Christianity is not a Religion

[Will_00]

First of all, many people believe in Christianity - That is Great - yet many believe it is as well a Religion, which I may point out is not true. According to the world Christianity is most certainly a Religion, yet according to the Bible (Which is True at All Times) it is a Relationship with Jesus Christ.

[Jack]

Your statement is conditional in that it only applies to those who accept the Bible, specifically the New Testament, as a valid source for defining religion. Those of us who are not religious consider Christianity a religion just like all other religions.

Each religion is the ultimate truth to those who believe in it. Every other religion is false to those who accept another religion as valid.

Religious belief is exclusionary. It's all about defining who belongs to "our" group and who doesn't, like most clubs and membership-based organizations. Those who belong gain the benefits reserved for members in addition to getting to feel special, a member of a select group.

[tivodan1116]

I don't see the point in arguing about semantics. As long as we all collectively understand what we're talking about, who cares what terms are used?

Quote by: Isherwood Each religion is the ultimate truth to those who believe in it. Every other religion is false to those who accept another religion as valid.

The problem with making "Every" and "all" type statements, in case you don't remember rules for T/F tests, is that they are rarely true. Many people who accept one religion also find other religions acceptable, in a nod to agnosticism, as followers will often hold the belief that different religions are merely different interpretations of the same "god".

[gallo]

Quote by: Will_00 First of all, many people believe in Christianity - That is Great - yet many believe it is as well a Religion, which I may point out is not true. According to the world Christianity is most certainly a Religion, yet according to the Bible (Which is True at All Times) it is a Relationship with Jesus Christ.

Really? Where does it say that in the Bible?

[ParaTed2k]

Quote by: Will_00 First of all, many people believe in Christianity - That is Great - yet many believe it is as well a Religion, which I may point out is not true. According to the world Christianity is most certainly a Religion, yet according to the Bible (Which is True at All Times) it is a Relationship with Jesus Christ.

Christianity IS a religion. One of the major tenets of the religion is "A relationship with Jesus Christ".

[grandpa]

Quote by: tivodan1116 I don't see the point in arguing about semantics. As long as we all collectively understand what we're talking about, who cares what terms are used?

I don't consider this technically difficult. Christianity is "the service and worship of God or the supernatural; commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance," and "a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices." It is a religion. In fact, anything believed strongly enough takes on a religious character, though others may not recognize it as such.

Grandpa h.

[grandpa]

Quote by: ParaTed2k Christianity IS a religion. One of the major tenets of the religion is "A relationship with Jesus Christ".

True. If you don't accept Jesus as your "personal Savior," you're technically not a part of the Christian religion.

Grandpa h.

[Will_00]

Your statement is conditional in that it only applies to those who accept the Bible,

No - Not at all. God is at all times existent, although numerous people may disagree and use numerous amounts of "evidence."

specifically the New Testament, as a valid source for defining religion.

Again, no. That is similar to the following: I have a black pen. You disagree and believe it is blue. But of course, it is always Black even though you disagree.

Each religion is the ultimate truth to those who believe in it.

No, because Christians KNOW that God is always existent and Omni Everything at All Times.

Religious belief is exclusionary. It's all about defining who belongs to "our" group and who doesn't, like most clubs and membership-based organizations. Those who belong gain the benefits reserved for members in addition to getting to feel special, a member of a select group.

No. Christianity is Free for All People. We encourage people to come and see what is True and Wonderful.

As long as we all collectively understand what we're talking about, who cares what terms are used?

Because people do not understand the difference. "Religion" is a term that is used by the world and in a worldly term - Christians are not of the world.

It is a religion. In fact, anything believed strongly enough takes on a religious character, though others may not recognize it as such.

No, the world calls it a "Religion" - again.

[ParaTed2k]

Quote by: Will_00 Because people do not understand the difference. "Religion" is a term that is used by the world and in a worldly term - Christians are not of the world..

Then what language should we be speaking, lest we use "wordlly" language?

Your arguments are as silly as your premise.

