blastula
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- Gnostic atheist
And that they call themselves a Christian.
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Virgin birth of Jesus
- Thread starter Imnotspecial
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And that they call themselves a Christian.
LordKiran
Veteran Member
That's like saying someone isn't a white supremacist isn't so just because they don't title themselves such.
If you follow the moral doctrine of Christ then you are a christian, irrespective of what you choose to call yourself.
The broader point however is that Christianity is not strictly dependent on or defined by a belief in the divine.
DrZoidberg
Contributor
The Jesuits don't believe in any of the miracles.
I think you're wrong. Deists was clearly sprung from a Christian tradition
But are not christians.
To be a christian is to believe Jesus was Christ.
Being a follower of jesus teachings does not make you a christian.
How can you be ignorant of the difference between christ (a title) and jesus the person?
LordKiran
Veteran Member
There is only one Christ, no? So what's your point exactly? We're talking about the same person in either case.
Will Wiley
Veteran Member
Hillarious. Not only do christian fight over what a real christian is but atheist/agnostics fight about it too. 
Will Wiley
Veteran Member
I think he is saying that more than one person is titled a "christ" in the/a bible. He seems to imagine everyone should be aware of this not well known thing. I guess he gets half a cyber point...
DrZoidberg
Contributor
Well.... I think being Christian is about a way of thinking. I think that's more important than what labels people carry. Even though, by definition, deists aren't Christians you won't find any Deists in countries that aren't predominantly Christian.
But it's splitting hairs. Deism is a historical curiosity. I'd argue that modern Deists don't understand the type of belief.
Cheerful Charlie
Contributor
Deism is basically the idea that God can be proven without need for revelation. And thus is old, an idea going back to Plato. Natural religion.
Christ is a metaphysical title. If you say you believe in christ then you say you believe what this title stands for.
If you say that you follow jesus you doesnt necessarily have to buy into the christ stuff.
I think he is saying that more than one person is titled a "christ" in the/a bible. He seems to imagine everyone should be aware of this not well known thing. I guess he gets half a cyber point...
No, that is not at all what I say.
LordKiran
Veteran Member
I mean what if I argue that Jesus as a person never actually existed but the idea of jesus as the ideal man serves as a guide and example for how people should live their lives? OR if I believe that jesus was not of a divine nature but was instead a moral teacher who's teachings should serve as a similar guide?
If not a christian (in terms of common parlance) what do either of those make you then?
Why do you need a lable? What do call a person that think Russel is a good teacher? A Russelian?
LordKiran
Veteran Member
I dunno, why do books need titles?
But you already have a title; your name.
LordKiran
Veteran Member
A good title tells you what something is about. Names do not do this and are for the sole purpose of distinguishment.
But a good title is generally consistd of more than a single word.m
So call this "a follower of the teachings of jesus".
Happy?
LordKiran
Veteran Member
Too wordy, can't be used gracefully in everyday conversation. This is why we rely on jargon and colloquialisms like "Christian".
Too wordy, can't be used gracefully in everyday conversation. This is why we rely on jargon and colloquialisms like "Christian".
But christian is a believer in christ. So thats wrong.