To non-Christians.. What do you think that Christians believe?

I'm writing this thread because on a few threads I've seen people putting across some views on what Christians believe that we just don't (at least not all of us) such as the secret rapture thing and that in the eucharist (sp?) the wafer literally turns into the body of Christ.

I'm just curious to know because there seems to be just as much misconceptions about Christianity as there is about Islam.

Edited thread title to make it more understandable.

[edit on 2/4/07 by jimboman]

Indeed it is a shame that extremists make us all look bad.

Take Islam. Their extremists have already ruined their global reputation.

Take Evanglicals .. Pat Robertson, the Christian Conservative Republican base, they are the reason that regular Christians trying to walk in the path of Yah'shua are branded are crazy Evangelicals bent on bringing the end of the world.

Except they dont say "Evangelicals", they say "Christians". It's a shame, and I jump at the chance to debate it with someone generalizing all Christians as such.

There are so many different "flavors" of Christians, it's as impossible to say "what Christians believe" as it is to say what women believe. There is Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Anglican ... the list goes on. Each flavor has different details, but I think they all believe some very basic tenets about Christ's birth and the reason for his appearance here.

Taking holy communion and the rapture are just a couple of the details probably not believed by all, but the basics are the same.

That's what I was getting at. We're all different, but we have the basic belief that Christ was born as a human, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for sin.

Anyone who believes otherwise can't really call themselves a Christian.

Until I came here (of which theres really only a few 'im right your wrong its my mission to convert you' Christians) almost all Christians I met were fairly nice people who accepted others beliefs.

they all believe in a completely unsupportable hypothesis that there is a god, typically a trinitarian one which is even worse. christians also believe in a life after their death in which they will either get eternally punished or rewarded for their deeds, another unsupportable hypothesis.

Originally posted by runetang

Take Islam. Their extremists have already ruined their global reputation.

Islam created their own bad reputation by trying to propagate their faith by the sword. Christianity tried that as well until they learnt better.

[edit on 2-4-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

Originally posted by Edn
Until I came here (of which theres really only a few 'im right your wrong its my mission to convert you' Christians) almost all Christians I met were fairly nice people who accepted others beliefs.

That is the way that a true Christian is supposed to be ,yes. Jesus had/has a live and let live mentality and it is expected that his followers do as well. Unfortunately, many millions haves strayed away from that path.

And the majority of those millions are from 'mainstream' churches like the Anglicans or the Catholics. Let's cut the 2000 years of 'we believe that when Christ said that he meant this' stuff and get back to what he did say. 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself'. Paraphrased, but you get the idea.

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth

Unfortunately, many millions haves strayed away from that path.

And I think that is a good thing, when it comes down to it forcing beliefs on people never turns out good, they start fights, even wars, you only need to look at the history of Christianity in Europe to know this.

Originally posted by Edn

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth

Unfortunately, many millions haves strayed away from that path.

And I think that is a good thing, when it comes down to it forcing beliefs on people never turns out good, they start fights, even wars, you only need to look at the history of Christianity in Europe to know this.

You think it's a good thing that they strayed from the path of "live and let live?"

As far as the history of Christianity, what you have to realize is that Christianity didn't turn away from the teachings of Christ until 325 A.D... From 325,well, actually from 649 but 325 was when there was a drastic change from Christianity's original principles, to about 1820 Christianity tried to follow Islam's example of spreading the faith by the sword.

[edit on 2-4-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

Oh wait a minute, i think i've mis read your post. You were talking about the convert by the sword type of people when you said "Unfortunately, many millions haves strayed away from that path."?

No. when I said this

"Unfortunately, many millions haves strayed away from that path."?

I meant that many Christians don't have the mentality of Live and Let live anymore.

Here is what I originally stated.

That is the way that a true Christian is supposed to be ,yes. Jesus had/has a live and let live mentality and it is expected that his followers do as well. Unfortunately, many millions haves strayed away from that path.

It has to be taken in the whole context to understand what I meant.

[edit on 2-4-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

I used to be a Christian, but the question of who made God made me not believe. I think Christians believe that there is an after life, that there will be a rapture, a judgement day, when we will all be judged, that the Lord will come back soonthat if you repent of your sins you can become a christian.

Originally posted by truthseeker1011
I used to be a Christian, but the question of who made God made me not believe.

This is a question that perturbs everyone, I guess. I have learned to think of God as being "Reality." Reality has no need for a creator, it just is. One of the reasons that "reality" is really unknown is an example of why I believe it to be God, or the spirit thereof.

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth

Originally posted by truthseeker1011
I used to be a Christian, but the question of who made God made me not believe.

This is a question that perturbs everyone, I guess. I have learned to think of God as being "Reality." Reality has no need for a creator, it just is. One of the reasons that "reality" is really unknown is an example of why I believe it to be God, or the spirit thereof.

There would have to be a female and male to make god, right? You're right it does perturb me, and after questioning it I just don't believe anymore.

Originally posted by truthseeker1011


There would have to be a female and male to make god, right? You're right it does perturb me, and after questioning it I just don't believe anymore.

Well, you certainly have that option. I am not here to MAKE you believe anything. I personally don't agree, but that is my prerogative as well. The thing is, you can't take things that are necessary for a human, i.e the need for a mother and a father, and apply them to the spiritual. It doesn't wash.

The fact is this. Most people who go to church go to church to live a good life. But they dont pray at night or even help the poor. Or even preach the word. They go to church and listen to what they believe is a true believer of christ. Most people go to listen not read. So they learn from what the so called believe says. They listen to what the religion says. This christain religion says this, this one says this. You know how many times on a book or tv someone says the bible says something and when I look it up they're full of it.

Thats why there is so many different religions out there. Because some guy heared something in the church didnt look it up and said hey lets go make a church of our own. STUPID.

The truth of the word of God is read the Bible. The laws didnt come from the church man stream or not. They come God and the Word of God which is the Bible. For real, the more read in the bible the more you understand. So what you read the bible like 3 times. Wow now your a preacher and all knowing. Full of it. You study every day. And with God's spirit with you and a personal relationship with him then your a preacher for God,.

Originally posted by slymattb
The fact is this. Most people who go to church go to church to live a good life. But they dont pray at night or even help the poor. Or even preach the word. They go to church and listen to what they believe is a true believer of christ. Most people go to listen not read. So they learn from what the so called believe says. They listen to what the religion says. This christain religion says this, this one says this. You know how many times on a book or tv someone says the bible says something and when I look it up they're full of it.

BINGO!! That has been my biggest cristicism of Christians. They go to church and they accept everything a preacher tells them at face value!! They think very little for themselves.

Good people of all faiths respect Christ's message. Muslims consider Christ 'of the book' and regard him as a younger brother/prophet to Mohammed.

Christ is the Master of Life.

Religion is either a help or hindrance, regardless of the faith. We've seen examples of great good and great destruction done in the name of each faith. A springboard for spiritual growth, or escapist dogma in which to deflect good orderly direction.

He is my everything. :-)