became a true Christian, born again in Jesus Christ... Thank God, because the church I attended never taught the full salvation message!

Answer 3

Well, one requires a physical book or something physical to influence how a person believes, the other is realized by an intangible spiritual experience, and validation or reinforcement through the Scriptures, and life or creation.
You can't apply the same limited logic to an intangible Being.
But I can tell you that I've read much on Evolution, the Big Bang and other theories, as well as I have read the Qu'ran, Book of Mormon, and other books on God.
I reject labels though, because people do atrocities in the name of God under the guise of Christianity.

Answer 4

this is an amazing question, and one that I have been anxious to ask here, myself.

I am a born again evangelical Christian who was raised a Catholic and fell away for years.

Many denominational Christians (perhaps that's what they should be called) would say they were born and baptized into their congregational denomination.
In my opinion, this can be a dangerous place to be. I actually know people who will say they are a "insert denominational name here" first and a Christian second.
Nothing could be further from truth. As Christians were are called by God to serve Him. We should be comfortable with questioning Him at every turn. He is the one who should determine for us where we should serve in our faith. I have actually had this discussion with several pastors. Most Pastors are trained to witness by drawing people into their denomination.... I have said, (often to their chagrin) that I believe the great commission is to witness in the LOVE of JESUS, to draw people to HIM, not to the denomination. And that it is then up to Jesus to determine where His beloved should serve. They admitted that they knew the first part, but never thought of the second, feeling that their denomination of course, would be the logical choice to have the new believer attend.

To that end.... I am a CHRISTIAN first! I investigated it, asked questions of people and of God, read and studied scripture, felt the pull of the Holy Spirit, had a personal conversion and now am indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God.
I attend the Christian and Missionary Alliance church because that is where I feel the Lord has asked me to serve.


blessings and GREAT question! :)

Answer 5

I am a Christian because I have accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I believe in the bible and I study it. Is that the research you are talking about? If not, I don't know what other kind of research there is. The bible is God's Word. That's all there is to it. You can believe what you want, and so can I.

Answer 6

Those who are born into Christian families learn how to live as Christians before they are old enough to research their faith. However, the millions of adults who convert to Christianity every year become members of the Church only after thoroughly researching the faith, and in fact as a direct result of what they find through that research. As Jesus said, "seek and you shall find".

Answer 7

I did that for the first 50 years of my life (I labelled myself a Christian). However, after doing a massive amount of research I now have no "church" or denomination. I am a "Red-Letter Christian". (And, yes the Holy Spirit visits me just fine and witnesses that I will go to Heaven.)

The following is an excerpt from one of my previous answers:

"I have found no "Church" or denomination that follows only Jesus. Most of the churches I have attended follow other interpretations of Jesus' mission and message written by other authors of the Bible."

Answer 8

You are probably right, we call ourselves Christians first. The truth is being revelaed to us all the time. It's not just a one-time occurance. We die to self and must look at everything from a child's point of view in order to "unlearn" (for lack of a better word) all the garbage the "world" has taught us, and look at everthing from a spiritual point of view. As our knowledge of God's word increases then we grow just as a child would. How can one explain God to an Athiest when they claim to know something they haven't "experienced". If I am biased because I believe, then you are biased for your beliefs as well. But you haven't truly tried to understand Christianity because you deny it first. I've once thought as you did, have you once thought as I do??

Answer 9

Yes most people do label themself christians because of there upbringing . You on the other hand are not a atheist .you never have been and you never will be . Not believing in god is possible .you may say NO to God but you still believe in him

Answer 10

I feel like I've been researching it all my life. I am definitely a Christian, but I don't feel the need to justify my 'research'. It's a path I've chosen, and I believe in it fully. It's the truth!