"Religion stops a thinking mind...it is only another socially acceptable addiction."

[Night Stalker]

Uh ...... Yorick, I was raised Catholic and I've never seen the line you highlighted in the Proclaimations of Faith. Also, the phrasing is much different through out.

Just a point to show that people may disagree, but actually believe the same thing. Kinda like when people keep on argueing long after they agree that they are agreeing with one another.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by LordKathen: Very well said Cerek. That is all I am trying to say also. It seems to me that in debating something as personal and intimate as faith, symantics is not the way to go. Following the teachings of Christ is what makes you a christian, not which set of rules you use or interpretations. Once again, NO ONE IS RIGHT OR WRONG. Are we clear now?

The majority of humans who follow Jesus have called themselves a certain word to identify themselves and their belief. That word is "christian". It means "little christ".

There are a minority of followers of Jesus who disagree with those beliefs, and regard themselves as seperate from the majority. For VALIDATION within society, they have, thus far used the same word "Christian". The result has been confusion over what a Christian is, and a decreased awareness of the unity of the majority. People see a difference between the minority and majority and perceive the Christian DENOMINATIONS of the majority to be separate religions.

I encounter time and again, people under the INCORRECT assumption that Episcopals are a different religion to Methodists.

This is incorrect. It is the same religion. Methodists and Anglicans both AGREE they are the same faith.

I encounter people who time and time again, regard the Catholic Church and the Baptist church as being different religions.

This is incorrect. The Catholic and Baptist Churches both AGREE they are THE SAME FAITH.

I encounter time and again people who regard Mormons and Lutherans as being of the same religion.

This is incorrect. Both the Mormon and Lutheran church AGREE they are different religions.

The trouble is the word "Christian". So much confusion over a noun.

I repeat. If you cannot accept the definition as provided by the majority of those who call themselves that word, how do you determine what a word means? Do you ignore the majority?

This is a LANGUAGE issue people, not a religious issue. Let's not get confused over this. I am concerned as a SPEAKER OF ENGLISH, not as a follower of Jesus.

Believe me, there are times when being called a christian, when being identified with the crusades or Jerry redneck is a serious problem. It would be easier to say "oh no.. I'm a Jesusian". But I am in agreement with the body of Christ. With the group of people who all call themsleves the one faith, though splintered into myriad subgroups.

What do we call ourselves people?

If you have the answers, give us a name.

[ 11-12-2003, 02:40 PM: Message edited by: Yorick ]

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Well, I guess the question is what do they call themselves?

They.. we... call ourselves THE Christian Church.

[Timber Loftis]

Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Well, I guess the question is what do they call themselves?

They.. we... call ourselves THE Christian Church. [/QUOTE]No, the other churches, not you. I think I'd have to have a plant's intelligence to read this thread and not figure out what you call yourself.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Night Stalker: Uh ...... Yorick, I was raised Catholic and I've never seen the line you highlighted in the Proclaimations of Faith. Also, the phrasing is much different through out. Just a point to show that people may disagree, but actually believe the same thing. Kinda like when people keep on argueing long after they agree that they are agreeing with one another.

It's the Nicene creed Nightstalker. I can't help whether you encountered it or not, but it's a backbone of Roman Catholic doctrine, as much as it is Protestant doctrine. Read up on what the Nicene creed is if you can't believe me. Do your own research on it.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: quote: Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Well, I guess the question is what do they call themselves?

They.. we... call ourselves THE Christian Church. [/QUOTE]No, the other churches, not you. I think I'd have to have a plant's intelligence to read this thread and not figure out what you call yourself. [/QUOTE]I?

I have repeatedly listed my experiences in various Christian denominations.

They.. I ... we.. all the same. They call themselves THE Christian Church Timber. I am as Anglican as I am Baptist. I am as Pentecostal as I am Evangelical. I have moved in and out of the various denominations with ease.

I repeat, I have been a part of interdenominational meetings all my life.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH meets, puts aside it's differences and celebrates it's unity.

Mormons and JWs do not. They regard themselves as separate from that majority.

So what do you call the majority? (which I am part of Timber) If that majority calls itself Christian as a means of identification?

[ 11-12-2003, 02:53 PM: Message edited by: Yorick ]

[Timber Loftis]

Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Timber Loftis: quote: Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Well, I guess the question is what do they call themselves?

They.. we... call ourselves THE Christian Church. [/QUOTE]No, the other churches, not you. I think I'd have to have a plant's intelligence to read this thread and not figure out what you call yourself. [/QUOTE]I?

I have repeatedly listed my experiences in various Christian denominations.

They.. I ... we.. all the same. They call themselves THE Christian Church Timber. I am as Anglican as I am Baptist. I am as Pentecostal as I am Evangelical. I have moved in and out of the various denominations with ease.

I repeat, I have been a part of interdenominational meetings all my life.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH meets, puts aside it's differences and celebrates it's unity.

Mormons and JWs do not. They regard themselves as separate from than majority.

So what do you call the majority? (which I am part of Timber) [/QUOTE]SYNTAX ERROR DOES NOT COMPUTE

Look, I meant the other churches you ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH. Mormons, etc. What do THEY call THEMSELVES. If they call themselves Christian, and are simply not part of the majority, then they are Christian. If the majority of Americans meet and call themselves THE UNITED AMERICANS, it doesn't mean that Americans who go don't go to the meetings are no longer Americans.

[ 11-12-2003, 02:55 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Look, I meant the other churches you ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH. Mormons, etc. What do THEY call THEMSELVES.

For crying out loud!!!

Do I have to post the list every time I want to describe the Christian churches in agreement with one another??

That is why we use ONE WORD to describe us all "Christian".

Mormons are not affiliated with that list!!! This is the heart of the confusion!!

Do you not see it is an attempt for validity on the behalf of the founders?? It wouldn't matter if we (the list I provided) were called any name, the Mormons would have called themselves that for ACCEPTANCE within a very harsh and judgemental American society. Look at how they were hounded, Why they moved to Salt Lake City.

The fact is, the majority call themselves a word to describe themselves when speaking of their unity rather than their division. That word being "Christian."

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: If they call themselves Christian, and are simply not part of the majority, then they are Christian. If the majority of Americans meet and call themselves THE UNITED AMERICANS, it doesn't mean that Americans who go don't go to the meetings are no longer Americans.

It would mean they are not UNITED AMERICANS. If you used one word instead of two to describe Americans united, say "Uniamerans" then only those that went to the meetings would be "Uniamerans".

That is all "Christian" means.

"United followers of Jesus".

[Faceman]

Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Timber Loftis: quote: Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Well, I guess the question is what do they call themselves?

They.. we... call ourselves THE Christian Church. [/QUOTE]No, the other churches, not you. I think I'd have to have a plant's intelligence to read this thread and not figure out what you call yourself. [/QUOTE]I?

I have repeatedly listed my experiences in various Christian denominations.

They.. I ... we.. all the same. They call themselves THE Christian Church Timber. I am as Anglican as I am Baptist. I am as Pentecostal as I am Evangelical. I have moved in and out of the various denominations with ease.

I repeat, I have been a part of interdenominational meetings all my life.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH meets, puts aside it's differences and celebrates it's unity.

Mormons and JWs do not. They regard themselves as separate from that majority.

So what do you call the majority? (which I am part of Timber) If that majority calls itself Christian as a means of identification? [/QUOTE]Uh, oh ugly [img]graemlins/spam2.gif[/img] pyramid [img]graemlins/uhoh2.gif[/img]

I guess what Timber meant to say was: "What do the other by your definition non-Christian churches call them?"

[ 11-12-2003, 03:15 PM: Message edited by: Faceman ]