Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?

[Anonymous]

There is no second place. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no second place. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Catholics, Orthodox, and mainstream Protestants also have a long tradition of theologians who have helped interpret those teachings and explain how they apply outside of the time period Jesus lived in. Most Christians do not live today in societies where women accused of adultery have to face actual mobs of men with stones, but we "stone" them with our tongues through gossip and mass media.

Just wondering if you are a Christian from a denomination or non-domination all church that relies on a literal interpretation of the Bible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no second place. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

are you saying Jesus is the only important figure in Christianity? If so, why?

I would say that God is the only figure important is creating the universe. If you believe in God, you know that he is a supernatural supreme being. However, Jesus was human as well as devine and we know from history and the bible that many other humans were insturmental in spreading the word of Jesus.

Peter, Paul and Constantine stand out.

[Anonymous]

are you saying Jesus is the only important figure in Christianity? If so, why?

No. I am saying that he is far and above the basis of Christianity. The question was who is the most important besides Jesus. We could argue forever on who is next after Christ Jesus. Moses is certainly also important--as Jesus quoted Moses. The Old Testament prophets prophesied the coming of Christ. Are they important?

Christianity is based on Christ. To argue who is next is moot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say Judas. I'm not being snarky.

Think about it: this is the one to whom most of us would truly relate, if we are honest with our flawed selves. Jesus' treatment and reaction of him, even though Judas was a part of Jesus' closest inner circle, might not have gotten a lot of coverage, but the implications are huge. I think the Judas situation gets a lot less attention because the fact that he IS so similar and relevant to us makes most people too uncomfortable to even begin to contemplate the implications.

I think this is brilliant.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Paul (he was the first to come to mind too) but I like the Judas and Martin Luther votes too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say Judas. I'm not being snarky.

Think about it: this is the one to whom most of us would truly relate, if we are honest with our flawed selves. Jesus' treatment and reaction of him, even though Judas was a part of Jesus' closest inner circle, might not have gotten a lot of coverage, but the implications are huge. I think the Judas situation gets a lot less attention because the fact that he IS so similar and relevant to us makes most people too uncomfortable to even begin to contemplate the implications.

I think this is brilliant.

+2

I just heard about the play "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot," by Stephen Adly Guirgis. I really want to see that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

are you saying Jesus is the only important figure in Christianity? If so, why?

No. I am saying that he is far and above the basis of Christianity. The question was who is the most important besides Jesus. We could argue forever on who is next after Christ Jesus. Moses is certainly also important--as Jesus quoted Moses. The Old Testament prophets prophesied the coming of Christ. Are they important?

Christianity is based on Christ. To argue who is next is moot.

The question was "Who was the most important figure in Christianity?"

Actually, Constantine was probably *the* most important figure in the development and promulgation of Christianity. Then Paul. Then Christ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no second place. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Catholics, Orthodox, and mainstream Protestants also have a long tradition of theologians who have helped interpret those teachings and explain how they apply outside of the time period Jesus lived in. Most Christians do not live today in societies where women accused of adultery have to face actual mobs of men with stones, but we "stone" them with our tongues through gossip and mass media.

Just wondering if you are a Christian from a denomination or non-domination all church that relies on a literal interpretation of the Bible?

Jesus himself said, when confronting a mob preparing to stone an adulteress, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." The point being that only God is the judge of men and women. This succeeded in dispersing the mob. (John 8:7) So no need for centuries of theologians to interpret that, if anything the early church fathers were probably regressive compared to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no second place. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Catholics, Orthodox, and mainstream Protestants also have a long tradition of theologians who have helped interpret those teachings and explain how they apply outside of the time period Jesus lived in. Most Christians do not live today in societies where women accused of adultery have to face actual mobs of men with stones, but we "stone" them with our tongues through gossip and mass media.

Just wondering if you are a Christian from a denomination or non-domination all church that relies on a literal interpretation of the Bible?

Jesus himself said, when confronting a mob preparing to stone an adulteress, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." The point being that only God is the judge of men and women. This succeeded in dispersing the mob. (John 8:7) So no need for centuries of theologians to interpret that, if anything the early church fathers were probably regressive compared to that.

Forgot to add. When all the men had left, Jesus said he did not condemn her and let her go.