What makes someone a Christan?

[GenMarshall]

well, this is what catholics have to say about their belief:

Not just Catholics but also Eastern Orthodox Christians, Protestants, and Anglicans/Episcopal Christians adhear to the Nicine Creed (which you quoted).

 

[holy king]

is "nicine" referring to nicea?

 

[GenMarshall]

is "nicine" referring to nicea?

No, it refers to the Nicene Creed. Created after the First Council of Nicaea.

 

[holy king]

that's what i meant.

 

[Death_Machine]

They might. That's not my point. I think their subsequent scriptures makes them a distinct religion as they have stories of Jesus that reveal a Jesus that would be foreign to the first Christians. They've changed his character. Should I research some specifics?

I was raised Morman (but went down the sex/drugs/rock n roll path instead) and never heard any stories of Jesus that were different than those in the Bible. They simply believe that via the prophet Joseph Smith a further revelation of God was revealed.

 

[Stile]

Trinitarianism is not really Biblical either, but no one suggests that all Trinitarians are non Christian (that I know of).

I think it's derived from the Bible. There's only so many ways to take:

" And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen."

 

[Zelig]

Noooooo - this is horrible!

Is the son of a white supremacist also a white supremacist?
Is the son of a Marxist a Marxist?
Is the son of a Man Utd fan a Man Utd fan?
No, no, and no!

Children are children - claiming them to a religion (or a political creed, etc) before they are old enough to understand and take a decision is brain-washing at best and child abuse at worst.

And, yes, I really mean this....

BFR

That was under the assumption that the child of the Christian believes what his parents tells him about religion, attends church, etc.

If the child of a white supremacist hates black people and attends KKK meetings, he probably qualifies as a white supremacist.

 

[eastsidebagel]

Someone who beliefs in both the Old and the New Testaments, their prophets, the trinity and a requirement to accept Jesus Christ as the savior and redeemer of the world. Those are the basics and from there all bets are off.

 

[IglooDame]

On the basic level (to include Mormons and non-Trinidadian Chrisians), someone who acceps Jesus as their lord and savior.

On the orthodox level (Trinidadian Christians), same as above but acceps the Nicen Creed.

Just for clarification, you mean Trinitarian, right? The first time I read this post I was mentally searching for some sort of Caribbean influence on Christianity that I'd missed somewhere along the way.

(I'm really not playing spelling nazi, just clearing up my own confusion...)

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I think it's derived from the Bible. There's only so many ways to take:

" And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen."

There are at least three possible interpretations of that, and trinitarianism is not what comes to mind first.

 

[Irish Caesar]

He tries his best to love his neighbor as he loves himself.

He doesn't even have to identify himself as a Christian for me to consider him one.

 

[IglooDame]

He tries his best to love his neighbor as he loves himself.

He doesn't even have to identify himself as a Christian for me to consider him one.

Or he's just a nice guy.

Seriously, you don't have to be a Christian in order to stop and help someone out instead of ignoring them.

 

[Stile]

There are at least three possible interpretations of that, and trinitarianism is not what comes to mind first.

What are those three interpretations, keeping in mind it was written about 875 years before the Nicean creed and was translated perfectly?

I was raised Morman (but went down the sex/drugs/rock n roll path instead) and never heard any stories of Jesus that were different than those in the Bible. They simply believe that via the prophet Joseph Smith a further revelation of God was revealed.

You do realize the Book of Mormon is not part of the Bible, right? From my understanding (I, like you, have never read the entire Book of Mormon), Mormons believe Jesus came to the New World after his crucifixion and interacted with Jews here, where presumably new stories occurred. However, even his further revelation to Joseph Smith via the Doctrines & Covenants reveals a different Jesus in my opinion.

 

[Masquerouge]

You do realize the Book of Mormon is not part of the Bible, right? From my understanding (I, like you, have never read the entire Book of Mormon), Mormons believe Jesus came to the New World after his crucifixion and interacted with Jews here, where presumably new stories occurred. However, even his further revelation to Joseph Smith via the Doctrines & Covenants reveals a different Jesus in my opinion.

Not sure "being part of the bible" is a valid argument ot determine who is Christian and who is not. The Christian bible is a collection of texts that were at some point chosen to fit a specific doctrine. There's nothing to say that in the future, Mormonism will become the dominant mainstream Christian doctrine and all Bibles will contain the Book of Mormons

 

[Irish Caesar]

Or he's just a nice guy.

