What's a Born Again Christian?

[Commie #4522]

I'm having trouble figuring this out.

Wikipedia's slant is too iffy and inconclusive to be trustworthy, and most websites on Google are heavily biased towards a Christian perspective.

Can someone (preferably unbiased) explain what a "Born Again Christian" is?

Is it the same as being an Evangelical? If not, what's an Evangelical?

What denomenation is it?

Is it someone who'se had a significant experience in their life and has become a Christian? I find this kind of strange to explain because people often talk about the "born again Christian voting block", which sorta means that there's actually enough people that have had significant life changing experiences (which are pretty rare) to actually become a voting block.

Someone explain please? Thanks in advance.

 

[Solver]

I don't understand the Christian definition fully, but it's something along the lines that a person is born again when he accepts Jesus and gets saved. But I think that's not what you're looking for.

In a broader sense, I understand the term as describing someone who used not to be really religious, but became a devout Christian. Cynically, it seems to me that many US politicians declare themselves born again because in the US being a religious Christian seems to boost one's political popularity.

 

[GenMarshall]

Wikipedia to the Rescue!

Born again is a soteriological term used primarily in the Evangelical, Fundamentalist, and Pentecostal branches of Protestant Christianity, where it is associated with salvation, conversion and spiritual birth. Outside of these circles, the term is often applied by extension to other phenomena, including a transcending personal experience – or the experience of being spiritually reborn (as opposed to spiritual birth). - Wiki

I dont believe in the whole "Born Again" thingy that Protestants tend to use. Because "Baptism is ... the sacrament by which we are born again of water and the Holy Ghost." and Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians tend not to use that word because we believe in one baptism and that one can only recive it once in their life (Same with Confirmation).

 

[Commie #4522]

I just said that I've looked at Wikipedia and couldn't find out...

Wikipedia to the Rescue!

Born again is a soteriological term used primarily in the Evangelical, Fundamentalist, and Pentecostal branches of Protestant Christianity, where it is associated with salvation, conversion and spiritual birth. Outside of these circles, the term is often applied by extension to other phenomena, including a transcending personal experience – or the experience of being spiritually reborn (as opposed to spiritual birth). - Wiki

What is this supposed to mean?

What does it mean it's associated with salvation conversion and spiritual birth? Does that mean someone's become a Christian and therefore is "born again"?

 

[Solver]

It means that salvation is considered to be an event of such importance and magnitude that it essentially makes a person born again and changed forever.

 

[Commie #4522]

It means that salvation is considered to be an event of such importance and magnitude that it essentially makes a person born again and changed forever.

That's still very vague.. and how can it become a voting bloc? Are you telling me that millions of people in America (and in America only) have undergone some life changing event (like surviving a car accident or something) and have become Christians?

 

[Xanikk999]

That's still very vague.. and how can it become a voting bloc? Are you telling me that millions of people in America (and in America only) have undergone some life changing event (like surviving a car accident or something) and have become Christians?

Maybe, it wouldnt suprise me with all the car accidents we have in this country.

 

[GenMarshall]

What is this supposed to mean?

Namely, its a term that Evangelical, Fundamentalist, and Pentecostal branches of Protestant Christianity use to describe the rebirth of the individual's soul.

What does it mean it's associated with salvation conversion and spiritual birth? Does that mean someone's become a Christian and therefore is "born again"?

I am a Catholic and we hardly use that term "born again". I myself find that term quite confusing, especialy that I believe that rebaptisms are not valid if the individual has already been baptised.

I returned to Christianity (and then to Catholicism) from agnosticism and I dont refer to myself as a "born again" because in my view, I had more of a "spiritual awakening". Why do I view myself as being spiritual awakened rather than born again. Namely because I believe that once youre baptised, you are always baptised even if later in life you leave the Church.

Since I am only speeking from a Catholic Point of view, I am sure that there would be some Protestant Christians who would shed some light on this .

