Thanks for the young man comment Jeannie. I sure don't feel like it lately.

I like claymores best.

well, let's not forget about bouncing/bettys though LOL

that ought to trip somebody up.

Tiffany - no not attempting to be agumentative at all. I am actually totally baffled by those who absolutely INSIST on NOT being LUMPED into a category by which they label THEMSELVES.

Therefore, I have stated as simply as I know how to find out why that is the case.

If it sound condescending I apologise but I felt it was necessary to speak as plainly as possible so as not to be misunderstood.

I have attempted to ask this question on a couple of occasions and the replies are thin.

So the point was to allow everyone their say, becasue the thing is if YOU put a label on your thinking, you will be lumped with those under that label.

So as the saying goes "speak now or forever hold they peace" and thy tears and thy whinning.

I truely will appreciate honest responces.

ALSO, I will attempt to respect the differences and make them known when I point a finger. But I need to know what those differences are. Sorry, I am not a Christian, I could not possibly know why there are differences.

What a ridiculous question!!!

Chris·tian (krĭschən)
adj.

1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus's teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christlike.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

n.


1. One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.


===============================================================

Christian, Charlie 1916-1942.

American jazz guitarist and blues singer. One of the first to amplify the guitar, he influenced its emergence as a solo instrument in jazz.

Two definition listings, and the second one is dead!
Take your pick!!

Nice dog Fanta.

I see you are still opposed to gun control...



Hope school is going well. I know how hard it is to work and study both.

Schools all but finished now!
I have to wait until next spring to take my last class, microprocessors.
I've checked with 3 other schools so I coulds get it sooner, but none offer it till the spring semester, but Im down to 6 credits left!
Yay!!!

this is my answer to the original question:


Jesus Prays for All Believers
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

John 17, 20-26

I'm glad for you.

I hated those classes only offered in the spring or I had one that was required but only offered every other spring.

but now you're almost done!!! Good for you.

Heya Fanta

I think the point she was trying to make is that whenever there are discussions going on in threads between Christians and non christians. Almost every single time you will see at least one person make the post.

Not all Christians are like that, you shouldn't catagorize us all together.

There have also been the people who say that some people who call themselves Christian are not real Christians. I know that JB has started up a thread before trying to find out what exactly a "Real Christian" is. I don't think anything definate came out of that thread either.

We all know what the dictionary definition of a Christian is but what she is getting at is does that dictionary definition apply to every Christian in the world, thus making the argument that not all Christians are like that null and void. Or do different Christians define themselves in different ways and fit into their own version of being a Christian.

I am kind of curious as to the other responses this thread will get as well even though I am assuming that no one is going to take it very seriously. :-(

Thanks
So how are you?

Well she didnt ask the right question.
She should have asked about the differences in denominations.

That would be in their interpretation of the teachings of Jesus Christ!

how come are u debating on religion nowadays?
i thought u were a politics debater only.

Just joking

I was a Christian for about the first 30 years of my life so I'm qualified to answer your question based on how I saw myself during those years.

I was a Free Methodist. We believed primarily in the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus. Although we didn't exactly denounce the Old Testament either. But everything was always viewed through the teachings of Jesus.

We primarily believed in a passive existence. We took Jesus as his word. The church I attended as well as my family believed that Jesus said not to push his word onto anyone who wasn't interested. We believed that he said to kick the dust from your feet and move on. We took that a bit metaphorically, simply meaning to change the subject and not dwell on it. We didn't take it to mean to walk away from non-believers. We took it to mean that we should respect their beliefs and not push ours onto them.

We also were proselytizers. We believe that when Jesus told his disciples to spread his word he was talking to a select few (his disciples). He wasn't telling everyone to do this. Therefore as mere believers we did not automatically feel that he meant for everyone to do this, but only those who felt a calling to. In other words, only those who felt a calling to become clergy. So from a mere believer's point of view as a member of the general congregation of the church we did not feel that it was our duty to proselytize the teaching for Jesus. Also, it was my own person understanding (maybe not that of the church), that Jesus was merely referring to his own teachings and didn't necessarily mean to teach the entire bible to people. Especially concepts from the Old Testament which he clearly objected to in certain cases. Such as an eye-for-an-eye, as well as the stoning of sinners which up until that point was considered to be the directive of the God of Abraham (if not a full-fledged commandment).

We also believe almost as the 'prime directive' was "Turn the Other Cheek". This was paramount and pretty much the foundation of the Free Methodist Faith (at least as taught in my local and church). Anymore I'm not even sure if all Free Methodists believe the same things. I have been in some Free Methodists Churches that were quite "Fire & Brimstone" in their teachings. Even my mother did not care for the way they preached and she was as devout a any Christian I have ever met. So already I was seeing differences in the behaviors of "Christians" even the with the same denomination.

So as a Free Methodist, I would describe myself as very meek, not in to proselytizing at all, and definitely turning the other cheek was seen as the "Prime Directive" of Jesus. Of couse we also believed in the Golden Rule and brotherly love. That should be an automatic for anyone who claims to be a Christian.

So like in that other thread where the marine punches the atheist professor in the face for challenging God? All I can say is that marine didn't come from the same church I came from. We would never punch anyone in the face for any reason like that. I don't care if the professor was making fun of Jesus directly and claiming that his mother wears army boots. It wouldn't matter what the professor said. He wouldn't provoke a response from me. Probably not even a verbal response much less a physical response.

