UnChristian Christians

Ah, but Christian is a term that someone can just throw upon themself. If someone declares "I am a Christian" then further inquiry might reply "By what authority?" At that point one gets into the murkiness of churches and denominations and how they have come about. At some point all the Christian churches have more or less splintered off the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox churches. That is an over-simplification, but it remains true that those churches can trace themselves directly to the earliest beginnings of the Christian church.

All other expressions of Christianity have taken authority upon themselves for their expression of Chistianity. Not only do all denominations of Christianity decide by what authority they and others are Christian, but individuals (especially in the US) are rather fond of doing the same.

The question of authority is an important one. If an individual declares that so-and-so isn't a Christian then it bears no weight beyond an opinion. A church, on the other hand, has the authority and the means to declare someone not a Christian by way of shunning and/or excommunication.

Originally posted by Badwater
Ah, but Christian [b]is a term that someone can just throw upon themself. If someone declares "I am a Christian" then further inquiry might reply "By what authority?" At that point one gets into the murkiness of churches and denominations and how they have come about. At some point all the Christian churches have more or less splintered off the Roman Ca ...[text shortened]... and the means to declare someone not a Christian by way of shunning and/or excommunication.[/b]

I believe that I've already stated what I think in all of my posts in this thread. Whether it's read and understood ain't on me.

Originally posted by Badwater
..... A church, on the other hand, has the authority and the means to declare someone not a Christian by way of shunning and/or excommunication.

Originally posted by Rajk999
I have a feeling that many modern churches will excommunicate Jesus Christ for preaching about the importance of good works and loving your neighbour.

Originally posted by Rajk999
I have a feeling that many modern churches will excommunicate Jesus Christ for preaching about the importance of good works and loving your neighbour.

Originally posted by Badwater
Yep. I have a feeling that if Jesus appeared today he would be somewhat distressed about the direction his religious movement has taken since his death, also.

Originally posted by Badwater
I believe that I've already stated what I think in all of my posts in this thread. Whether it's read and understood ain't on me.

Originally posted by Badwater
Yep. I have a feeling that if Jesus appeared today he would be somewhat distressed about the direction his religious movement has taken since his death, also.

Originally posted by KellyJay
A church has the right to kick someone out of its sphere of influence,
but does that mean someone isn't a Christian?

Originally posted by twhitehead
I remember my father (an Anglican) stating that Jehovah's Witnesses were not Christian. I asked him why and he said it was because they consider Anglicans to be non-Christian.

Originally posted by josephw
Boy did you hit the nail on the head with that one.

But I would like to know why you think that's true.

Originally posted by knightmeister
Rational questions regarding a non-rational issue, all of them four doomed to be frightfully mangled by "truly born by God" interpretators ---------beetle---------------

Which loosely translates as --- "reasonable but complex questions to which there are no easy answers which some christians here will attempt to answer in good faith but will be pre ...[text shortened]... atheists with a pre-concieved position ready with a huge axe to grind" - in short a set up.

Originally posted by KellyJay
So is there a bottom line to it, or is it just a human mess without
any solid answers only opinions?
Kelly

Originally posted by twhitehead
As I have already stated, as an atheist I generally use the word to mean those calling themselves by that name. I see no good reason to give preference to one group over another. However I also realize that some groups would like to claim the name as their own and exclude others but they too must realize that one cannot truly own a word. What is more reas ...[text shortened]... that certain other parties are unChristian. That was the meaning I was intending in this thread.