Is a Christian a generalized term for all religions?

Question

So a Christian is a religion in itself?

I am trying to read up on different relgions and what they believe in. I am very clueless...bear with me. Please do not just answer "no"...I want more info than that.

Answer 1

A lot of people use the word "religion" to refer to Christianity, but this is incorrect.

There are many religions that focus on various deities, both female and male. I practice Dianic Wicce, so I believe the Universe is a living female body, the Goddess, that gave birth to existence. She was worshiped all over the world until about 6 or 7,000 years ago, when Her religion was driven underground, but She has been worshiped in some places without interruption throughout history.

About 6,000 years ago, the Jewish patriarchs decided to make themselves the chosen people of a war deity called YHWH in Hebrew, also known as Yahweh, Jehovah, or Allah. This led to the composition of the Torah, or the Old Testament of the Bible. About 2000 years ago, people claim he sent his son to Earth in the form of a man named Jesus. There is no independent proof that such a person ever existed, but teachings attributed to him, the New Testament, have been used to rule over people throughout the world since then. That same religion spawned two other branches that also include the same YHWH, and these are called Islam and Mormonism. Mormons also believe that Jesus was the son of "god." In Islam, he is only a prophet.

The majority of people in the West practice some form of Christianity, which means they believe in the latter, or both books of the bible. Muslims, who practice Islam, have the Koran. Mormons use the bible plus a later work called the Book of Mormon, which they attribute to Jesus as well.

So, when someone says "Christian" they mean someone who accepts at least the New Testament of the bible as gospel. This would include Mormons, Catholics and Protestants. Muslims are usually considered a separate group, and most people don't understand that Allah and Yahweh are the same deity. They're practicing related religions and don't know it.

It can get confusing.

Answer 2

No, it is not a generalized term to all religions; for all religions do not preach Christ as the redeemer or as the Messiah.

The term only applies to Religions which central character is Christ and which tenets are based on Christ's teachings.
Christian comes from the Greek term Khri·sti·a·nos and, means followers of Christ Jesus. In the new testament, you will find this term three times at Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28 and 1Peter 4:16. In Acts 11:26, you'll notice that it was in Antioch [Syria] that the disciples were first called Christians.

In the Bible in some of the 'Letters' (Epistles), Christians have been described by expressions such as “believers in the Lord,” “brothers” and “disciples” ,“chosen ones” and “faithful ones” , “slaves to God” and “slaves of Christ Jesus”, “holy ones,” “congregation of God,” and “those who call upon the Lord.”

Answer 3

No. Christianity isn't an umbrella term for all religions. It doesn't even begin to cover Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Paganism, and many of the world's other beliefs. Christianity is used to describe a certain type of religion based around Jesus Christ. Within Christianity, however, one can find many different denominations.

Answer 4

Christian is a generalized term for all religions following Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah. There are many paths that people follow to express this belief, which has resulted in many denominations within Christianity over the years.

Answer 5

You have different creeds or teachings of each Christian religion, this would be their official beliefs. But many times, it does seem, that the term Christian simply refers to any one that believes in God in some similar way to the Christian definition of what God is.

Answer 6

A Christian is someone who has believed in Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made on the cross to pay the penalty for the sin of all the world. Christians follow after Jesus as their LORD and Savior and obey the Word of God. They have forsaken the ways of the world and seek to lead others to learn of God's great mercy and love that is found in no other than in Jesus Christ. Open up your heart and seek the truth, you will find it in trusting in Jesus.

Answer 7

For many religions, yes. But not for all religions.
In short, a Christian is anyone who:
1) Claims to be a Christian
2) Is part of a religious tradition that is descended from another Christian religious tradition
3) A religious tradition that is descended from the Religion founded by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth
4) Anyone who is accused of being a Christian

Answer 8

No. I believe Christians are those that follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. With this in mind, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and many, many, many other religions are not Christian.

Answer 9

No..I can see how one might think that considered a great majority fit into the 'Christian' category.

There's a Christian religion and then there's the term "Christian". They are two separate things.
A Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant, ect. will all be considered 'christian' religions because they all believe in the trinity.
Then there's the actual Christian religion.

Answer 10

No. Christianity is the world's largest religion, though the majority of people do not believe in it.

"A Christian is anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior."
I would have said that, but that would have made me sound Christian.