tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816147226417130386.post4259662050579355742..comments2023-07-17T03:57:39.014-07:00Comments on The Liberal Agnostic Who Could: Who's a Christian?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10268689890561878413noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816147226417130386.post-48490421553094147202010-11-19T20:33:20.692-08:002010-11-19T20:33:20.692-08:00Donna: *blush* Thank you :)
CD: I think you may b...Donna: *blush* Thank you :)<br /><br />CD: I think you may be on to something. Your comments brought to mind the "History of the Church" (cough) as presented in the BoM. <br /><br />Joseph Smith--History 1:5<br /><i>Some time in the second year after our removal to Manchester, there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, “Lo, here!” and others, “Lo, there!” Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist. </i><br /><br />Seems to me the Church is now part of this.<br /><br />But then the official lds scriptures page offered THIS as a cross-reference:<br /><br />Matthew 24:23<br /><i> 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. </i><br /><br />Context! I know, but still bahahaha!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268689890561878413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816147226417130386.post-16875787254759011032010-11-19T15:45:58.355-08:002010-11-19T15:45:58.355-08:00oops. "the" should be "them", ...oops. "the" should be "them", first paragraph, last sentence. I really need to proofread more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816147226417130386.post-90710754519421987192010-11-19T15:44:54.103-08:002010-11-19T15:44:54.103-08:00It's always been interesting to me that the qu...It's always been interesting to me that the question of "who are the real Christians?" is even a debate. But -- and don't we know it -- Jesus sells. That's why Mitt Romney is trying to convince voters that his religion is part of the Christian mainstream. (He doesn't say anything about the all being an abomination as per his own scriptures -- shsh!)<br /><br />That's why Mormon missionaries use Jesus and "We're just like other Christians, just better!" to get in their toes in the door.<br /><br />That's why LDS Inc.'s logo emphasizes JESUS CHRIST over all other words. Jesus is a huge selling point and they exploit him in their marketing strategies all the time.<br /><br />A few members act like they really do believe in and follow him. However, most in my experience act a lot more like scribe, pharisees, and hypocrites.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816147226417130386.post-77117158364435329302010-11-19T15:19:04.482-08:002010-11-19T15:19:04.482-08:00This makes me think of the line from the Woody All...This makes me think of the line from the Woody Allen film, "If Jesus came back and saw what was being done in his name, he'd never stop throwing up." Great post, Lisa. I am continually amazed by how easily you fire off these incredibly eloquent musings so quickly.Donna Bantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271377907141866718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816147226417130386.post-67705773867517113962010-11-19T12:06:42.879-08:002010-11-19T12:06:42.879-08:00Diana: Not in this country, that's for sure.
...Diana: Not in this country, that's for sure.<br /><br />Becky: It is simplistic, but it was one of the things that drove me from my father's church and attracted me to the LDS one. I couldn't and still can't really stand those who profess a faith and yet don't apply it to their lives in a personal sense claiming "yeah I'm good anyways so fuck you [insert bigoted, sexist, xenophobic or otherwise racist insult here]" Cop out city.<br /><br />Yet now after killing myself as the LDS faith requires, I find that doesn't work either. I am not willing to sacrifice my own happiness in order to please someone I know little about because SOMEONE claims direct authority despite occasional and convenient hard-of-hearing. But I do like many of Christ's philosophies and try to incorporate them into my life--just like I do with anyone I agree with and admire.<br /><br />That doesn't make me Christian, though. In that way I do believe that the heart of what "Christian" means is a profession of loyalty and lack of worth to that of the perfection of Jesus Christ as my "savior." But who was Jesus Christ? There are many opinions and we are all, I think, cafeteria followers of this man. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Necessarily.<br /><br />I don't really consider myself Christian any longer (in part because I don't know that he lived or was divine or whatever, and in part because I don't believe you have to take upon yourself the title of "Christian" to be saved), but fuck--can't there be a happy medium?<br /><br />I just want to live my life the best I know how without someone breathing down my neck and making me feel like shit. I do enough of that on my own, thx.<br /><br />But this whole "you're not a real christian" bullshit just strikes me as entirely too arrogant for my tastes, so I don't think I'll include myself in the exchange anymore. <br /><br />Dishonest, evil, bad, good, moral: sure. Even then, morality is in part based on how a person lives according to what they believe, no?Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268689890561878413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816147226417130386.post-78727999397654223772010-11-19T11:21:20.426-08:002010-11-19T11:21:20.426-08:00I've heard Christians defined as people who ac...I've heard Christians defined as people who accept Christ's sacrifice and believe that it is all that is needed for them to be saved. I remember as a TBM, saying "OMG, I like totally can't believe that people could just say 'I accept Jesus' sacrifice and I'm saved'". Nowadays, it sounds a lot better to me than, "Kill yourself trying to follow these fifty bajillion rules and then maybe Jesus' sacrifice will make up for that tiny amount of imperfect that you are."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816147226417130386.post-19713356777683157692010-11-19T10:36:37.461-08:002010-11-19T10:36:37.461-08:00I venture that the bottom-line definition of Chris...I venture that the bottom-line definition of Christianity is "a person who follows Christ as their deity". However, I also venture that this does not fly with most Christian sects. I think your analogy to "Real Americans" is right on; most Christians I've known have been dead sure that other people who claim themselves as Christian definitely aren't because they do/don't do____________.<br /><br /><br />My stepdad soured me on the use of the word "Christian" to describe anyone I don't personally know, since he is inclined to say that people he approves of are "good Christians". WTF does that even mean? Why is no one he approves of a "good Buddhist" or "good Muslim"? OH I FORGOT because those religions are NOT good.Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09634766750596400436noreply@blogger.com