Christian Discussion Thread VII: The Christ Awakens.

[Cill Airne]

Interesting! I would say you're a Cultural Christian, but not a religious Christian. This is largely because, inherently, you reject the Creed by not accepting Christ's divinity.

I think I'd agree. The term "Cultural Christian" was basically coined for people who feel they've been "heavily influenced by Christian ideas", and continue Christian cultural practices such as Christian holidays, but don't have religious faith.

Probably too late to put it in the poll though. :/

Sorry; I kept Messianic Jew since I've come across more than I expected on NationStates. I thought maybe it'd encourage more to participate in the thread, to give a wider view of Messianic Judaism.

[Menassa]

I think I'd agree. The term "Cultural Christian" was basically coined for people who feel they've been "heavily influenced by Christian ideas", and continue Christian cultural practices such as Christian holidays, but don't have religious faith.

Probably too late to put it in the poll though. :/

Sorry; I kept Messianic Jew since I've come across more than I expected on NationStates. I thought maybe it'd encourage more to participate in the thread, to give a wider view of Messianic Judaism.

I'll give you the only view of Messianic Judaism you need.... Christianity.

[Conscentia]

I think I'd agree. The term "Cultural Christian" was basically coined for people who feel they've been "heavily influenced by Christian ideas", and continue Christian cultural practices such as Christian holidays, but don't have religious faith.
Probably too late to put it in the poll though. :/

Sorry; I kept Messianic Jew since I've come across more than I expected on NationStates. I thought maybe it'd encourage more to participate in the thread, to give a wider view of Messianic Judaism.

I understand; I suggested it in the first place because I've seen a few around from time to time. Only suggested replacing it because others didn't like the idea.

Though it would also be interesting to see how many Cultural Christians are around. According to Wikipedia:

Outspoken atheist Richard Dawkins has described himself in several interviews as a "Cultural Christian" and a "Cultural Anglican".[12][13][14][15]

... which is interesting.

Maybe we can try it in CDT VIII?

[Ovybia]

Hello all! A friendly Roman Catholic here.

[Menassa]

Hello all! A friendly Roman Catholic here.

You'd be the first.

[Luminesa]

Hello all! A friendly Roman Catholic here.

Ovy! Hai!

[Diopolis]

So, what is the consensus on protestants that are not sola scripturists? Are they protestants in the normal sense or something else?

Do you refer to protestants who explicitly reject sola scriptura, like the more protestant leaning Anglicans, or protestants who, while confessing belief in sola scriptura, functionally reject it? An example of the latter would be some Lutheran groups who hold that many of Luther's writings are authoritative interpretations of the bible, and hence add a source of authority to the bible.

[Luminesa]

Hello all! A friendly Roman Catholic here.

You'd be the first.

Daw, but I'm a friendly Roman Catholic too!

[Menassa]

You'd be the first.

Daw, but I'm a friendly Roman Catholic too!

Yes, yes, you're all very friendly.

[Arvas]

So, what is the consensus on protestants that are not sola scripturists? Are they protestants in the normal sense or something else?

Do you refer to protestants who explicitly reject sola scriptura, like the more protestant leaning Anglicans, or protestants who, while confessing belief in sola scriptura, functionally reject it? An example of the latter would be some Lutheran groups who hold that many of Luther's writings are authoritative interpretations of the bible, and hence add a source of authority to the bible.

I suppose I mean like Anglicans in general; I've never met any who believe in sola scriptura. Are they "protestants" or something else then?

[Conscentia]

Do you refer to protestants who explicitly reject sola scriptura, like the more protestant leaning Anglicans, or protestants who, while confessing belief in sola scriptura, functionally reject it? An example of the latter would be some Lutheran groups who hold that many of Luther's writings are authoritative interpretations of the bible, and hence add a source of authority to the bible.

I suppose I mean like Anglicans in general; I've never met any who believe in sola scriptura. Are they "protestants" or something else then?

Anglicanism is part of the Protestant movement.

[Herskerstad]

Daw, but I'm a friendly Roman Catholic too!

Yes, yes, you're all very friendly.

Don't worry about these mass of people in arms on pilgrimage. Their goals are intended elsewhere . . .

[Menassa]

Yes, yes, you're all very friendly.

Don't worry about these mass of people in arms on pilgrimage. Their goals are intended elsewhere . . .

Lol, like monty python.

"I usually don't reveal that information to a group of heavily armed Christians."

[Cill Airne]

Do you refer to protestants who explicitly reject sola scriptura, like the more protestant leaning Anglicans, or protestants who, while confessing belief in sola scriptura, functionally reject it? An example of the latter would be some Lutheran groups who hold that many of Luther's writings are authoritative interpretations of the bible, and hence add a source of authority to the bible.

I suppose I mean like Anglicans in general; I've never met any who believe in sola scriptura. Are they "protestants" or something else then?

