Religion
Related: About this forumWhy I'm A Christian
First, realize there are more than a billion people now living claiming to be Christian. Probably no two would explain in exactly the same way what it means to be a Christian. That's because every one of us has had a different life experience and a different perspective. However, there are at least three ideas that are both minimally acceptable to all that are Christians and that may be unique to Christianity. These three ideas are the only three I'd like to discuss. Christians all believe there is a higher power that most picture as a personage, a God', if you will. They also believe that Jesus as the son of God gave up his life as a sacrifice to benefit all those that avail themselves of his magnanimity. Finally, they all recognize the obligation to show love to others.
All I want to do is analyze these three ideas. I beg you not to go ahead of me. There is wide latitude even within those three issues. For example, I know committed Christians who live as close to the concept of sainthood as you could imagine, but whose views and picture of God are diametrically different, anywhere between viewing God as the wizard in the Wizard of Oz, a little old man who sits behind a giant computer screen and a conglomeration of buttons and knobs keeping order in the universe to the other extreme of God being a hardily a person as we would normally define a person.
Some Christians see God as a spiritual force found anywhere and everywhere in creation, a person, yes, in the sense of intelligence, feeling and goal-orientation. Christian views run the gamut between those extremes. Let's not debate these fine points now that are a life's project in itself. Let's just understand the basics of the three issues Christianity asserts as true, an eternal God or "Mighty One" as the original language of Christian scripture asserts. Christianity asserts that Jesus is the Son of God whose mandate was to die for all who might and will ever need that sacrifice to give them the psychological courage to go on. Finally, Christianity asserts that the only way one can ever be truly happy is to come to the point where you can put others' interests before your welfare. In other words, show "love" to others following the example Jesus set. That's all I'm asking you to consider with me.
(much more at link)
http://www.goddiscussion.com/104667/why-im-a-christian/
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)to be spiritual. The Christian faith is one that fits for me.
TrogL
(32,822 posts)This is not.
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)doesn't need butressing, now does it? If it did, then it wouldn't be faith.
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)Just what is true faith?
xfundy
(5,105 posts)I predicted years ago, as the GOPig Party began to consume Christianity in America, that it would ultimately destroy the church. They succeeded in turning a religion into politics, and those "christians," a title afforded to anyone who voted R, began spewing hate and calling it love. And, of course, insisted the bible was literally true, every word.
I have no problem with those who worship any deity. Until they begin attacking those who don't share that belief, or don't conform in every way to their view of "real." Never mind all those times I've heard " so and so)'s not a REAL christian!" Or a "real" American, etc.
My fundie sister mentioned her church (with purple carpet) is losing members. Without thinking, I said, "they brought it on themselves." She quietly agreed.
So, the opinion younger people have, that xians are intolerant, hateful, political, etc., is not without merit, based on simple observance.
Iggy
(1,418 posts)do these even matter to so called Christians today? or are they a nuisance?
ButterflyBlood
(12,644 posts)Most of them is still pretty good rules to go by, but this is worth noting as to what's important:
Mark 12:28-31
One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, Of all the commandments, which is the most important?
Jesus replied, The most important commandment is this: Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.
Iggy
(1,418 posts)ha hah hahh HAH!!!!
Just which of the Ten Commandments are you OK with getting rid of.. or ignoring?
THOU SHALT NOT KILL?
yeah, given we're a massively milataristic nation, that one's gotta go.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,306 posts)Not only have Christians moved their sabbath by a day, the New Testament also has Jesus saying "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath". Very few Christians think the prohibitions of doing any work at all on that day still apply; and that's quite reasonable, I think.
ButterflyBlood
(12,644 posts)That's why I said "most of them".
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)msongs
(67,394 posts)edhopper
(33,567 posts)Why I Am Not a Christian
Bertrand Russell
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Believing in something because you are afraid of (or cannot personally comprehend) the alternative is pretty sad.