 

[Solver]

I don't know what exactly is meant by a voting bloc. Quite possibly it refers to a political party / block that considers themselves highly religious. I think there's a party with strong religious beliefs in every country.

And I think that from a Christian perspective, the fact that you become a Christian is actually considered a life-changing event, a complete change in spirituality, and it marks the transition from being damned to Hell to being saved. Again, I can be off here, not being a Christian by any stretch.

 

[rysingsun]

It originates here and a couple other places:

John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Those who claim to be "born of the Spirit", which is granted by God when we choose to believe and accept his Son, will often call themselves born-again Christians. They will typically but not always claim a specific time when this experience happened. They will also claim that a very real thing happened within their spirit and that it is not figurative. I make such a claim for myself.

The word "Evangelical" is used almost interchangeably in America. The word "Fundementalist" is used interchangeably by some, but by others it refers to those who have a very discipline-oriented approach. The word Pentecostal tends to be an emotion-based approach (well at least in my opinion). If I can think of any others I may come back to edit this post.

 

[puglover]

Rysingsun hit the nail on the head here. To sum it up, Born-Again is a word signifying spiritual rebirth through belief and baptism. Evangelical is a broad term usually used to refer to conservative Christian groups.

 

[Commie #4522]

Rysingsun hit the nail on the head here. To sum it up, Born-Again is a word signifying spiritual rebirth through belief and baptism. Evangelical is a broad term usually used to refer to conservative Christian groups.

What if you don't get re-baptized, then you're not a born-again?

I still don't see how this is a voting bloc, I don't see how it's possible to have so many individuals, or even families, go through life changing experiences and become born again..

How can a child be a born again Christian?

What if someone's a born again and he has a child, is he counted as born again?

 

[Narz]

Jesus was a born again Christian. He died as a Jew and then was born again.

At least that's what I read somewhere.

 

[garric]

I think it was.. 50% of Americans identified themselves as Born-Again Christian.

What I'd like to know is the difference between a born-again and a regular Christian.

 

[punkbass2000]

Technically speaking, any Christian is a born-again Christian. You have your physical birth. You then have a spiritual birth when you accept Jesus. He discusses this in the first few books of New Testament.

 

[Mountain-God]

Since I've worked somewhat in psychology and with a few religious and criminal organisations - not together, but separate ie some churches and gangs...

I noticed some striking similarities in theme:

Interesting that a christian church community can have so much in common with black leather wearing, baseball bat weilding gangs...

What most of us really want is to feel valuable and welcome.

Whether religion, sport, or otherwise, it's all the same.

 

[garric]

Technically speaking, any Christian is a born-again Christian. You have your physical birth. You then have a spiritual birth when you accept Jesus. He discusses this in the first few books of New Testament.

Well there's obviously a difference that exists in society, otherwise the term born-again wouldn't be used. I understand maybe that the bible may mean the term means something else but what does it mean in usage? A right-wing Christian or something?

 

[Red Door]

Born-Again - Un-Christian, converts to Christianity or finds new spirituality.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

"Born-Again" is largely self defined. If someone refers to an event that led them to focus their lives on Jesus Christ as being "born again", then they are born again. If they feel that a single event, or perhaps a saeries of events, caused it, but do not use the term, they might be as well.

 

[MobBoss]

As a born-again christian let me tell you what it means to me. To me it means taking a vow to leave my secular old life behind and be "born again" in my faith in Jesus. I leave behind my old ways of the world, and vow to walk his (Jesus') ways.

Some people get baptized or re-baptized when doing this...some dont. Personally, I was re-baptized by my choice (I was baptized as a child via my methodist parents) in Pueget Sound itself. Trust me, you get dunked in 40 degree water it makes you feel like a new man.

In general, people who claim to be born-again feel that they have a higher calling or a higher behavioral standard in their faith. It is one of the main reasons I refuse to compromise in my faith on issues many fold on.