A definition

[ScioVeritas]

The word " Christian" is thrown around a lot and I'm wondering how people here define it?

Specifically, the question for debate is : what makes someone a Christian? Also where/what does your definition come from?

[DanieltheDragon]

Those who follow the teachings(collectively or partially) of Jesus.

The dictionary, pic one and they generally include this definition.

[Korah]

I have come to view it as derivative sects of Roman Catholicism, since most who use that name appear to hold to many core RCC doctrines. The exception being the non-European converts of the Russian orthodox, who's missionaries tended to comingle the cultural beliefs of the peoples they visited with their own.

I had hoped to find a broader definition than Bluethread's,
because his would exclude various Fundamentalist sects that (of course) view themselves as the only true Christians--or as too close to the true Jesus to allow themselves to be branded as "Christians" like the established churches. While many would readily exclude Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Christadelphians, would they as cavalierly exclude Adventists, Oneness Pentecostals, Messianic Jews, and old-line (not current Humanist) Unitarians?
So I hoped my Oxford Companion to the Bible would help, wherein we find "the Greek word meaning 'anointed one' (see 'Messiah') with an ending meaning 'followers of' or 'partisans of'." Yeah, great, except this is so broad it would include Shabbateans or other Jewish followers of some Messiah besides Jesus, the most notable being Bar Kokhba a hundred years after Jesus. (Both he and Shabbetai Zevi are the only two listed in Oxford's entry "Messiah", seconding my own naming of them here.)
So how about a compromise? "A Christian believes in Jesus of Galilee as the Messiah or pre-eminent religious personage." An advantage to this definition is that it gets back towards the origin of the word as a term of reproach that "true" followers of Jesus willingly adopted as their label. A disadvantage is that it comes close to including Moslems and some other Syncretistic religions of the Middle East.

[Bust Nak]

Best I can tell, it's an inability to accept the homosexuals as human beings.

Moderator Warning

Do not generalize Christians as homophobes.
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[Bust Nak]

what makes someone a Christian?

Someone who practices the religion of Christianity, which is in turn defined as beliefs and rituals associated with Jesus.

Also where/what does your definition come from?

From everyday conversation.

[Peds nurse]

[Replying to post 1 by ScioVeritas]

A Christian is one who accepts Jesus as the Son of God, and follows His teachings. A belief in and of itself does not make one a Christian. There are some who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but deny Him in their lives. It would much be like believing that a healthy diet is good for you, but eating donuts and fast food daily. You can't say that you are eating healthy.

Thanks for the debate topic!!

[JoeyKnothead]

I reject the generalization of my previous comments.

I NEVER mentioned anything about folks being "homophobic", much less "phobic".

[dianaiad]

A Christian is someone who:

1. Puts the teachings of one Jesus of Nazareth at the center of his or her moral and ethical belief system, and

2. Claims to be one.

My definition comes from the dictionary, plus the observation of what dictionaries are supposed to do: that is, figure out who uses the word and including all the iterations of it.

A "true" Christian is a term used by those who define "Christian" as "one who is 'saved' according to my definition of 'saved.' this definition, of course, differs with the speaker, and isn't useful.

A "good" Christian is someone who not only qualifies as 'Christian' according to the dictionary, but who can be seen to be living according to the teachings he or she claims to believe in.

" (insert belief system here...it can be Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Catholics, Mormons, Westboro Baptists...just pick something) is NOT CHRISTIAN!" is a cry used by those who consider themselves 'true' Christians, and everybody else is..something else.

Source for these definitions: dictionary plus observation coupled by more than a little impatient cynicism.

[Zzyzx]

.

Moderator Final Warning

I reject the generalization of my previous comments.

I NEVER mentioned anything about folks being "homophobic", much less "phobic".

Darn it Joey, now you "went and done it" – forced me to issue a Final Warning and suggest Probation in the Moderator Forum.

You KNOW better than to comment on Moderator Action (even indirectly) and you KNOW better than to use blanket condemnations.

We would hate to lose your colorful comments (but more so your avatar)

Shape up before you get shipped out.

Please review the Rules.

______________

Moderator final warnings serve as the last strike towards users. Additional violations will result in a probation vote. Further infractions will lead to banishment. Any challenges or replies to moderator warnings should be made via Private Message to avoid derailing topics.

[bluethread]

I have come to view it as derivative sects of Roman Catholicism, since most who use that name appear to hold to many core RCC doctrines. The exception being the non-European converts of the Russian orthodox, who's missionaries tended to comingle the cultural beliefs of the peoples they visited with their own.

I had hoped to find a broader definition than Bluethread's,
because his would exclude various Fundamentalist sects that (of course) view themselves as the only true Christians--or as too close to the true Jesus to allow themselves to be branded as "Christians" like the established churches. While many would readily exclude Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Christadelphians, would they as cavalierly exclude Adventists, Oneness Pentecostals, Messianic Jews, and old-line (not current Humanist) Unitarians?

I did include all of those. They all follow RCC doctrine to a great degree, whether they recognize it or not. That is why I do not call myself a Messianic Jew, apart from the fact that I am not hereditarily Jewish. Though Dianaid might contest this, my understanding of Mormon doctrine, and the doctrines of other distinctive sects you listed, appear to be very similar to RCC doctrine. They all appear to align themselves with Hellenistic philosophy.

So I hoped my Oxford Companion to the Bible would help, wherein we find "the Greek word meaning 'anointed one' (see 'Messiah') with an ending meaning 'followers of' or 'partisans of'." Yeah, great, except this is so broad it would include Shabbateans or other Jewish followers of some Messiah besides Jesus, the most notable being Bar Kokhba a hundred years after Jesus. (Both he and Shabbetai Zevi are the only two listed in Oxford's entry "Messiah", seconding my own naming of them here.)

I would exclude these for the reasons I stated. They do not appear to follow the historical Christian path.

So how about a compromise? "A Christian believes in Jesus of Galilee as the Messiah or pre-eminent religious personage." An advantage to this definition is that it gets back towards the origin of the word as a term of reproach that "true" followers of Jesus willingly adopted as their label. A disadvantage is that it comes close to including Moslems and some other Syncretistic religions of the Middle East.

The real disadvantage, at least on this site, is the constant application of RCC and evangelical stereotypes to one's posts. It is true that the term "Christian" was given to the followers of Yeshua as a pejorative on the part of both the rabbinic Jews, based on it being a Greek term, and Roman, based on it's reference to dependence on a savior. However, there has been so much water under the bridge since then, I find it counter productive to apply the term to any particular individual or group.

[Haven]

Could you be a little more specific when you say "identifies as ". Do you mean making a claim?

I mean anyone who claims to be a Christian, is.

There is actually a debate going on right now surrounding Rachel Dolezal - a caucasian woman who stated that she "identifies as" black and that's why she joined the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). - Is it always the case that someone who identifies as X should automatically be classified as X? Wouldn't it be easier to identify someone from category X if there was a definition of said category?

That's not the same thing at all. There's a defined definition for "black" (someone of sub-Saharan African descent), but there's no defined definition of "Christian."