What would you call someone who acknowledge the truth of the Bible, accepted that Christ is the Son of God and died on the cross of us and arose three days later, and yet still rejects God? People frequently use the term Christian to describe those who accept these facts about Jesus, but that certainly wouldn't fit here because they are still rejecting God. Apostate doesn't work because it isn't as if they have decided the teachings were wrong and abandoned the faith. So what would you call them (other than probably damned)?
Heretic? Apostate? Neither really fit.
- Thread starter bhsup
- Start date
Good question. Satanist? Rebel?
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
I would say 'unbeliever'.
Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
What do you mean by "rejects God"? If you mean s/he denies that God exists, yet somehow had a Son: please refer to ID's response, above. If you mean they acknowledge the existence of God but reject doing what God says to do (as reported in the Bible or whatever text we are deeming authoritative to speak for God), then the term "apostate" would apply.
"Heretic" would be for someone who claims that the FSM fathered Jesus and took him home to the Spaghetti Factory of the Blessed -- or some similarly heterodox claim.
"Heretic" would be for someone who claims that the FSM fathered Jesus and took him home to the Spaghetti Factory of the Blessed -- or some similarly heterodox claim.
Yeah, I'm thinking "Rebel or Adversary" is the right word. To acknowledge God, but to not bow down, is basically what Satan did.
Perfection
The Great Head.
Idiots, maybe?
Are there a significant amount of people who believe this way?
Are there a significant amount of people who believe this way?
Putatively 1/3 of the angels. And they're supposed to be kinda smart, and they knew the Big Cheese personally.
Zarn
Le Républicain Catholique
I call them "residents of my dungeon."
Perfection
The Great Head.
Maybe they had a reason we didn't kniw about...
Isn't this exactly what a satanist (in its 'purest' form) is. You believe in God just don't want to follow him.
Not sure how many people actually really are like this though. If I actually believed, I know I'd be sucking up to the big fella.
Not sure how many people actually really are like this though. If I actually believed, I know I'd be sucking up to the big fella.
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
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Somebody without a clear mind. 
Zarn
Le Républicain Catholique
Either Jehveh cut dental benefits or angels crave power like humans. I'm going with the latter.
Southern Baptists
I'm with MobBoss, they're just an unbeliever. You have to ask Christ to personally atone for your sins, and ask for God to forgive you - it isn't enough to just believe that Christ could, or that He was the Son of God.
Hey, now, that's technically what I am!Anyway, I wouldn't say unbeliever is right since they do indeed believe. They believe, but refuse to accept God as their master. I wouldn't call them Satanists in the strictest sense either. A Satanist, in my mind, worships Satan, whereas I am thinking of someone who accepts all of the Biblical teachings as true, but refuses to follow either God or Satan. Now granted, that by default puts them in Lucifer's court, but not by virtue of them actually worshipping him.
ShannonCT
Deity
A Rebel.
In The Brothers Karamazov, Ivan accepts that God and Jesus exist but he "humbly returns his ticket" to heaven because he rejects God's system of justice. He believes God has no right to forgive evil men. Ivan's brother Alyosha calls him a "rebel".
If you haven't read this book, do it. It's a masterwork.
Me too and you see how that has turned out.
What got me thinking about this today was my browsing on Amazon.com and coming across a book I read ages ago called The War Hound And The World's Pain by Michael Moorcock. There was a character in there named Philander Groot (I think that was the name) who rejected God. Good book, by the way. WOuld God forgive Satan if Satan truly repented, even though there was no temptation to lure him into sin in the first place?
Yeah, I know. We both spend way too much time yakking on a computer bulletin board!
