Call for Distinction: Christianity

I'm happy to see people asking questions about beliefs and I'm also happy to answer any questions. (I'm Roman Catholic fyi)

One thing I must ask for though is that if one makes a claim or generalization about "Christianity" that they keep one fact in mind...

According to the World Encyclopedia (2000) there are 33,820 different denominations of Christianity throughout the world. Each with its own set of beliefs, some massively varying from mainstream.

I simply ask, before a claim is made, do a little research. Figure out which denomination, or group of denominations (Evangelicals, Lutherans, Mormons, etc. etc.), you are making a claim about.

 

That's sensible.
Wouldn't you agree, though, that any claims should reasonably be backed by quotations from the New Testament (excluding Revelations as incomprehensible?). I find 'the Judeo-Christian tradition' unconvincning myself.

 

Any purely theological claims, sure. They should have some backing in Scripture. If I were to make a claim about my religion, I wouldn't be opposed to using the Old Testament either though, since it is also considered Scripture.

 

So, a non-believer wants proof from the New Testament, but excludes the book of Revelation, yet is unconvinced.

No one is concrned that your unconvinced. Just as no one is concerned over your lack of understanding of Revealtion. Or any other part of the Bible.

Quantrill

 

Hey don't knock what the non-believer is requesting. At least that non-believer is willing to accept the Bible as evidence. That is a step in the right direction. Even with the exclusion of the Revelation, accepting the remainder of the Bible as evidence, then the Bible becomes evidence of the existence of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, unicorns, dragons, talking mules, flaming chariots, talking snakes, free will, life after death, miracle healing, resurrection, angels, demons, etc. I love that idea of the non-believer who made such a suggestion.

 

Or in the wrong direction. There's only one church but billions of interpretations of the summary of books called "bible".

If the church is broken in thousands of different parts then this is quite simple a very deep problem of all Christians. This situation shows that all Christians on this planet are wrong because they are not reasonable enough and to much loveless - so they are not able to live together in one church only. Some don't like to live together and others like to exclude others. I'm by the way a remarried catholic - so I'm excommunicated without any allowness to partake of the Lord's supper in any christian denomination of this world.

http://youtu.be/iaoSiklAXiU

 

To a great extent I have to agree with you regarding that phenomena that exists between and within the varying groups called Christian. The point that I am stressing in my agreement with you is that in the book of Romans. Paul spoke strongly and harshly about such a schism,, seemingly like he was seeing the long term effect of what he saw at that moment in time. The point is that a lot of Christians do not know the Bible, do not study the Bible, and subsequently their conduct between one group and another is formed by the teachings promoted by the particular group of which they are affiliated. "We are right and they are wrong" type of attitude. I have suggested a few times on this forum that the Christians need to drop all of the so-called church (incorporated) doctrines and go back to the doctrine of Christ.

 

All Christians are wrong because some chose to interpret the Bible differently? They decided to teach their own method instead of following the previous institution and therefore created a new institution. How does this make all 33k+ denominations wrong? You act like one rotten apple ruins the whole bushel.

Actually no you're not excommunicated. Whatever gave you that idea? My mom's a remarried Catholic, and still goes to Mass every week and has Communion. One element you might be missing is the annulment that is required in the Catholic Church.

I also don't appreciate that I asked that generalizations about Christianity become less do to the vast and varying views and that's exactly what you did with this comment. Just a little pet peeve.

 

To be honest: I don't like all this "the bible is a god"-nonsense. Paulus was sometimes right - sometimes wrong. Sometimes inspired - sometimes not inspired. Also Augustinus, Saint Francis or Sir Thomas Morus were in this way. I'm not even convinced that the belief in god or Jesus saves someone or saves not. I'm still convinced that everyone who is looking for wisdom and doing good deeds has good chances to come to heaven. If someone reads continously in the bible and finds lots of things what other people should do in the way he himselve thinks about - then I don't think the chances are better. The christian religion are not senseless moralisms. Paulus found solutions and we have to find solutions.

http://youtu.be/nKJRKgTBAPQ

 

Well, I can appreciate your honest perspective,,,, (though I don't agree in all the points)... it is still an honest approach ... either you believe or you don't. Everyone makes their own CHOICE.

 

No one believes in god or not because a book tells him he should do so or he should not do so. What are the most people doing with every truth - specially if it is existing in the in the middle of their own eyes? - Exactly: they are crucifying the truth and afterwards, when it's to late to run, they ask god for help instead to be satisfied to go to hell. And god helps and so he becomes crucified. The people who are crucifying him have always clean hands.

http://youtu.be/Ip9MQtGoNtw

 

Sorry, I don't let the non-believer dictate which books of the Bible I can use. Just like I don't let the non-believer influence what I believe. I will declare what I believe the Bible says, and let the chips fall.

Trying to make the Bible or Christianity palatable to the atheist is nauseating.

Quantrill

 

I don't think that you are not an atheist only because you like to speak in the name of god. Short: if it is not love it has nothing to do with the christian religion. The Christian relligion is not an ideology far from every form of critics. A Christian is never the church of his own egocentric thoughts only.

http://youtu.be/Orxp79dEbHo

 

We all have different opinions - I, for instance, having been brought up in Christianity would regard Quantrill as an obvious mouthpiece of the AntiChrist, if I had to put things in 'religious' terms. It seems to me that a discussion of Christianity should logically have to do with the texts in which is it is expressed - The Gospels, Epistles and Acts. I am aware that the actions concerned all took place in a time quite different from ours, that anyone who pretends to think as they did then is a hypocrite, and that any contemporary Christianity will have to do a great deal of understanding and re-stating rather than the hating and ranting so many are currently devoted to. Clearly those who believe in the Letter contradict the Letter they believe in, poor dabs.

 

An atheist regarding me as anti-christ. How fitting. They killed the Christians in the early years for being atheists.

You don't know what the letter says, much less what it means to follow the Spirit.

Quantrill

 

Quantrill - the first time I heard about a Christian like you was in the cliches of atheists here in Germany. My convincing argument against such dangerous people was always: "Did you ever meet in your life such a tattoo decal of a Christian"? The most atheists accepted this. Since I know you I'm not able any longer to use this argument. What did you for example say is the name of your own church?

http://youtu.be/ecn7LopX9MA

 

I didn't say. Is it important?

Quantrill

 

You know nothing about Christianity: you go against everything Jesus ever said, trying to give peope no alternative but to reject everything he said or to accept your foul, totally outdated 'faith' - which, as you know, means pretending to believe what you know to be totally untrue because it fits in with Aquinas, Calvin or some other ancient and irrelevant figure. You are an enemy of truth, and you know it.

 

Please, spare me the atheist lecture.

Quantrill

 

Yes

http://youtu.be/BfBLsnuGbNQ

 

It is not advised to disclose any personal info on such forums, thus your insistance that it is important, but not the subject is a proof that you are failing the subject.

 

He asked, I answered.

http://youtu.be/oDZ4N7QyKFQ

 

I don't think it is. Im quite willing to voice my beliefs as based on the Bible. That should be enough.

Quantrill

 

So you are alone and lost.

http://youtu.be/DZpcIPuLDi0

 

What makes you think I am alone and lost?

Quantrill