Seriously, you don't have to be a Christian in order to stop and help someone out instead of ignoring them.

I figured this would get jumped on right away.



The OP asked for the shortest answer possible, so that's mine. I don't ask people what they believe right after I meet them (I've met plenty of people who do...) but if they act as Jesus would have, that's more Christian than talking about him but not acting.

So it's not my definition of Christianity, but I think it's the most important requirement. The Lord might disagree, but He said my reason was right up there.

Erik's post, linked to earlier in the thread, gives an in-depth look at many aspects which I think are important to living as Christian a life as possible, but I wasn't just going to write "what Erik said PC +1," was I?

 

[IglooDame]

I figured this would get jumped on right away.

I'm glad I could fulfill your expectations then.

The OP asked for the shortest answer possible, so that's mine. I don't ask people what they believe right after I meet them (I've met plenty of people who do...) but if they act as Jesus would have, that's more Christian than talking about him but not acting.

So it's not my definition of Christianity, but I think it's the most important requirement. The Lord might disagree, but He said my reason was right up there.

Erik's post, linked to earlier in the thread, gives an in-depth look at many aspects which I think are important to living as Christian a life as possible, but I wasn't just going to write "what Erik said PC +1," was I?

And thanks for the explanation, but I can't help thinking that there's quite a few people you're going to expect to see in heaven that are never going to show up.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

What are those three interpretations, keeping in mind it was written about 875 years before the Nicean creed and was translated perfectly?

I don't think the Nicene Creed is that old. But:

1. Modalism - the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost are just different aspects of the same being, different names if you will. This is not Trinitarianism.
2. Trinitarianism - they are simultaneously three beings and one being, however the Nicene Creed puts it.
3. Subordinate tritheism - they are three separate beings who are one in purpose. Supporters of this could explain "I and the Father are one" by pointing out that Jesus also prayed that he and his disciples could be one, yet no one includes them in the Trinity.

You do realize the Book of Mormon is not part of the Bible, right? From my understanding (I, like you, have never read the entire Book of Mormon), Mormons believe Jesus came to the New World after his crucifixion and interacted with Jews here, where presumably new stories occurred. However, even his further revelation to Joseph Smith via the Doctrines & Covenants reveals a different Jesus in my opinion.

I have read as much of it as is published. But no one claims it is part of the Bible. So? Catholics believe things about Jesus that aren't in the Bible. A lot of Protestants do. And why not? The Bible didn't even exist during the first several centuries of Christianity (not as we know it today) so there is no reason it should be considered the only source of Christian doctrine.

 

[Stile]

Not sure "being part of the bible" is a valid argument ot determine who is Christian and who is not. The Christian bible is a collection of texts that were at some point chosen to fit a specific doctrine. There's nothing to say that in the future, Mormonism will become the dominant mainstream Christian doctrine and all Bibles will contain the Book of Mormons

It wasn't an argument about who is a Christian. I was referring to his statement that he can recall no stories about Jesus that were not in the Bible. I think Mormons regard the Book of Mormon as holy scripture and as another testament, but would understand that references to the Bible would be for only the Old & New Testament. For what it's worth the Book of Mormon is bound in a book by itself (atleast when Mormons pass it out).

Since Mormons are purportedly restorationists, they are trying to restore the Church to the way it was before Jesus was crucified and the apostles died. Therefore they acknowledge that Church as being correct. The Church of Paul, Peter, etc. (i.e. the first christians) did not have knowledge of the book of Mormon. Therefore at best it is superfluous to salvation and being a christian, at worst it details stories which alter one's perception of God.

 

[Shekwan]

Isn't the Catholic Church the one true faith?

Um, no.

Um, yeah...

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I was referring to his statement that he can recall no stories about Jesus that were not in the Bible.

When did I say that?

The Church of Paul, Peter, etc. (i.e. the first christians) did not have knowledge of the book of Mormon. Therefore at best it is superfluous to salvation and being a christian, at worst it details stories which alter one's perception of God.

Put "Bible" in place of "Book of Mormon" and it is just as accurate. The Bible as we know it was compiled several centuries after Christ, even the earliest books came several decades later.