We weren't taught to 'defend' the honor of Jesus. No way. No how. We were taught not to deny him! That is not at all the same as defending him. According to the religion as I was taught it as a Free Methodist. There is absolutely nothing to 'defend' or become 'defensive' about. It doesn't matter what people might say about Jesus, or God, or the Virgin Mary. That's between them and God. It's not our place to defend God in that sense. We believed that God can defend himself (or keep track of other people's behavior). Or whatever he wants to do. It's not our place to judge other people and that include judging their opinions are comments about God. We can say that we disagree with them. But we're not going to get confrontational about it.

As a Free Methodist I was raised to believe in turning the other cheek, and to let God deal with the aggressive people.

Now we did believe in actual self-defense. We didn't believe that Jesus meant to never defend ourselves in practical matters. We were taught to avoid confrontation at all cost. But if avoidance is not an option, then self-defense is a reasonable response. We took the "Turn Your Other Cheek" to mean basically two things. Don't be defensive over petty things (where you draw the line for calling things petty is between you and Jesus). And also we took it to mean not to hold a grudge or seek revenge. If someone does you wrong. Forget about. Don't be seeking revenge.

I think a lot of people take the "Turn Your Other Cheek" to mean during an instantaneous confrontation. But we were taught that it means not to seek revenge. So if you go home and see your house was broken into and you no who didn't it, you don't running off to do something bad to that person to get back at them. Nor do you seek abnormal punish for them from the authorities. However, reporting them and seeking just and fair reimbursement for the damages would be just and fair. We didn't take "Turning the Other Cheek" to mean to completely ignore wrongs that are done against you. We simply took it to mean not to seek revenge or unjust punishments for the crime.

This post is getting too big Red, but I just wanted to say, that this is how I was taught to believe as Free Methodist. I later learned that many Christians do not think this way. There are Christians who think so radically different from this that it's hard for me to even imagine they read the same book.

In fact, having other Christians point out to me different interpretations of scriptures found in the very same book to support dramatically different views. Brought into question just how consistent the book really is?

And I think you know the rest of the story. I finally gave up on the book altogether as being totally and irreparably inconsistent on many levels. I can no longer call myself a Christian today because of this. In fact, I no longer even believe that Jesus died for the sins of man. So I'm totally removed from the whole religion now.

But this is what I was at one time.

For those who are curious, I still hold to much of the same philosophy that I've stated here. I moved from being a meek Free Methodist to becoming an equally meek Pantheist.

I know believe in the 12 Laws of Karma instead of the teachings of Jesus. But in truth there isn't hardly any difference at all between the 12 Laws of Karma and what Jesus taught. In fact, they are so close to being the same thing that I'm not convinced that Jesus actually was attempting to teach the 12 Laws of Karma. These laws of nature existed long before Jesus was born and were taught by Buddha among others.

http://thejourneyinward.net/karma/karmalaws.html

So even though I changed my fundamental belief in doctrine, my moral values haven't really changed much at all.

Just as a note: Unlike the 10 commandments of the Bible, the 12 Laws of Karma are not the commandments of a deity. They are considered to be the laws of nature not unlike the law of gravity, etc. It's just a description of the way life works.

I have kind of been wondering about that myself. I have seen Fanta several times say in the political forums that he tries to stay away from the religious forums. :-)

All the same I am glad to see him around here. I like the stuff this man brings to a debate.

I'm great!! But I feel bad hi-jacking redy's thread. Although I don't think she's likely to get much of a response. I think it's too broad of a question... plus many of the christians resent questions.

My only minor glitch at the moment is that my fiance works most Friday and Saturday nights. But that just means I have more time to spend with you guys. Come by the "coffeehouse for humans" anytime you want to chat and I will see you if I'm here.



We now return to our regularly scheduled program: The differences between christians.

My opinion: Christians are people. Like any big group of people they cannot agree among themselves- that is why there are so many sects of the religion. So the differences are too numerous to mention. Fanta's definition #1 above seems a good review of the similarities which would seem to be easier to define!!

Peace and joy.

I have always come here to read Miquel. While it is true I do not consider my religion open to debate, I often read with an open mind and try to learn from those better versed than I.
As of late I have noticed more than an intellectual and spiritual vigor in the debates which have always occurred in here.
As of late I have noticed an intentional antagonizing motivation, and it saddens me. So much so that on an occasion I have been unable to just watch. With these types of debates I can find no openness and therefore learning is reduced to a spectacle.
I feel a need to intervene, but unlike politics I do not possess the knowledge as you and others to get involved as deeply as I'd like. This is undoubtedly a good thing as well, since I also do not possess the restraint that others have.
At times of late, I have debated internally to just cease coming and reading all together!
Maybe that is best!

I have been to a Methodist church before Thads and I enjoyed the sermons.
I feel a pull towards the Catholic denomination though. Probably because I was baptized Catholic and my mother who is gone now was a devout Catholic!
My father, who was never religious and wasn't baptized until a few years ago, is now a Baptist! Every Saturday morning, without fail, my Jehovah family comes and visits for an hour or two. Yes I consider them my family since they have been doing so for two or three years now. We have some wonderful talks, and even though I call them doomsayers they never fail to visit, and try to convert me! I have gotten to look forward to their visits!

what makes u think i'm more versed than u r my brother?