[Will_00]

Then what language should we be speaking, lest we use "wordlly" language?

Of the world of course. Revised: Of what is commonly stated and used by the world.

Your arguments are as silly as your premise.

How so?

[Lullaby Chainer]

Will, is Islam a religion? It's just the submission to God.

[gallo]

Quote by: grandpa True. If you don't accept Jesus as your "personal Savior," you're technically not a part of the Christian religion.

I've seen christian nation advocates claim Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Madison, Washington as christians even though none of them accepted "Jesus a their personal Savior."

And of course, the anti-evolution christians frequently claim Newton as a christian. Some have even declared that Catholics aren't TROO (tm) christians while at the same time claiming Copernicus and Galileo. And they also reject Ken Miller, a Christian, Catholic, and evolutionary biologist.

So, technically, the argument seems to swing around the claims that christians are making at the time.

[Will_00]

I've seen christian nation advocates claim Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Madison, Washington as christians even though none of them accepted "Jesus a their personal Savior."

You can never essentially ever be sure that anyone is a Christian since it is a relationship between them and God and not them, you, and God.

[Magnus]

Quote by: Will_00 You can never essentially ever be sure that anyone is a Christian since it is a relationship between them and God and not them, you, and God.

Thats exactly right, that way, anyone who does good things, like mother teresa who said she is a christian, we can take credit for it and confirm she is christian.

And anyone who does bad things, like Hitler, who said he was a christian, we can dismiss as non-christian.

Its a win-win

[Anmon]

Just because you say you are a Christian, doesn't mean you are, judge a Christian more by their acts not just what they say.
Also Jesus says it doesn't matter what goes into a persons mouth, because that will pass through and leave the body, only what comes out of the mouth, because that comes from his heart, figuratively speaking.

[Jack]

Quote by: Will_00 No - Not at all. God is at all times existent, although numerous people may disagree and use numerous amounts of "evidence." No, because Christians KNOW that God is always existent and Omni Everything at All Times.

This simply confirms what I said. Each religious group holds itself to be absolutely true. It may be considered that for those who are members of your faith, but its not a universal truism.

Again, no. That is similar to the following: I have a black pen. You disagree and believe it is blue. But of course, it is always Black even though you disagree.

A pen exists in our physical universe. We can examine it to determine its color (character). Gods, supposedly being not in this physical universe, cannot be examined. Thus their existence is contingent on the belief the faithful have in them.

No. Christianity is Free for All People. We encourage people to come and see what is True and Wonderful.

Rhetoric. Christianity sets conditions on membership that not everyone can accept.

Christians are not of the world.

The physical evidence says you are. Denial of reality is common to religions.

[Anmon]

-Isherwood; Rhetoric. Christianity sets conditions on membership that not everyone can accept.

Then they have to be willing to change, if they want to be accepted.
Any religion is open to anyone, but you have to come to the party too, not just walk in and say 'this is how its going to be, I'm going to follow your religion my way, not yours, and if you don't like it tough!' Because your only going to upset people.
I'm sure you wouldn't become a Muslim, and then walk in to a mosque with a ham sandwich.

The physical evidence says you are. Denial of reality is common to religion.

Not of this world as in not falling for its vices, and letting them rule your nature.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Will_00 Christianity is not a Religion

Assumption #1 :
- True
Determination(s) : ???

Assumption #2 :
- False
Determination(s) : ???

All the religions have lost their purity.
We - People have destroyed all the religions' original sense.
That is us, Mankind :-)

[gallo]

Quote by: Will_00 You can never essentially ever be sure that anyone is a Christian since it is a relationship between them and God and not them, you, and God.

Even though Franklin, Jefferson, and Madison never claimed to be christians and even stated that they were not, and Washington's friends, even his minister, stated that he was not after his death?

[gallo]

Quote by: Anmon Just because you say you are a Christian, doesn't mean you are, judge a Christian more by their acts not just what they say.

But does saying you are not a christian mean that you are? Such seems to be the argument in the case of men like Jefferson and Newton. (and even Einstein according to one confused christian).