Can you still be considered a Christian if you:
- were raised loosely Christian (rarely went to church but still raised on Christian beliefs/prayers/ideals/etc)
- Believe in God absolutely
- Think the Bible is a good moral guide but don’t think it’s anything more than just a book (e.g. don’t consider it holy)
- believe there was a Jesus of Nazareth 2020ish years ago, give or take a few decades, but are on the fence about whether he was actually the son of God or just some dude.
- still don’t go to church
genuinely curious. asking for a friend.
If not, what would you call that? “quasi-Christian”? I’ve heard some people call it “agnostic” but I was always taught that agnostic meant you were on the fence about whether or not you believed in God, not the other details.
The Jesus Christ thing (divinity, crucifixion, resurrection) is a pretty big deal to Christians of all denominations.
Your beliefs sound Unitarian to me.
I’m pretty dumb when it comes to religion so don’t think I’ve even heard of that one before. But appreciate you mentioning it; will give me something to read up on
The Nicene Creed determines what is a Christian or not…
Your fourth point disqualifies you.
You’re a deist most definitely and probably some kind of universalist or sometimes called perennialist who believes all religions to some degree have correct teachings about God and believes moral living and love for God will be enough for salvation is my guess.
Third point and the rest, i would say no. If you consider yourself christian why not go to church? Good rule of thumb is that if you accept Apostle’s creed you should be christian, believeing Jesus christ was son of God is crucial for that.
Thanks man. I always kinda figured that you have to actual be fully onboard in your belief in Christ to call yourself a Christian, i mean, it’s logical and makes perfect sense
Not sure I get you on how going to church makes a difference in that unless you mean that it would convince or something?
Had s similar discussion with female friend of mine who said someone can go to church but not really buy into the religious / spiritual stuff and still be a Christian.
Guess she’s either full of it or else it comes down to whether you mean it casually like which kind of religion do you participate in vs more seriously like my question. But if she wasn’t entirely wrong, my thinking had been something like “what if don’t go to church but you believe in God strongly and haven’t rejected Christ, but are just having trouble with the faith aspect (of Christ divinity) a bit” cuz I figured that was at least more than someone who just there for church but doesn’t believe at all.
I only ever did home bible readings and such as a kid and never did Sunday school or theology classes or stuff like that so I’m probably also a big ignorant on terminology and whatnot here.
Anyway, appreciate the response
I’m gonna make a controversial take here and say that the divinity of Jesus has nothing to do with being a Christian.
Christian means follower of Christ.
Christ believed there was one G-d. The original Greek does not suggest that Jesus and G-d were one. That was added in translation. And has been pointed out over the centuries. By many including Issac Newton.
And because we believe in 1 G-d and only 1, does this detail make much of a difference?
Whether he was Him or just a messenger it’s still the same Him speaking.
I would say if you follow the teachings of Christ you are a Christian. If not no.
People may argue in reply but I won’t comment further.
That’s actually a pretty good point that I hadn’t really considered. Maybe that’s what my friend was hinting at in her own way. will have to ask her next time i see her.
