Anonymous wrote:If you do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, there is no reason for Christianity.

Oh well shoot then. Sometimes bring a sketpic kinda sucks.

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:Those of you who say it is necessary to accept as literal truth the divinity of Christ, the Resurrection, the Virgin Birth, etc, can you tell me what you call someone who does not believe those things, but accepts and follows the teachings of Christ?

The teaching of Christ is that nobody gets to the father except through him. Do you accept it? And why?

Different poster. I accept that, but from a more metaphysical viewpoint . No one can reach that perfect good unless they become Christ-Like. Jesus Christ was our perfect example of unconditional love, compassion, kindness and ultimately, sacrifice. God in human form. How many of us would die for someone who didn't even like us? Someone who was undeserving? How many could forgive the way Jesus did?

I believe in Jesus as the Christ. I believe he came to earth to show us the way to perfect love. That makes me a Christian. However, I believe there are many, many paths to that same end. To God - the loving source of all that is good.

takoma wrote:Those of you who say it is necessary to accept as literal truth the divinity of Christ, the Resurrection, the Virgin Birth, etc, can you tell me what you call someone who does not believe those things, but accepts and follows the teachings of Christ?

The teaching of Christ is that nobody gets to the father except through him. Do you accept it? And why?

Anonymous wrote:God could bend the laws of nature but why would he?

I consider myself a Christian because of my "relationship" with Christ. I don't think Christ literally rose from the dead. I think he rose from the dead in our thoughts and in the religion that perpetuates his teaching.

What would you call someone who is a follower of the teachings of Jesus but doesn't believe he literally rose from the dead?

Do scientists still believe that existance/order/mathematics /chemistry/ laws of physîcs... And every scientific discovery that hasn't been discovered but already exists to be found ...... Came from a random explosion?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God could bend the laws of nature but why would he?

I consider myself a Christian because of my "relationship" with Christ. I don't think Christ literally rose from the dead. I think he rose from the dead in our thoughts and in the religion that perpetuates his teaching.

What would you call someone who is a follower of the teachings of Jesus but doesn't believe he literally rose from the dead?

Why would God bend the laws of nature? Why would God do anything? Why would God send Jesus to begin with? In my understanding of Christian theology, Christ rising from the dead is crucial. So my understanding of the definition of Christianity would necessitate it. So I would not consider you a Christian, because you basically just threw out the most crucial element of the whole religion. Tons of non-Christians appreciate Christ's teachings but do not follow the theology.

But if you feel that you have a relationship with Jesus and that you are living your life according to your conscience, everyone else's definition is not important.

Thanks for an intelligent, perceptive, and respectful response.

Whether you are Christian or not, you most certainly are enlightened in your understanding of Christianity whether you believe or not.

The most commonly used statement of Christian belief is not the Apostles' Creed, but the Nicene Creed. Most denominations use some version of it.

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son].
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. AMEN.

takoma wrote:Those of you who say it is necessary to accept as literal truth the divinity of Christ, the Resurrection, the Virgin Birth, etc, can you tell me what you call someone who does not believe those things, but accepts and follows the teachings of Christ?

a humanist

Those of you who say it is necessary to accept as literal truth the divinity of Christ, the Resurrection, the Virgin Birth, etc, can you tell me what you call someone who does not believe those things, but accepts and follows the teachings of Christ?

Anonymous wrote:God could bend the laws of nature but why would he?

I consider myself a Christian because of my "relationship" with Christ. I don't think Christ literally rose from the dead. I think he rose from the dead in our thoughts and in the religion that perpetuates his teaching.

What would you call someone who is a follower of the teachings of Jesus but doesn't believe he literally rose from the dead?

Why would God bend the laws of nature? Why would God do anything? Why would God send Jesus to begin with? In my understanding of Christian theology, Christ rising from the dead is crucial. So my understanding of the definition of Christianity would necessitate it. So I would not consider you a Christian, because you basically just threw out the most crucial element of the whole religion. Tons of non-Christians appreciate Christ's teachings but do not follow the theology.

But if you feel that you have a relationship with Jesus and that you are living your life according to your conscience, everyone else's definition is not important.

God could bend the laws of nature but why would he?

I consider myself a Christian because of my "relationship" with Christ. I don't think Christ literally rose from the dead. I think he rose from the dead in our thoughts and in the religion that perpetuates his teaching.

What would you call someone who is a follower of the teachings of Jesus but doesn't believe he literally rose from the dead?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apostles' Creed

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

1l. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

The Apostles' creed dates bad to the 4th century, before modern science. So most/all Christians today believe in the literal resurrection and ascension?

The creed is the statement of faith in most churches and is said in most church services. So if that's not what you believe, then no, you are not a Christian. You could be a big fan of Jesus or a super moral or ethical person but you wouldn't be a Christian.

And given how technology has shown us that we can bring people back from the dead, even if their heart has stopped for several minutes, don't you think it would be a rather trivial thing for God? If you believe in God at least? These questions always confuse me. If one were to believe that an entity actually created the universe, wouldn't that entity be able to bend the laws of nature as a given?

I do.

Anonymous wrote:Apostles' Creed

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

1l. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

The Apostles' creed dates bad to the 4th century, before modern science. So most/all Christians today believe in the literal resurrection and ascension?

Apostles' Creed

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

1l. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Christian (raised Muslim, now atheist) but to me the single basic fundamental belief of Christianity is that you believe in the divinity of Jesus. That Jesus is either fully or partially divine/godly. Even the other things that seem to basic, have variation in different branches and sects.

A fair amount of information concerning Jesus and his life/purpose overlaps in Islam, but the main point of difference is that Muslims do not believe Jesus was divine.
Would any Christians disagree with this as the most overarching, uniform principal?

I consider myself a Christian although most fundie-type Christians would probably disagree. I am the Unity PP. I believe that Jesus was God's son and therefore "divine", but I also believe we are all part of God and therefor all divine. I believe Jesus was God in flesh - that perfect example of love that we are all supposed to strive to be. The divine lives in me. And I am a part of that loving source. "The Christ" in me always beholds "The Christ" in you no matter what your personal spirituality.

That part goes against the tenants of Christianity... that we are sinners, unable to reach heaven due to our sins, and that is why Jesus died for our sins. If we were divine, why would we need Jesus to die for our sins so that we could one day go to heaven to be with God/Jesus? Bible teaches that we are a holy temple, yes, and that now, as believers, the Holy Spirit can reside in us. But that doesn't make us divine. We are just vessels for the Holy Spirit to work through us.

Yes, bolder above not getting emphasized enough

1- God created us in his image to have a relationship with him
2- ALL have sinned and need a savior to bring us back into right relationship with God
3- his son took our sin upon him in order to make that happen
4- we should acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness and the grace to be like Jesus -
5 being like Jesus = we will extend love and forgiveness to others, care for the poor, the fatherless and the widowed, love our neighbors and even our enemies as ourselves