Contemporary, Mainstream, Global Christianity

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

Is there such a thing as "contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity"?

If so, what does it look like? What do these Christians believe? Which denominations does it include? Which doctrines does it accept, and which are rejected? What percentage of Christians can be said to be members of the contemporary, mainstream, global set?

[ThatGirlAgain]

Is there such a thing as "contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity"?

If so, what does it look like? What do these Christians believe? Which denominations does it include? Which doctrines does it accept, and which are rejected? What percentage of Christians can be said to be members of the contemporary, mainstream, global set?

On a purely statistical basis one would need to include Catholicism, which in its several flavors constitutes something like two-thirds of Christianity. But there are those who do not consider Catholics to be 'real' Christians because they do not subscribe to all of the Five Solas and especially to sola fide and sola scriptura. This can make it difficult to decide just what the beliefs of contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity really are.

[EduChris]

Is there such a thing as "contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity"? ... If so, what does it look like? What do these Christians believe? Which denominations does it include? Which doctrines does it accept, and which are rejected? What percentage of Christians can be said to be members of the contemporary, mainstream, global set?

Catholics, Orthodox, mainline protestant, and contemporary evangelicalism agree on a broad spectrum of issues, while maintaining their own distinctives. At the majority of theological seminaries--the graduate schools that train Christian leaders--you will often find scholars of all backgrounds teaching students of all backgrounds, side by side. American-style fundamentalist (18th & 19th century) represents but a small fraction of today's (and history's) Christianity.

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

Catholics, Orthodox, mainline protestant, and contemporary evangelicalism agree on a broad spectrum of issues, while maintaining their own distinctives. At the majority of theological seminaries--the graduate schools that train Christian leaders--you will often find scholars of all backgrounds teaching students of all backgrounds, side by side. American-style fundamentalist (18th & 19th century) represents but a small fraction of today's (and history's) Christianity.

I think it would be helpful to discover what exactly this "broad spectrum of issues" is. Perhaps you could answer some of the questions in the OP, specifically:

What do these Christians believe?

Which doctrines does it accept, and which are rejected?

[EduChris]

Is there such a thing as "contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity"?...What do these Christians believe?...Which doctrines does it accept, and which are rejected?...

Try these fairly standard reference works for starters:

Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology

The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

Is there such a thing as "contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity"?...What do these Christians believe?...Which doctrines does it accept, and which are rejected?...

Try these fairly standard reference works for starters:

Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology

The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity

I was hoping that you would be able to explain some of the terminology you so frequently rely upon on this forum. Advertisements for books in place of discussion come as a bit of a disappointment.

[EduChris]

...I was hoping that you would be able to explain some of the terminology you so frequently rely upon on this forum...

Perhaps you could ask for explanations on the thread(s) where I use such terminology. In most cases, the explanations are given but you may have to go back and read some of the prior posts on that thread.

...Advertisements for books...

Whatever happened to libraries?

...in place of discussion...

This entire forum is devoted to discussion of these topics, and there are a number of serious, thoughtful theists here who can and do present their ideas and arguments.

Unfortunately, we all too often get bogged down due to non-theists refusing to be sidetracked from their usual, well-worn "atheists-r-us website" talking points. Non-theists who are interested in a reasoned discussion of the past 2000 years of Christian history and Christian thought would do well to start policing those non-theists here who continually derail good discussions with their distruptive antics.

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

...I was hoping that you would be able to explain some of the terminology you so frequently rely upon on this forum...

Perhaps you could ask for explanations on the thread(s) where I use such terminology. In most cases, the explanations are given but you may have to go back and read some of the prior posts on that thread.

Feel free to provide a relevant link. I am fairly sure the thread which inspired this one contained no such explanation.

...Advertisements for books...

Whatever happened to libraries?

I live in Thailand on a limited budget. The libraries here are a little thin on English language Christian theological literature. Needless to say, 1000 Baht on Amazon is a lot of money to spend to understand the idiosyncratic terminology of a single member of this forum (10x my daily food budget, for comparison).

...in place of discussion...

This entire forum is devoted to discussion of these topics, and there are a number of serious, thoughtful theists here who can and do present their ideas and arguments.

Unfortunately, we all too often get bogged down due to non-theists refusing to be sidetracked from their usual, well-worn "atheists-r-us website" talking points. Non-theists who are interested in a reasoned discussion of the past 2000 years of Christian history and Christian thought would do well to start policing those non-theists here who continually derail good discussions with their distruptive antics.

Why are you so reluctant to answer simple questions? It really seems like you are making a concerted effort to be difficult to understand.

What does contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity believe? Which doctrines does contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity accept and which are rejected?

Given that you regularly use this terminology, I cannot understand why you cannot simply offer a few examples.

I do not know what "atheists-r-us websites" are. My "talking points" come mainly from my university education in Religious Studies.

[EduChris]

...Why are you so reluctant to answer simple questions?...

Your questions are not simple, and I certainly cannot even begin to tell you what Christians believe without writing an entire library of books. If you're after simple answers, many of the non-theists here are better fundamentalists than any of the Christians I know, and they are the ones to ask for simple explanations (but these simple explanations will not have much if any bearing on the truth and the beauty of Christianity).

Although I already spend more time on this forum than I should, you are certainly welcome to question me on specific matters in my posts. If you want me to send you a book, you can PM me with your name and address.

Otherwise, here are some resources for a few of the better Christian and Jewish scholars that I know:

N.T. Wright

Richard Bauckham

Walter Brueggemann

Terence Fretheim

Nahum Sarna

Abraham Joshua Heschel

Craig R. Koester
(Through the Bible online lectures)
(Revelation online lectures)

[ThatGirlAgain]

What does contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity believe? Which doctrines does contemporary, mainstream, global Christianity accept and which are rejected?

The Apostle's Creed is still a pretty good summary of what Christians in general believe. In fact, "creed" comes from the Latin credo, "I believe".

Here are a number of variations on it used by various Christian churches. Notice how similar they all are.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles'_ ... anslations

The first one, which happens to be the Catholic version, has links to explain the key concepts mentioned.