Anglicanism can get... Kind of complicated. Many Anglicans are entirely fine with being called protestants; where it gets tricky is when you take a look at High Church Anglicans and Anglo-Catholics. High Church Anglicans and Anglo-Catholics are typically fine being called Protestant in the more traditional sense, that we have protested against the Catholic Church. However, a lot of us do object to being lumped in with the more modern sense protestants (like Non-Denominational), especially theologically. And interestingly, a couple of parishes in the Episcopal Church of the United States did a survey and something like 47% of members of their congregations identified as Catholic and not Protestant on it. I'll try to find a link to it.

I, personally, define protestant as "any church understanding itself to be a break with the Catholic past and/or a restoration of the primitive Church, with a confessional text as its doctrinal foundation" which is an alternative definition used in some theological circles. And it's for this reason I do not call myself Protestant, or consider Anglicanism protestant.

[Ashlak]

I am no longer a christian, but I was raised in the Church of Christ, a restorationist church. Anyone here familiar with it? I'm asking because it seems so few people know about it in general.

[New confederate ramenia]

I am no longer a christian, but I was raised in the Church of Christ, a restorationist church. Anyone here familiar with it? I'm asking because it seems so few people know about it in general.

only vaguely

[Conscentia]

I am no longer a christian, but I was raised in the Church of Christ, a restorationist church. Anyone here familiar with it? I'm asking because it seems so few people know about it in general.

There's a lot of denominations that use that name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Christ

[Menassa]

I am no longer a christian, but I was raised in the Church of Christ, a restorationist church. Anyone here familiar with it? I'm asking because it seems so few people know about it in general.

Are they the ones that say they are not a cult?

[The Alexanderians]

I put irreligious, but it might be different with Judaism...

It is different. You can be an ethnic Jew, whilst not being a religious Jew. "Ethnic Christian" isn't really a thing.

The closest you could argue (and its grasping at very thin straws) is that once you're baptized you're always a christian.

[Conscentia]

I am no longer a christian, but I was raised in the Church of Christ, a restorationist church. Anyone here familiar with it? I'm asking because it seems so few people know about it in general.

Are they the ones that say they are not a cult?

What Christian sect doesn't do that?

[Menassa]

Are they the ones that say they are not a cult?

What Christian sect doesn't do that?

Catholics? I mean like straight up on their website.

[Conscentia]

What Christian sect doesn't do that?

Catholics?

I don't think that the Roman Catholic Church explicitly identifies itself as a cult - at least not in the relevant sense.

I mean like straight up on their website.

Which website?

[Ashlak]

I am no longer a christian, but I was raised in the Church of Christ, a restorationist church. Anyone here familiar with it? I'm asking because it seems so few people know about it in general.

only vaguely

Well, they believe that usage of musical instruments in worship is a sin, and that they were the first church established by J.C. himself in the first century, which I am sure pisses off the Roman Catholics and Orthodox christians.

I am no longer a christian, but I was raised in the Church of Christ, a restorationist church. Anyone here familiar with it? I'm asking because it seems so few people know about it in general.

There's a lot of denominations that use that name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Christ

I was often told growing up that "Church of Christ doesn't mean our Church of Christ". You have the mainstream conservative sect, the non institutional conservatives (called 'antis'), and the liberal sect, which isn't really that liberal from what I've heard.

I am no longer a christian, but I was raised in the Church of Christ, a restorationist church. Anyone here familiar with it? I'm asking because it seems so few people know about it in general.

Are they the ones that say they are not a cult?

Yep! I would describe them more as "cult like" rather than full cult. There was the International Churches of Christ, which went full cult.

Are they the ones that say they are not a cult?

What Christian sect doesn't do that?

Yeah, but they're accused of it very often due to their highly exclusive mindset.

"We are the only true Christians! All denominationalists will burn in hell! Be in the world but not of the world!"

[West Phoencia]

I am no longer a christian, but I was raised in the Church of Christ, a restorationist church. Anyone here familiar with it? I'm asking because it seems so few people know about it in general.

You referring to the ICOC started by Kipp McKean?

[The Alexanderians]

only vaguely

Well, they believe that usage of musical instruments in worship is a sin, and that they were the first church established by J.C. himself in the first century, which I am sure pisses off the Roman Catholics and Orthodox christians.

There's a lot of denominations that use that name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Christ

I was often told growing up that "Church of Christ doesn't mean our Church of Christ". You have the mainstream conservative sect, the non institutional conservatives (called 'antis'), and the liberal sect, which isn't really that liberal from what I've heard.

Are they the ones that say they are not a cult?

Yep! I would describe them more as "cult like" rather than full cult. There was the International Churches of Christ, which went full cult.

What Christian sect doesn't do that?

Yeah, but they're accused of it very often due to their highly exclusive mindset.

"We are the only true Christians! All denominationalists will burn in hell! Be in the world but not of the world!

That last bit sounds like the WBC...