I was never an atheist.
I always new there was a god.
I just thought he was the cruelest being that ever existed, and I hated him with my soul!

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.


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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!!

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 course 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.

Three days before my twelfth birthday I was awakened by screaming. It was my mother, and she was screaming at the top of her lungs,
Its going to bust, its going to bust, over and over. As I went out my door into the hall my father came out my parents room running for the phone. As he did my mother released one final scream and then was silent. Gaining courage I went to the bed and tried to talk to her, but she just stared, with her eyes open at the ceiling. All I remember was how scared I was and held her hand crying.
Soon, it only seemed like minutes, the ambulance came and they took her to the hospital. My dad said my sister was coming to watch us and left to go the hospital too.
The next time I saw him was on my birthday. When he drove in the driveway I knew something was wrong from the look on his face.
I started crying right away, and when he came in he called us together and told us that our mom had died that morning. My twelfth birthday. I can still remember the hate I felt towards god, and I carried it with me for years. Forced to learn to deal with the grief on my own I'm afraid I didn't do such a good job.

She died from a brain aneurysm. It burst!

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

Just joking

I was never an atheist.
I always new there was a god.
I just thought he was the cruelest being that ever existed, and I hated him with my soul!